Pestilence
/ˈpɛs.tɪ.ləns/noun
A fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague.
Did you know?The term 'pestilence' is derived from the Latin 'pestilentia', which was often associated with divine punishment and the wrath of gods in ancient texts.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pest-
“to strike, to harm”
Latin
Latin
pestilentia
“plague, contagious disease, often viewed as a divine affliction”
Old French
Old French
pestilence
“a disease causing widespread suffering or death”
Middle English
Middle English
pestilence
“a term used for both plague and other deadly outbreaks”
Modern English
English
pestilence
“a general term for any deadly epidemic disease”
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