perniciousness

Variant of pernicious

pernicious definition

per·ni·cious (pər nis̸həs)

adjective

  1. causing great injury, destruction, or ruin; fatal; deadly
  2. Rare wicked; evil

Etymology: Fr pernicieux < L perniciosus < pernicies, destruction < pernecare, to kill < per, thoroughly + necare, to kill: see necro-

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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