pestiferous Hear it!

pestiferous Definition

pes·tif·er·ous (pes tif′ər əs)

adjective

    1. bringing or carrying disease
    2. Archaic infected with an epidemic disease
  2. dangerous to morals or to the welfare of society; noxious; evil
  3. Informal annoying; mischievous; bothersome

Etymology: ME < L pestiferus < pestis, plague + ferre, to bear

pestiferous Related Forms
pes·tif′·er·ously adverb pes·tif′·er·ous·ness noun
pestiferous Synonyms

pestiferous

modif.

virulent, toxic, unhealthy; see harmful, deadly, poisonous.

pestiferous Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • beetle: The beetle collection was used to teach forestry students about wood boring and pestiferous beetles.

Browse dictionary entries near pestiferous

  1. ‹ pesticide
  2. ‹ pesthouse
  3. ‹ pesthole
  4. ‹ pester
  5. ‹ Pestalozzi
  6. ‹ pest
  7. ‹ Pessoa
  8. ‹ pessimistic
  9. ‹ pessimist
  10. ‹ pessimism
  1. pestilence ›
  2. pestilent ›
  3. pestilential ›
  4. pestle ›
  5. pesto ›
  6. pet ›
  7. Petöfi ›
  8. PET scan ›
  9. peta- ›
  10. Petah Tiqwa ›