plague

noun

1. (capitalized, countable, often, sometimes, uncountable)The bubonic plague, the pestilent disease caused by the virulent bacterium Yersinia pestis.

   “It was about the beginning of September, 1664, that I, among the rest of my neighbours, heard in ordinary discourse that the plague was returned again in Holland[…] It mattered not from whence it came; but all agreed it was come into Holland again.”

2. (countable, uncountable)An epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence, but especially that caused by the above disease.

   “Great plagues, such as the bubonic plague or smallpox or syphilis or influenza, can happen again.”

3. (countable, uncountable)A widespread affliction, calamity, or destructive influx, especially when seen as divine retribution.

   “Ten Biblical plagues over Egypt, ranging from locusts to the death of the crown prince, finally forced Pharaoh to let Moses's people go.”

   “A plague a both the Houſes, I am sped: / Is he gone and hath nothing?”

4. (countable, figuratively, uncountable)A grave nuisance, whatever greatly irritates.

   “Bart is an utter plague; his pranks never cease.”

   “"I'm not doing anything as far as that goes," admitted Tulloch. "In fact," he added ruefully, "that's the plague of it. I'm waiting to hear from a man who's waiting to hear from another man, and he's depending on something that may or mayn't, you understand."”

   “This is the first time a President has attended this dinner in six years. It's understandable- we had a horrible plague, followed by two years of COVID!”

5. (countable, uncountable)A group of common grackles.

verb

1. (transitive)To harass, pester or annoy someone persistently or incessantly.

   “"Moreover," replied Congreve, "it was a sort of flattery to the duke. It showed that she valued the power of plaguing him more than her own fairest ornament. Flattery is the real secret by which a woman keeps her lover."”

   “[W]hat we have here, they believe, are two members of gangs that have been plaguing Islington for more than a year. They snatch smartphones from pedestrians, then sell the items on the black market.”

   “Just as Mr. Clinton began a comeback with a down-home plea for forgiveness, Mrs. Clinton now seems determined to prove, perhaps to the point of overcompensation, that she will not repeat the mistakes that plagued her 2008 campaign.”

2. (transitive)To afflict with a disease or other calamity.

   “Natural catastrophes plagued the colonists till they abandoned the pestilent marshland.”

   “Falling prices and drought plagued the cattle industry.”