pestilence
Definitions
A deadly contagious epidemic disease, especially one that spreads widely
瘟疫，致命的流行病
Something harmful or evil that spreads
有害（蔓延）的事物，祸患
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedpest (plague, from Latin pestis) + -ence (state) = the state of plague — a sweeping, deadly epidemic. This is the root in its original, undiluted weight, before it softened into 'pest.'
Root pest still carries 5 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.spread of pestilence瘟疫的蔓延
- 2.famine and pestilence饥荒与瘟疫
- 3.ravaged by pestilence被瘟疫蹂躏
Example Sentences
- 1.
The medieval city was ravaged by pestilence.
- 2.
War was followed by famine and pestilence.
- 3.
He spoke of corruption as a pestilence on the nation.
Synonym Comparison
- pestilence — literary/archaic word for a deadly epidemic; carries dread
- plague — the common word for an epidemic; also a specific disease (the plague)
- epidemic — neutral, scientific: a disease spreading through a population
- pandemic — an epidemic across many countries or worldwide
- outbreak — a sudden local start of a disease