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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Plague

Plāgue, n.

noun

(plāg), n. [D. plaag, Ger. & D. plage, Sw. plåga, from Lat. plaga, a blow, stroke; Gr. πληγή, from πλήσσειν, to strike; Pr. plaga, plagua, playca, O. Sp. plaga, N. Sp. llaga, Pg. chaga, It. piaga, Fr. plaie.] 1. That which smites or wounds; any afflictive evil or calamity; a great trial or vexation. “A plague upon this howling.” Shaks. They count that as an enjoyment, which, upon experience, they find a plague and a great calamity. South.

  1. (Med.) An acute, malignant, febrile disease, that often prevails in Egypt, Syria, and Turkey, and has at times prevailed in the large cities of Europe with frightful mortality.
  2. Hence, any pestilence.

Plāgue, v. t.

verbtransitive

(plāg), v. t. [imp. & p. p. PLAGUED; p. pr. & vb. n. PLAGUING.] [D. & Ger. plagen, Dan. plage, Sw. plāga, Pr. & O. Sp. plagar, N. Sp. llagar, Pg. chagar, It. piagare, O. Fr. plaier. See supra.]

Sense 1. To vex; to tease; to harass; to trouble; to embarrass.

If her nature be so, Then she will plague the man that loves her most. Spenser.

Sense 2. To infest with disease, calamity, or natural evil of any kind.

Thus were they plagued And worn with famine. Milton.

Synonyms—To vex; torment; distress; afflict; harass; annoy; tease; tantalize; trouble; molest; embarrass; perplex.