pestiferous

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pestiferous

/ˌpɛsˈtɪfəɹəs/ Canada

Rhymes with -ɪfəɹəs

Where it comes from

Mid 15th century, in sense “mischievous, pernicious”, from Latin pestifer (“bearing plague”), from pestis (“plague”) + -fer (“carrying”).

By surface analysis, pesti- + -ferous (“bearing, carrying”).

adjective more pestiferous · most pestiferous

Containing organisms that cause contagious diseases. because he hath vouchsafed to preserue our nation from such fountains, from serpents and venemous wormes, & from al other pestiferous & contagious creatures.
Annoying, vexatious. No, prelate; such is thy audacious wickedness, / Thy lewd, pestiferous, and dissentious pranks, / As very infants prattle of thy pride.
Similar: pestilent

Translations

Every language

adj containing organisms that cause contagious diseases

Español	pestífero
Français	pestilentiel
Română	pestifer, pestilențial
Русский	заразный zaraznyj

adj annoying, vexatious

Español	pestífero, pernicioso, pesado
Italiano	pestilenziale, pestifero
Română	plictisitor, sâcâitor, pisălog
Русский	надое́дливый nadojédlivyj

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MLA

"pestiferous." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/pestiferous. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

pestiferous. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/pestiferous

Chicago

"pestiferous." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/pestiferous.

BibTeX

@misc{pestiferous_2026,
  title = {pestiferous},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/pestiferous},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}