Pest

pest, n. a deadly disease: a plague: anything destructive: a troublesome person.— n. Pest′house , a hospital for persons afflicted with any contagious disease.— adj. Pestif′erous , contagious: pestilent: annoying.— adv. Pestif′erously .— n. Pest′ilence , any contagious deadly disease: anything that is hurtful to the morals.— adjs. Pest′ilent , producing pestilence: hurtful to health and life: mischievous: corrupt: troublesome; Pestilen′tial , of the nature of pestilence: producing pestilence: destructive.— advs. Pestilen′tially , Pest′ilently . [Fr. peste —L. pest is , a contagious disease.]