pestilence

A usually fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague.

A pernicious, evil influence or agent.

The disease called the plague or pest; also, any epidemic malignant disease.

That which is pestilential or pestiferous; that which produces or tends to produce malignant disease.

That which is morally pestilent; that which is mischievous, noxious, or malignant in any respect.

Specifically, the disease known as the plague; hence, any contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating.

Fig.: That which is pestilent, noxious, or pernicious to the moral character of great numbers.

the butterbur coltsfoot (Petasites vulgaris), so called because formerly considered a remedy for the plague.

Any epidemic disease that is highly contagious, infectious, virulent and devastating.

a serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal