What is the meaning of plague?

Meaning "epidemic that causes many deaths" is from 1540s; specifically in reference to bubonic plague from c.1600. Modern spelling follows French, which had plague from 15c. Weakened sense of "anything annoying" is from c.1600. v. late 15c., from Middle Dutch plaghen, from plaghe (n.) "plague" (see plague (n.)). read more

to smite with a plague, pestilence, death, etc.; scourge: those whom the gods had plagued. to infect with a plague; cause an epidemic in or among: diseases that still plague the natives of Ethiopia. to afflict with any evil: He was plagued by allergies all his life. read more

The most common form of plague is bubonic plague, though plague can also exist as a highly contagious form infecting the lungs and as an extremely severe form infecting the blood. Plague a group which, by their size, number, or nature, cause devastation or irritation. read more