plague
UK[pleɪɡ]US[pleɪɡ]
n
A serious infectious disease that spreads quickly and kills many people.
n
A large number of something harmful or annoying.
v
To cause continual trouble, distress, or annoyance.
Etymology
The word 'plague' entered English via Latin, carrying the sense of a 'blow' or 'strike'. This literal meaning of a physical impact evolved metaphorically in Latin to describe a calamity or pestilence, conceptualized as a blow from the gods or fate. The specific association with the deadly bubonic plague solidified in the late Middle Ages, anchoring the term's primary medical meaning. From this core idea of a devastating affliction, the word's usage broadened again to metaphorically describe any persistent nuisance or infestation, completing its journey from a concrete 'blow' to an abstract 'source of continual trouble'.
Analysis
The word 'plague' is a simplex loanword. Its core spelling and sound were adopted directly from the Latin 'plaga' (meaning a blow, wound, or pestilence), which itself likely came from a Greek root 'plēgē' (πληγή) meaning 'stroke' or 'blow'.
Examples
The bubonic plague devastated Europe in the 14th century.
The region was plagued by a plague of locusts that destroyed the crops.
Financial problems have plagued the company for years.