plague

n. [ L. plaga a blow, stroke, plague; akin to Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to strike; cf. L. plangere to strike, beat. Cf. Plaint. ] 1. That which smites, wounds, or troubles; a blow; a calamity; any afflictive evil or torment; a great trail or vexation. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

And men blasphemed God for the plague of hail. Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

The different plague of each calamity. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) An acute malignant contagious fever, that often prevails in Egypt, Syria, and Turkey, and has at times visited the large cities of Europe with frightful mortality; hence, any pestilence; as, the great London plague. “A plague upon the people fell.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cattle plague. See Rinderpest. --
Plague mark,
Plague spot, a spot or mark of the plague; hence, a token of something incurable. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Plagued p. pr. & vb. n. Plaguing. ] 1. To infest or afflict with disease, calamity, or natural evil of any kind. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thus were they plagued
And worn with famine. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: To vex; to tease; to harass. [ 1913 Webster ]

She will plague the man that loves her most. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To vex; torment; distress; afflict; harass; annoy; tease; tantalize; trouble; molest; embarrass; perplex. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Abounding, or infecting, with plagues; pestilential; as, plagueful exhalations. [ 1913 Webster ]