pestiferous
英 [pe'stɪf(ə)rəs]
美[pɛs'tɪfərəs]
英文词源
- pestiferous (adj.)
- mid-15c., "mischievous, pernicious," figurative use of Latin pestiferus "that brings plague or destruction," variant of pestifer "bringing plague, destructive, noxious," from pestis "plague" (see pest) + ferre "carry" (see infer). Related: Pestiferously; pestiferousness.
英英释意
- 1. contaminated with infecting organisms;
- "dirty wounds"
- "obliged to go into infected rooms"- Jane Austen
- 2. likely to spread and cause an epidemic disease;
- "a pestilential malignancy in the air"- Jonathan Swift
- "plaguey fevers"
- 3. tending to corrupt or pervert
- 4. causing irritation or annoyance;
- "tapping an annoying rhythm on his glass with his fork"
- "aircraft noise is particularly bothersome near the airport"
- "found it galling to have to ask permission"
- "an irritating delay"
- "nettlesome paperwork"
- "a pesky mosquito"
- "swarms of pestering gnats"
- "a plaguey newfangled safety catch"
- "a teasing and persistent thought annoyed him"
- "a vexatious child"
- "it is vexing to have to admit you are wrong"
