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peste

plague, pest

noun PEST Less Common
Body & Health Health & Illness

Also means

nuisance (informal)

Usage Note

Peste originally referred to the bubonic plague and is still used historically. Informally, une peste or quelle peste! describes an irritating person, especially a child. The exclamation peste! (archaic) expressed surprise or admiration, similar to 'good heavens!' The verb pester means 'to grumble, to fume'.

Examples

"La peste a ravagé l'Europe au Moyen Âge."

Natural Translation

The plague ravaged Europe in the Middle Ages.

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