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peste

plague, pest

noun PEST Less Common

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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