Hypertext Webster Gateway: "pestiferous"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Pestiferous \Pes*tif"er*ous\, a. [L. pestiferus, pestifer;
pestis pest + ferre to bear: cf. F. pestif[`e]re.]
1. Pest-bearing; pestilential; noxious to health; malignant;
infectious; contagious; as, pestiferous bodies. ``Poor,
pestiferous creatures begging alms.'' --Evelyn.
``Unwholesome and pestiferous occupations.'' --Burke.
2. Noxious to peace, to morals, or to society; vicious;
hurtful; destructive; as, a pestiferous demagogue.
Pestiferous reports of men very nobly held. --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
pestiferous
adj : 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" [syn: {annoying}, {bothersome},
{galling}, {irritating}, {nettlesome}, {pesky}, {pestering},
{plaguy}, {plaguey}, {teasing}, {vexatious}, {vexing}]
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