A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Pestifer(o)us, a. Also: -forus. [e.m.E. pestiferous (1) noxious (1542), fig. (1458), f. L. pestifer, -ferus, plague-bringing, f. L. pestis Pest n. and fer, stem of ferre to bear; (2) plague-stricken (1652), f. F. pestifère.] Pestiferous, in the usual senses.
1. Infested by disease or plague; noxious, deadly; harmful to health.1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 6.
Forther continuall schouris of veit with greit sowthin wynde or the samin blawand from pestiferous placis Ib. 18. 1632 Lithgow Trav. vi. 256.
That pestiferous gulfe 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 46.
A litle of hir hair which they boill with pestiferous herbs
2. Of a person: Suffering from, and so carrying, the plague.1585–6 Reg. Privy C. IV. 46.
[The bailies] to remove the saidis pestiferous personis … furth of the saidis houssis and mak the same … clene of the said pest 1606 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 254.
Pestiforus
3. fig. Of (chiefly, non-material) things, also of persons.a. Pernicious; harmful; threatening danger. b. Hurtful to morals or society; threatening corruption.(1) 1513 Doug. vii. ix. 63.
A ryft or swelch … Gapand with his pestiferus gowle full wide 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 17.
I renunce the mess … and … purgatorie as pestiferous and blaspheming thingis 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 181 (G).
That pestiferus … rebellione off our fyrst parentis 1562-3 Winȝet II. 34/8. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 43.
That … the moist pestiferus nature of the said monsture [Chamæleon] may be moir easelie evitit 1586 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 658.
The pestiferous sect of Jesuites 1596 Dalr. II. 41/15.
That his pestiferous errour spred nocht farther he was commandet to be burnt(2) 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. Prol. 3.
Pestiferus prelatis that papistrie pretendis 1597 5th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 631/2.
As executor … to the maist venemous pestiferous serpent Margartt Erskyne 1614 Denmylne MSS. in Highland P. III. 162.
To rut out one pestiferous clan 1683 Banff Ann. I. 162.
A pestiferous and wicked persone
