Boozer
03-21-06, 11:38AM
pernicious • \per-NISH-us\ • adjective
: highly injurious or destructive : deadly
Example sentence:
Farmers stopped using the pesticide after discovering that it had a pernicious effect on some wheat crops.
Did you know?
When the wind blows ill and wicked, and you need a word for the evil that such deadly currents can do, consider "pernicious" or "noxious"; both describe something exceedingly harmful. Of the two, "pernicious" more strongly implies irreparable harm done through evil or insidious corrupting or undermining. "Noxious" is more often used for that which is offensive or injurious to the health of body or mind. The sense of wickedness in those two words is entwined deep in their histories. "Pernicious" comes from the Latin root "nex" (meaning "violent death"), which is related to Latin "noxa" (meaning "harm"), the root of English "noxious."
: highly injurious or destructive : deadly
Example sentence:
Farmers stopped using the pesticide after discovering that it had a pernicious effect on some wheat crops.
Did you know?
When the wind blows ill and wicked, and you need a word for the evil that such deadly currents can do, consider "pernicious" or "noxious"; both describe something exceedingly harmful. Of the two, "pernicious" more strongly implies irreparable harm done through evil or insidious corrupting or undermining. "Noxious" is more often used for that which is offensive or injurious to the health of body or mind. The sense of wickedness in those two words is entwined deep in their histories. "Pernicious" comes from the Latin root "nex" (meaning "violent death"), which is related to Latin "noxa" (meaning "harm"), the root of English "noxious."