pernicious

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Related terms 1.3.2 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French pernicios, from Latin perniciosus (“‘destructive’”), from pernicies (“‘destruction’”), from per (“‘through’”) + nex (“‘slaughter, death’”)

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -ɪʃəs

[edit] Adjective

pernicious (comparative more pernicious, superlative most pernicious)

1. Causing death or injury; deadly.
2. Causing much harm in a subtle way.
   • 1911, Emma Goldman, The Hypocrisy of Puritanism,

     Puritanism no longer employs the thumbscrew and lash; but it still has a most pernicious hold on the minds and feelings of the American people.

[edit] Related terms

• pernicious anaemia

[edit] Translations