pestĭlentĭa, ae, f. [pestilens], an infectious or contagious disease, a plague, pest, pestilence.
I Lit. (class.): Massilienses gravi pestilentiā conflictati, Caes. B. C. 2, 22; Cic. Off. 2, 5, 16: pestilentia gravis incidit in urbem, Liv. 27, 23: pestilentiae contagia prohibere, Plin. 23, 8, 80, § 157; Cels. 1, 10; 2, 1; 3, 7 init. —
B Transf., an unwholesome atmosphere , weather , or region (class.): agrorum genus propter pestilentiam vastum atque desertum, Cic. Agr. 2, 26, 70: pestilentiae signa (opp. signa salubritatis), id. Div. 1, 5, 7: pestilentiae possessores, id. Agr. 1, 5, 15.—
II Trop., a plague , pest , pestilence (poet. and in postclass. prose): oratio plena veneni et pestilentiae, Cat. 44, 11: cathedra pestilentiae, the seat of the scornful , Vulg. Psa. 1, 1.— In plur.: animorum labes et pestilentiae, Gell. 1, 2, 4.