plāga, ae, f. [cf. plango], = πληγή, a blow, stroke, wound, stripe (class.; syn.: ictus, verbera, vulnus).
I Lit.
A In gen., Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 51, § 134: (pueris) dant animos plagae, Verg. A. 7, 382; Ov. M. 12, 487; 13, 119; Gell. 5, 15, 7: plagae et vulnera, Tac. G. 7.—Of the shock of atoms striking together, Cic. Fat. 20, 48; cf. id. ib. 10, 22.—
B In partic., a blow which wounds or injures; a stroke , cut , thrust; a wound (class.).
1 Absol. : plagis costae callent, Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 4: quem irrigatum plagis pistori dabo, refreshed by a flogging , id. Ep. 1, 2, 18: plagas pati, Ter. Eun. 244: plagas perferre, to bear , receive blows , Cic. Tusc. 2, 17, 41: plagam accipere, id. Sest. 19, 44: plagam mortiferam infligere, to inflict a mortal wound , id. Vatin. 8, 20: plaga mediocris pestifera, id. Off. 1, 24, 84: verbera et plagas repraesentare, stripes and blows , Suet. Vit. 10: plagis confectus, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 54, § 140: flagelli plaga livorem facit, Vulg. Ecclus. 28, 21: plagam curare, Cels. 5, 26, 24: suere, id. 5, 26, 23.—
2 With gen.: scorpionum et canum plagas sanare, Plin. H. N. 23 prooem. 3, § 6.—
C Transf., a welt , scar , stripe : etiam de tergo ducentas plagas praegnatis dabo, swollen welts , Plaut. As. 2, 2, 10.—
II Trop.
A A blow , stroke; an injury , misfortune (class.): illa plaga est injecta petitioni tuae maxima, that great blow was given , that great obstacle was presented , Cic. Mur. 23, 48: sic nec oratio plagam gravem facit, nisi, etc., makes a deep impression , id. Or. 68, 228: levior est plaga ab amico, quam a debitore, loss , injury , id. Fam. 9, 16, 7: hac ille perculsus plaga non succubuit, blow , disaster , Nep. Eum. 5.—
B A plague , pestilence , infection (late Lat.): leprae, Vulg. Lev. 13, 2; id. 2 Reg. 24, 25.—
C An affliction , annoyance (late Lat.), Vulg. Deut. 7, 19: caecitatis, id. Tob. 2, 13.—
D Slaughter , destruction (late Lat.): percussit eos plagā magnā, Vulg. 1 Reg. 23, 5; id. 2 Reg. 17, 9.