plague

Where does the word "plague" come from? It comes from Latin plaga, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Plague’s story begins in Latin: plaga meant “blow, wound.” From Greek 'plēgē', stroke. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as plage. A divine blow or affliction. It reached English by 1300s as plague. The Great Plague of London struck in 1665. Today, plague means a deadly contagious disease.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient plaga "blow, wound", from Greek 'plēgē', stroke.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval plage "wound, affliction", a divine blow or affliction.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s plague "affliction", the Great Plague of London struck in 1665.