la peste

Word: peste

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Meaning:

In Spanish, "peste" generally means "plague" or "pestilence." It refers to a contagious disease that spreads rapidly and causes many deaths, similar to the historical Black Death.

It can also be used figuratively to describe something very unpleasant, annoying, or harmful.

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Explanation:

1. Literal meaning:

   • A deadly infectious disease that spreads quickly among animals or people.
   • Historically associated with epidemic outbreaks like the bubonic plague.

2. Figurative meaning:

   • Describes a person or thing that is very annoying or troublesome.
   • Used to express dislike or frustration.

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Parts of the word:

• The word "peste" comes from Latin pestis, meaning "plague" or "pestilence."

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Synonyms:

• Literal: epidemia, contagio, plaga, pestilencia
• Figurative: problema, molestia, fastidio, calamidad

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Antonyms:

For literal sense (a plague/disease):

• salud (health)
• cura (cure)

For figurative sense (annoyance):

• alegría (joy)
• bendición (blessing)

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Example sentences:

• Literal: "La peste bubónica causó muchas muertes en la Edad Media."
  (The bubonic plague caused many deaths in the Middle Ages.)

• Figurative: "Ese niño es una peste, siempre causando problemas."
  (That boy is a pest, always causing trouble.)