pernicious English · revision 1321

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pəˈnɪʃəs/ ''(UK)''; /pɚˈnɪʃəs/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|pernicios]] and [[la|perniciōsus|t=destructive, ruinous]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''perniciēs'' “destruction, death”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''per-'' “completely” and ''nex'' (genitive ''necis'') “violent death”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It is related to [[noxious]].^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Harmful or fatal (probably before 1425),^(Barnhart 1995) or of a deed, evil and wicked (early 15th century).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the 1520s the word meant destructive or injurious.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The sense “wicked” is now archaic or obsolete.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) ''Pernicious anaemia'' translates a German medical term.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * probably before 1425 – harmful, fatal; wicked.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1521 – destructive, ruinous.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1555 – harbouring evil designs, now rare.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Causing great harm, especially in a gradual or [[insidious]] way.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Deadly; [[fatal]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Evil or wicked.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[perniciously]]

+ * [[perniciousness]]

+ * [[pernicious anemia]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[noxious]]

+ * [[internecine]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Merriam-Webster compares ''pernicious'', ''baneful'', ''noxious'', ''deleterious'' and ''detrimental'', all meaning exceedingly harmful, and explains that ''pernicious'' implies irreparable harm done by insidious corruption or undermining.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}