pernicious

 
Pronunciation: /pəˈnɪʃəs/

adjective

  • having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way: the pernicious influences of the mass media

Derivatives

perniciously

adverb

perniciousness

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin perniciosus 'destructive', from pernicies 'ruin', based on nex, nec- 'death'

Spelling help

The ending of pernicious is spelled -cious.