The term "pestilent" is employed in literature as a potent descriptor for both literal afflictions and corrosive influences. In some works, it carries the direct connotation of disease or plague—illustrated by its etymological roots ([1]) and its use to describe a malady, as in the case of lycanthropia ([2]). In other texts, however, the term metaphorically denotes a corrupt, pervasive force; characters or atmospheres are imbued with pestilent qualities not unlike a toxic spirit or malicious doctrine, as seen in Ibsen's portrayal of self-will ([3]), Webster's depiction of court intrigues ([4]), and Foxe's critique of spreading doctrines ([5]). Even Hardy describes emotional turmoil using the term ([6]), while Chesterton reflects on the sweeping impact of societal abuses ([7]). Thus, across these varied contexts—from Shakespeare’s scornful labeling of a character ([8]) to the moral condemnations embedded in St. Augustine’s writings ([9], [10])—"pestilent" serves as a versatile metaphor that conjures the hazards of both physical disease and moral decay.