Dictionary entry

Deleterious

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Del′e‐te″ri‐ous (?), a. [LL. deleterius noxious, Gr. δηλητήριοσ, fr. δηλει̑σθαι to hurt, damage; prob. akin to L. delere to destroy.] Hurtful; noxious; destructive; pernicious; as, a deleterious plant or quality; a deleterious example. — Del′e‐te″ri‐ous‐ly, adv. — Del′e‐te″ri‐ous‐ness, n.