Blight

Plant Pathology.

the rapid and extensive discoloration, wilting, and death of plant tissues.
a disease so characterized.

any cause of impairment, destruction, ruin, or frustration:
Extravagance was the blight of the family.
the state or result of being blighted or deteriorated; dilapidation; decay:
urban blight.
to cause to wither or decay; blast:
Frost blighted the crops.
to destroy; ruin; frustrate:
Illness blighted his hopes.
to suffer blight.
Contemporary Examples

Books Aren’t Dying Patrick DeWitt February 26, 2009
A Tech Millionaire Bets on the Urban Revival of Downtown Las Vegas Sarah Kunst January 15, 2014

Historical Examples

Porto Rico Arthur D. Hall
What Sami Sings with the Birds Johanna Spyri
The Felon’s Track Michael Doheny
Doctor Pascal Emile Zola
Lippincott’s Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, April, 1876. Various
The Martins Of Cro’ Martin, Vol. II (of II) Charles James Lever
The Story of Silk Sara Ware Bassett
The Martins Of Cro’ Martin, Vol. II (of II) Charles James Lever

noun
any plant disease characterized by withering and shrivelling without rotting See also potato blight
any factor, such as bacterial attack or air pollution, that causes the symptoms of blight in plants
a person or thing that mars or prevents growth, improvement, or prosperity
an ugly urban district
the state or condition of being blighted or spoilt
verb
to cause or suffer a blight
(transitive) to frustrate or disappoint
(transitive) to spoil; destroy
n.
v.
blight
(blīt)