To inflict great suffering on the people; to persecute and harm the populace.
一场突如其来的瘟疫，在短时间内迅速蔓延，荼毒生灵无数，给当地带来了巨大的灾难。
A sudden plague spread rapidly in a short time, inflicting great suffering on countless people and causing a huge disaster for the local area.
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