Blight (noun)

1. A disease or condition that damages or stunts the growth of a plant.
2. A thing that spoils or damages something; a curse or bane.
3. A state or area suffering from poverty, neglect, or environmental degradation.

Origin:

Middle english: from old english blǣġwian "to wither", from blǣġ "pale, wan" + wian "to wither".

Examples:

1. The potato crop was destroyed by blight.
2. The city's inner-city neighborhoods were a blight on the community.
3. The abandoned factory was a blight on the otherwise picturesque town.
4. The new highway was a blight to the countryside.
5. The blight caused the leaves to turn brown and fall off.