catastrophe

views updated May 21 2018

ca·tas·tro·phe / kəˈtastrəfē/ • n. an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster: a national economic catastrophe | leading the world to catastrophe. ∎  the denouement of a classical tragedy.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

catastrophe

views updated May 18 2018

catastrophe dénouement of a drama; disastrous end XVII; event subversive of order XVII; sudden disaster XVIII. — L. catastropha — Gr. katastrophḗ overturning, sudden turn, f. katastréphein overturn.
Hence catastrophic XIX.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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