disaster
noun
Origin
Italian and Greek roots
disastro — an ill-starred event
Overview
Meaning Now
- A sudden event that causes extensive damage, loss, or failure.
Literal older meaning
an ill-starred event
Language path
Greek roots → Italian → French → Modern English
Earliest form
disastro
Earliest period
Italian
Journey
Disaster came into English through French and Italian forms meaning ill-starred. Its older image connects misfortune with the stars, while modern English uses the word for a serious failure or catastrophe.
Evolution
- Italian
disastro
“bad star or ill-starred event”
- Early Modern English
disaster
“an unlucky event”
- Modern English
disaster
“a sudden serious failure or catastrophe”
Connections
Related words
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Related to disaster
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.