Disaster
/dɪˈzæs.tər/noun
A sudden event causing great damage or hardship.
Did you know?The word 'disaster' originally referred to a 'bad star' in astrology, reflecting the belief that celestial events could influence human fate.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
disastrum
“Ill-starred event”
Italian
Italian
disastro
“Ill fortune, misfortune”
Middle French
French
désastre
“Disaster, misfortune”
16th Century
English
disaster
“Calamity, misfortune”
Modern English
English
disaster
“Sudden event causing great damage or hardship”