calamity
English meaning: Calamity
Definition
An event resulting in great loss.
Example
“The earthquake was the worst calamity to strike the region in a century.”
Another example: “The failed harvest brought calamity to the farming villages.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A formal-to-neutral noun for an event causing great loss, distress or misfortune. Slightly literary; common in news and serious writing ('a national calamity'). Also part of the legendary name 'Calamity Jane'.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Latin 'calamitas' (damage, disaster, loss), possibly related to 'calamus' (crop stalk, hence crop damage); in English from the 15th century.
Synonyms
- catastrophe
- disaster
- cataclysm
- misfortune
- tragedy
- adversity
Antonyms / Opposites
- blessing
- fortune
- boon
Related Words
Common Collocations
- public calamity
- national calamity
- befall calamity
- avert a calamity
- financial calamity
- calamity strikes
Word Forms
calamity (n); calamities (pl); calamitous (adj)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B