catastrophe
1catastrophe — [ katastrɔf ] n. f. • 1552; lat. catastropha, gr. katastrophê « bouleversement » 1 ♦ Didact. Dernier et principal événement (d un poème, d une tragédie). ⇒ dénouement. « La catastrophe de ma pièce est peut être un peu trop sanglante » (Racine). 2 …
2catastrophe — CATASTROPHE. s. f. Le dernier & principal evenement d une Tragedie. Grande catastrophe, sanglante catastrophe. Il signifie aussi figur. Une fin malheureuse. La vie de cet homme a esté long temps heureuse, mais la catastrophe en a esté funeste.… …
3Catastrophe — Ca*tas tro*phe, n. [L. catastropha, Gr. ?, fr. ? to turn up and down, to overturn; kata down + ? to turn.] 1. An event producing a subversion of the order or system of things; a final event, usually of a calamitous or disastrous nature; hence,… …
4catastrophe — CATASTROPHE. s. f. Le dernier et principal événement d une Tragédie. Grande catastrophe. Sanglantecatastrophe. Il ne se dit guère que d Un événement funeste. [b]f♛/b] Il signifie figurément Une fin malheureuse. La vie de ce Prince avoit été… …
5catastrophe — I noun accident, adversity, affliction, calamitas, calamity, cataclysm, collapse, contretemps, debacle, decimation, desolation, destruction, devastation, disaster, downfall, emergency, eradication, extinction, great misfortune, hardship, havoc,… …
6catastrophe — (n.) 1530s, reversal of what is expected (especially a fatal turning point in a drama), from L. catastropha, from Gk. katastrophe an overturning; a sudden end, from katastrephein to overturn, turn down, trample on; to come to an end, from kata… …
7catastrophe — *disaster, calamity, cataclysm Analogous words: *trial, tribulation, visitation: defeating or defeat, overthrowing or overthrow, routing or rout (see corresponding verbs at CONQUER) Contrasted words: *victory, triumph …
8catastrophe — [n] calamity; unhappy conclusion accident, adversity, affliction, alluvion, bad luck, bad news*, blow, calamity, casualty, cataclysm, contretemps, crash, culmination, curtains*, debacle, denouement, desolation, devastation, disaster, emergency,… …
9catastrophe — ► NOUN ▪ an event causing great damage or suffering. DERIVATIVES catastrophic adjective. ORIGIN Greek katastroph overturning, sudden turn …
10catastrophe — [kə tas′trə fē] n. [L catastropha < Gr katastrophē, an overthrowing < katastrephein, to overturn < kata , down + strephein, to turn: see STROPHE] 1. the culminating event of a drama, esp. of a tragedy, by which the plot is resolved;… …
