disaster

English

/dɪˈzæs.tɚ/, /dɪˈzɑːs.tə(ɹ)/, /dɪˈzæs.tə/

noun
Definitions
  • An unexpected natural or man-made catastrophe of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life or sometimes permanent change to the natural environment.
  • An unforeseen event causing great loss, upset or unpleasantness of whatever kind.

Etymology

Derived from Middle French desastre derived from Italian disastro derived from Latin astrum (star) derived from Ancient Greek ἄστρον (star, celestial body, a star) derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr (star).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*h₂stḗr

Gloss

star

Concept
Semantic Field

The physical world

Ontological Category

Person/Thing

Kanji

Emoji
✨ ⭐️ 🌃 🌞 🌟 🌠 👨‍🎤 👩‍🎤 💫 🤩 🧑‍🎤 🌝 🔭

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms