calamity
UK: kəˈlæməti | US: kəˈlæməti
n. a disastrous event causing great damage or distress
n. severe misfortune or adversity
n. (archaic) a state of deep distress or misery
The word "calamity" traces back to the Latin calamitas, meaning "disaster" or "damage," possibly linked to calamus (reed), metaphorically evoking the fragility of reeds in a storm. The suffix "-ity" (from Latin -itas) forms abstract nouns, turning "calam" into a concept of widespread ruin. Over time, the term broadened from physical destruction to encompass profound misfortune.
The earthquake was a calamity that left thousands homeless.
Financial calamity struck when the company went bankrupt.
In literature, the hero often faces a personal calamity before redemption.
The pandemic was a global calamity with lasting impacts.
Ancient texts describe the flood as a divine calamity.