Where does “cataclysmal” come from?
cataclysmal (English) comes from English cataclysm, from French cataclysme, from Latin cataclysmus, from Ancient Greek κατακλυσμός, from Ancient Greek κατακλύζω, from Ancient Greek κᾰτᾰ-, from Ancient Greek κατά, from Ancient Greek καταστερίζω — to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth.
cataclysmal (English): As destructive as a cataclysm
Definitions
- As destructive as a cataclysm
Ancestry of “cataclysmal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | cataclysm | A sudden, violent event; A sudden and violent... |
| 2 | French | cataclysme | cataclysm |
| 3 | Latin | cataclysmus | deluge, flood, inundation; shower, douche |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | κατακλυσμός | flood, inundation; deluge |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | κατακλύζω | to dash over, flood, deluge, inundate; I wash... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | κᾰτᾰ- | fully; down; denoting motion downwards |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | κατά | |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | καταστερίζω | to place among the stars; I put among the stars |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | ἀστήρ | a celestial body; illustrious person; starfish |
| 10 | Proto-Hellenic | astḗr | star |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂stḗr | star |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eHs- | to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth |