calami-, calamit-
(Latin: damage, injury, loss, misfortune, disaster, disastrous, adversity)
A meteorologist who studies the atmosphere and weather conditions and who is concerned about how people are polluting the earth's environment: The calamitologist was on TV urging industrial nations to be aware that they might be making air, water, and land too harmful and dangerous for people and other living things to exist and causing weather conditions to be more extreme and destructive.
calamitous (kuh LAHM i tuhs) (adjective), more calamitous, most calamitous
1. A reference to being very miserable as a result of some deep agony or by being very unhappy because of a serious misfortune: The Johnson family was existing in a calamitous situation after the earthquake destroyed their home.
3. Descriptive of a terrible disaster: The drought caused a calamitous loss of crops throughout the region.
4. Characteristic of great suffering from a misfortune or affliction: Sarah's severe illness created a calamitous life for her, her children and her husband.
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The storm was the most calamitous one that Mary and Sam had ever experienced.
2. Related to distress and depression which is deplorable: The bad economy resulted in a calamitous event when the family lost their house because they couldn't make their payments.3. Descriptive of a terrible disaster: The drought caused a calamitous loss of crops throughout the region.
4. Characteristic of great suffering from a misfortune or affliction: Sarah's severe illness created a calamitous life for her, her children and her husband.
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calamitously (adverb), more calamitously, most calamitously
In a manner that brings great distress or destruction: The bush fires created a calamitously destructive loss of homes in the area.
calamitousness (noun) (no plural)
Deep distress; wretchedness; misery; dire consequences: The calamitousness caused by wars throughout history should not be ignored.
1. A disastrous event resulting in great loss and misfortune: The recent flooding was a great calamity.
2. A great misfortune or disaster: There were calamities for all of the people who were involved in the series of auto accidents that took place in the thick fog.
3. A grievous affliction; adversity; misery: People are seeing many more calamities resulting from the wars in Iraq, Syria, and other countries from which refugees are fleeing to European countries.
4. An event that brings terrible loss, lasting distress, or severe affliction: The fire in the hotel resulted in calamities that caused losses of life and many severe injuries.
2. A great misfortune or disaster: There were calamities for all of the people who were involved in the series of auto accidents that took place in the thick fog.
3. A grievous affliction; adversity; misery: People are seeing many more calamities resulting from the wars in Iraq, Syria, and other countries from which refugees are fleeing to European countries.
4. An event that brings terrible loss, lasting distress, or severe affliction: The fire in the hotel resulted in calamities that caused losses of life and many severe injuries.
"Calamity is what a pessimist sees in every opportunity, while the optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity."
Dire financial or economic distress created by fiscal mismanagement: So many people keep hearing about the many fiscalamities that are taking place in all parts of the world.
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