| French cataclysme, from [[Latin]] cataclysmos, from Greek kataklysmos, from kataklyzein to inundate, from kata- + klyzein to wash — | | French cataclysme, from [[Latin]] cataclysmos, from Greek kataklysmos, from kataklyzein to inundate, from kata- + klyzein to wash — |
| *3 : a momentous and [[violent]] [[event]] marked by overwhelming upheaval and demolition; broadly : an event that brings great [[changes]] | | *3 : a momentous and [[violent]] [[event]] marked by overwhelming upheaval and demolition; broadly : an event that brings great [[changes]] |
− | [[Cataclysm]] is the [[Greek]] [[expression]] for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deluge_(mythology) Deluge], from the Greek kataklysmos, to 'wash down' (kluzein "wash" + kata "down").[citation needed] Its analogue is an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekpyrosis ekpyrosis] (conflagration). In the Bible, it has also been used to describe events such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah%27s_Ark the Flood], the destruction of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodom_and_Gomorrah Sodom and Gomorrah], and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagues_of_Egypt tenth plague of Egypt]. The modern usage of cataclysm is mostly confined to [[geological]] [[phenomena]] of high significance, such as the destruction of Pompeii, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_event Tunguska event], or the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake] and the destruction of the Bolivar Peninsula by Hurricane Ike. Today the word is used to describe catastrophes of extreme devastation and magnitude. | + | [[Cataclysm]] is the [[Greek]] [[expression]] for the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deluge_(mythology) Deluge], from the Greek kataklysmos, to 'wash down' (kluzein "wash" + kata "down").[citation needed] Its analogue is an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekpyrosis ekpyrosis] (conflagration). In the Bible, it has also been used to describe events such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah%27s_Ark the Flood], the destruction of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodom_and_Gomorrah Sodom and Gomorrah], and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagues_of_Egypt tenth plague of Egypt]. The modern usage of cataclysm is mostly confined to [[geological]] [[phenomena]] of high significance, such as the destruction of Pompeii, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_event Tunguska event], or the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake] and the destruction of the Bolivar Peninsula by Hurricane Ike. Today the word is used to describe catastrophes of extreme devastation and magnitude. |