Cataclysms

/ˈkætəˌklɪzəmz/ noun

Definition

Plural of cataclysm; sudden, violent, and large-scale upheavals, disasters, or events that cause major change or destruction.

Etymology

Plural form of 'cataclysm', from Greek 'kataklysmos' (deluge). The singular form is well-established; the plural simply marks multiple such events.

Kelly Says

When the Krakatoa volcano exploded in 1883, it was described as one of history's greatest cataclysms—the blast was heard 3,000 miles away, showing how the word captures truly planetary-scale disasters.

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