Webster's English Dictionary

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disaster

di.sas.ter \diz-'as-t*r or dis-\ n [MF & OIt; MF desastre, fr. OIt 
   disastro, fr. dis- (fr. L) +]astro star, fr. L astrum obs  1: an 
   unfavorable aspect of a planet or star  2: a sudden or great misfortune 
   mplies an unforeseen mischance bringing with it destruction of life or 
   property or utter defeat; CALAMITY implies a grievous misfortune causing 
   usu. widespread distress and misery; CATASTROPHE implies generally a 
   disastrous conclusion to a series of events; CATACLYSM connotes 
   overwhelming or shattering natural or social forces SYN syn CALAMITY, 
   CATASTROPHE, CATACLYSM: DISASTER i