disaster

Meaning

Noun

• An unexpected natural or man-made catastrophe of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life or sometimes permanent change to the natural environment.
• An unforeseen event causing great loss, upset or unpleasantness of whatever kind.

Origin

• From Middle French desastre, from Italian disastro, from dis- + astro, from Latin astrum ("star"), from Ancient Greek ἄστρον ("star"), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr.