[ca.tas.tro.phism] n (1869): a geological doctrine that changes in the earth's crust have in the past been brought about suddenly by physical forces operating in ways that cannot be observed today--compare uniformitarianism -- ca.tas.tro.phist n
CATASTROPHISM
Meaning of CATASTROPHISM in English
Merriam-Webster English vocab. Английский словарь Merriam Webster. 2012