-əd.ē, -ətē, -i noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle French calamité, from Latin calamitat-, calamitas; akin to Latin in columis unharmed, Greek kolobos docked — more at halt (lame)
1. : a state of deep distress or misery connected with major misfortune or loss
life is neither a pleasure nor a calamity — Agnes Repplier
2. : an extraordinarily grave event marked by great loss and lasting distress and affliction
calamities of nature such as flood and drought — Notes & Queries on Anthropology
Synonyms: see disaster