Make Your Point > Archived Issues > CATACLYSM
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pronounce
CATACLYSM:
Say it "CAD uh klizz um."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
Our word cataclysm looks so much like catapult, catastrophe, and cata__st because they all share a Greek bit, kata, which can mean "down, against, or completely."
Could you recall that last word in bold? It means "anything that speeds something up or makes something happen sooner," or more literally, "anything that completely dissolves or loosens something, especially in a chemical way."
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
The word "cataclysm" comes from Greek bits that mean "down, against, or completely" (kata) and "wash" (klyzein).
It first appeared in English around 1637. We used it to mean "the Great Flood," the one from the Bible that wiped out all humanity except for whoever was on Noah's ark.
From there, the meaning loosened up: a cataclysm can be any terrible flood, or any enormous change or overwhelming disaster that seems to wash everything away like a terrible flood.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Noun, the countable kind: "The Walking Dead takes place after a cataclysm;" "the geological cataclysms that molded the earth's surface (New York Times)."
Other common forms:
The plural is "cataclysms."
For an adjective, use "cataclysmic" (CAT uh KLIZZ mick). There's also a less-common one, "cataclysmal" (CAT uh KLIZZ mull).
The adverb is "cataclysmically."
how to use it:
Because the word "cataclysm" is about thirty times rarer than "disaster," it's perfect for calling special attention to an absolutely terrible disaster, one that seems to wash away your entire world as you know it.
We most often use it seriously: "the cataclysm of war;" "the cataclysm of 9/11;" "the pandemic, a global cataclysm;" "a cataclysm of the soul."
examples:
"The biggest and most urgent of the impending cataclysms involves climate change."
— Jennifer Szalai, New York Times, 10 February 2021
"He pushed on the main door with his shoulder and the worm-eaten wooden frame fell down noiselessly amid a dull cataclysm of dust and termite nests."
— Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude, 1967
has this page helped you understand "cataclysm"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "cataclysm" without saying "upheaval," "inundation," or "disaster of Biblical proportions."
try it out:
Talk about which event in your lifetime has felt the most cataclysmic to you, and why. In what way was this event like a terrible flood? What did it wash away?
Depending on your age, your cataclysm might be the COVID pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, the September 11th attacks, the Vietnam War, etc. Or, it might be a much more personal disaster.
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game this month is "Serious Words, Silliest Names."
Match each word to the silly name it evokes. For example, match "pecuniary" to Owen Cash, "hoodwink" to Howie Cheatham, and "debacle" to Oliver Sutton.
To see the answers, scroll all the way down. Enjoy!
Try these today:
AFFABLE: _____
EDIFICE: _____
INGURGITATE: _____
SERVICEABLE: _____
VENERATE: _____
Bill Ding
Gladys C. Hugh
Justin Hale
Minnie van Gogh
Neil Dupre
review this word:
A. GRADUALLY.
B. BEAUTIFULLY.
C. ENERGETICALLY.
2.
According to a book review in the New York Times, Harrow opens after a cataclysm, in a setting with "_____."
A. obedient cyborgs
B. no more birds or oranges
C. white fences and distant church bells
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
On vocabulary...
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
On writing...
How to improve any sentence.
How to motivate our kids to write.
How to stop procrastinating and start writing.
How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count.
From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
Our word cataclysm looks so much like catapult, catastrophe, and cata__st because they all share a Greek bit, kata, which can mean "down, against, or completely."
The word "cataclysm" comes from Greek bits that mean "down, against, or completely" (kata) and "wash" (klyzein).
Part of speech:
Because the word "cataclysm" is about thirty times rarer than "disaster," it's perfect for calling special attention to an absolutely terrible disaster, one that seems to wash away your entire world as you know it.
"The biggest and most urgent of the impending cataclysms involves climate change."
Explain the meaning of "cataclysm" without saying "upheaval," "inundation," or "disaster of Biblical proportions."
Talk about which event in your lifetime has felt the most cataclysmic to you, and why. In what way was this event like a terrible flood? What did it wash away?
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. |