Etymology of the English word calamity
the English word
calamityderived from the Old French word
calamitederived from the Classical Latin word
calamitas (loss, damage, harm)
derived from the New Latin word
Calamitesderived from the Late Greek word
kalamites, καλαμίτης
derived from the Greek word
kalamos, κάλαμος (a reed (the plant or its stem, or that of a similar plant); by implication, a pen)
derived from the Latin word
calamites (small green frog)
derived from the Late Latin word
calamus (branch; arm; branch of a candelabrum; reed, cane; reed pen)
derived from the Greek word
kalamos, κάλαμος (a reed (the plant or its stem, or that of a similar plant); by implication, a pen)
Date
The earliest known usage of calamity in English dates from the 15th century.
Derivations in English
calamitousCognates
French
calamité, German
Kalamität, Italian
calamità, Norwegian
kalamitet, Spanish
calamidad, Swedish
kalamitetUsage
Word found in Modern English
