Also 7 catastrophy. [a. Gr. καταστροφή overturning, sudden turn, conclusion, f. κατα στρέφειν to overturn, etc., f. κατά down + στρέφειν to turn.]
1. ‘The change or revolution which produces the conclusion or final event of a dramatic piece’ (J.); the dénouement.
1579. E. K., in Spenser’s Sheph. Cal., May, Gloss. This tale is much like to that in Aesops fables, but the catastrophe and ende is farre different.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., III. x. 44, marg. A comicall catastrophe.
1602. 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., II. i. (Arb.), 21. Sad is the plot, sad the Catastrophe.
1616. R. C., Times’ Whis. (1871), 111. Thou shalt be the protasis and catastrophe of my epistle.
1684. T. Burnet, Th. Earth, II. 157. That happy catastrophe and last scene which is to crown the work.
1714. Gay, What d’ye call it, Pref. They deny it to be Tragical, because its Catastrophe is a Wedding.
a. 1876. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. I. iii. 158. Such was the catastrophe of this long and anxious drama.
2. ‘A final event; a conclusion generally unhappy’ (J.); a disastrous end, finish-up, conclusion, upshot; overthrow, ruin, calamitous fate.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, I. ii. 57. On the Catastrophe and heele of pastime When it was out.
1609. Armin, Ital. Taylor (1880), 194. Thinking to deuower And worke my liues Catastrophy.
1628. Mead, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 343, III. 265. This was the obscure catastrophe of that great man.
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 251. The late war, and its horrid catastrophe.
1678. Littleton, Lat. Dict., A Catastrophe or upshot of a business, catastrophe exitus.
1728. Morgan, Algiers, II. iii. 256. This Catastrophe had the brave Arouje Barba-rossa and all his vast Designs.
1783. Ld. Hailes, Antiq. Chr. Ch., iv. 128. The catastrophe of that siege is well known.
1850. W. Irving, Mahomet, II. 290. This miserable catastrophe to a miserable career.
† b. humorously. The posteriors. Obs.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. i. 66. Away you Scullion … tickle your catastrophe.
3. An event producing a subversion of the order or system of things.
1696. Month. Mercury, VII. 91. The Consternation and Confusion must have bin very great, upon such a sudden Catastrophy as the Murder of their Beloved Prince.
1717. De Foe, Hist. Ch. Scot. (1844), 5. Her many Revolutions, Convulsions, and Catastrophes.
1871. Farrar, Witn. Hist., iii. 92. God reveals His will not by sudden catastrophes and violent revolutions.
b. esp. in Geol. A sudden and violent change in the physical order of things, such as a sudden upheaval, depression or convulsion affecting the earth’s surface, and the living beings upon it, by which some have supposed that the successive geological periods were suddenly brought to an end. (Cf. CATACLYSM, CATASTROPHISM.)
1830–2. Lyell, Princ. Geol., I. 89, II. 160.
1858. Whewell, Novum Org. Renov., 25 (L.). There are, in the Palætiological Sciences, two antagonist doctrines: Catastrophes and Uniformity.
1887. Spectator, 7 May, 626/1. No geologist of repute now believes that mountain ranges originated in catastrophes.
4. A sudden disaster, wide-spread, very fatal, or signal. (In the application of exaggerated language to misfortunes it is used very loosely.)
1748. Anson, Voy., III. ii. (ed. 4), 429. Thus were we all … reduced to the utmost despair by this catastrophe.
1795. Burke, Corr. (1844), IV. 289. The public catastrophe was actually completed by the actual recall of Lord F.
1855. Motley, Dutch Rep. (1861), II. 270. An inundation, more tremendous than any … recorded in those annals so prolific in such catastrophes.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xiii. 131. This fishery … is fearfully hazardous: scarcely a year passes without a catastrophe.
Mod. Our hostess was immensely relieved that dinner had gone off without any catastrophe. My luggage has not arrived: what a catastrophe!
