disaster
/dɪˈzɑːstər/·디재스터·noun
灾难
LatinCEFR B1
词根
dis- (away from) + Latin/Greek 'astrum/astron' (star)
Italian disastro (ill-starred event) → Middle French désastre → English disaster
一句话
dis(背离) + aster(星) = '星位失序'. 古人将大祸归因于"星辰失位"。 那失位之星的阴影,直接成了 disaster 一词。 迷信已去,词形仍在 ── 我们说"灾难"时,词源上仍指向天上的星。
例句
The flood was a national disaster.
这场洪水是全国性灾难。
The dinner was a complete disaster.
那顿晚餐彻底搞砸了。
Volunteers helped after the disaster.
灾后志愿者前来帮助。
同根词
astronautastronomyasteriskastrology