catastropha Latin · revision 4170

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Petronius|origins=grc καταστροφή}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [kaˈtas.trɔ.pʰa]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kaˈtas.tro.fa]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''catastropha''' ''f'' (genitive catastrophae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|καταστροφή|tr=katastrophḗ|t=overturning; sudden end]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The Greek is from [[m|grc|καταστρέφω|tr=katastréphō|t=to overturn]], from [[m|grc|κατά|tr=katá|t=down]] and [[m|grc|στρέφω|tr=stréphō|t=to turn]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Petronius has a guest at Trimalchio's dinner fear that some comic turn of events is being sought.^(TLL)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Petronius before 66 AD.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Petronius it was a sudden reversal or sensational turn, a coup de théâtre.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) The commentators on Terence, Evanthius and Donatus, made it the name of the last of the four parts of a comedy, after the prologue, protasis and epitasis, the turn of events to a happy ending.^(TLL)

+

+ Sidonius Apollinaris uses it of the turning of a body in a ball game, and a scholiast on Juvenal of a stage machine.^(TLL) In medieval Britain it was a turning over and a gastric spasm.^(DMLBS) English ''catastrophe'' is recorded in the 1530s, of a reversal in a drama, and in the sense of a sudden disaster from 1748.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 66 AD – Petronius uses it of a turn of events.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 310–380 AD – Donatus names the last part of a comedy with it.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 431–486 AD – Sidonius Apollinaris uses it in a ball game.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1530s – English ''catastrophe'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A sudden turn, a [[m|en|coup de théâtre]].^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' The [[m|en|denouement]] of a play.^(TLL)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' A turning movement.^(TLL)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|catastrophe]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}