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Disaster

1. An unpropitious or baleful aspect of a planet or star; malevolent influence of a heavenly body; hence, an ill portent. Disasters in the sun. (Shak)

2. An adverse or unfortunate event, especially. A sudden and extraordinary misfortune; a calamity; a serious mishap. But noble souls, through dust and heat, rise from disaster and defeat The stronger. (Longfellow)

Synonym: Calamity, misfortune, mishap, mischance, visitation, misadventure, ill luck. See Calamity.

Origin: f. Desastre; pref. Des- (L. Dis-) _ astre star, fr. L. Astrum; a word of astrological origin. See aster, astral, star.