different between predicament vs catastrophe

English

Alternative forms

• prædicament (chiefly obsolete)

Etymology

From Old French, from Late Latin praedicamentum (“that which is predicated, a predicament, category, Medieval Latin also a preaching, discourse”), from Latin praedicare (“to declare, proclaim, predicate”); see predicate.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p???d?k?m?nt/

Noun

predicament (plural predicaments)

1. A definite class, state or condition.
2. An unfortunate or trying position or condition; a tight spot.
3. (logic) That which is predicated; a category

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:difficult situation

Related terms

• preach
• predicate

Translations

See also

• can of worms
• difficulty
• kettle of fish
• tight spot
• trouble

References

• predicament in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• predicament in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• predicament at OneLook Dictionary Search

Romanian

Etymology

From French prédicament.

Noun

predicament n (plural predicamente)

1. predicament

Declension

English

Alternative forms

• catastrophë (now rare)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ?????????? (katastroph?), from ?????????? (katastréph?, “I overturn”), from ???? (katá, “down, against”) + ?????? (stréph?, “I turn”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /k??tæst??fi/
• Hyphenation: ca?tas?tro?phe

Noun

catastrophe (plural catastrophes)

1. any large and disastrous event of great significance
2. (insurance) a disaster beyond expectations
3. (narratology) the dramatic event that initiates the resolution of the plot; the dénouement
4. (mathematics) a type of bifurcation, where a system shifts between two stable states

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Dutch

Noun

catastrophe f (plural catastrophes)

1. (archaic) Superseded spelling of catastrofe.

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin catastropha, itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek ?????????? (katastroph?).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka.tas.t??f/

Noun

catastrophe f (plural catastrophes)

1. catastrophe

Synonyms

• cata (informal)
• désastre

Derived terms

• en catastrophe

Verb

catastrophe

1. first-person singular present indicative of catastropher
2. third-person singular present indicative of catastropher
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of catastropher
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of catastropher
5. second-person singular imperative of catastropher

Further reading

• “catastrophe” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).