different between reversal vs catastrophe

English

Etymology

reverse +? -al.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???v??(?)s?l/
• Rhymes: -??(?)s?l

Noun

reversal (countable and uncountable, plural reversals)

1. The state of being reversed.
2. An instance of reversing.
3. A change in fortune; a change from being successful to having problems.

Usage notes

Reversal of trains often takes place at a terminus, where the driver walks to the cab at the other end of the train; if hauled by a locomotive, that moves to the other end if the train if the train has no driving cab at the other end.

Synonyms

• reversion

Translations

Adjective

reversal (not comparable)

1. Intended to reverse; implying reversal.

   • For after his death there were reversal letters found among his papers from the Duke of Anjou

Derived terms

• reversalism
• reversalist
• reversality
• reversally

Anagrams

• ravelers, slaverer

Spanish

Adjective

reversal (plural reversales)

1. used to describe a type of diplomatic note

Usage notes

• It is used almost exclusively in the terms carta reversal or nota reversal

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 (archaic) Superseded spelling of catastrofe.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).