calamitous

comparative more calamitous · superlative most calamitous

1. Causing or involving calamity; disastrous.

   The city was struck by a calamitous cyclone.

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   [T]he fallacie of Æquivocation and Amphibologie, […] conclude from the ambiguity of ſome vvord, or the ambiguous ſintaxis of many put together. From this fallacy aroſe the calamitous error of the Jevves, miſapprehending the Propheſies of their Meſſias, and expounding them alvvayes unto literall and temporal expectation.

   1646, Thomas Browne, “Of the Nearer and More Immediate Causes of Popular Errours, both in the Wiser, and Common Sort, Misapprehension, Fallacy, or False Distinction, Credulity, Supinity, Adherence unto Antiquitie, Tradition, and Authoritie”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], London: […] T[homas] H[arper] for Edward Dod, […], →OCLC, 1st book, page 13

   The next year vvas calamitous, bringing ſtrange fluxes upon men, and murren upon Cattel.

   1670, John Milton, “The Sixth Book”, in The History of Britain, that Part Especially now Call’d England. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for James Allestry, […] , →OCLC, page 245

   In former times it vvas a diſmal and calamitous thing for a tradeſman to break: vvhen it befell a family, it put all into confuſion and diſtraction; […]

   1725 (indicated as 1726), [Daniel Defoe], “Letter VII. Of the Tradesman in Distress, and Becoming Bankrupt.”, in The Complete English Tradesman, in Familiar Letters; Directing Him in All the Several Parts and Progressions of Trade. […], volume I, London: […] Charles Rivington […], →OCLC, page 83

   Let him therefore lay dovvn his employment, vvhatever it be, vvhen he can no longer exert his former activity or attention; for nothing is more calamitous, than to croud the ſtage till a general hiſs commands him to depart.

   1752 March 20 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. 207. Monday, March 10. 1752.”, in The Rambler, volume VIII, Edinburgh: […] Sands, Murray, and Cochran; sold by W. Gordon, C. Wright, J. Yair, […], published 1752, →OCLC, page 169

   In the course of my work and my life, I've found that most of the consequences of ego are not quite so calamitous. Many of the people in your life—and in our world—who have given over to their ego will not “get what they deserve” in the sense of karmic justice that we were taught to believe in as kids. I wish it were so simple.

   2016, Ryan Holiday, Ego is the Enemy, page 214

   Synonyms: apocalyptic, cataclysmal, cataclysmic, catastrophic, deadly, debacular, destructive, devastating · Antonyms: uncalamitous

2. obsoleteOf a person: involved in a calamity; hence, distressed, miserable.

   Thou haſt ſeen me happy and calamitous, thou haſt beheld my exaltation and my fall.

   1752 January 21 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. 190. Friday, January 11. 1752.”, in The Rambler, volume VIII, Edinburgh: […] Sands, Murray, and Cochran; sold by W. Gordon, C. Wright, J. Yair, […], published 1752, →OCLC, pages 43–44

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   Nor ought a Judge, in taking cognizance of a Cauſe, to ſhevv any Anger or Reſentment againſt ſuch Perſons as he conceives to be his Enemies, nor to be prevailed on by the Tears and Prayers of calamitous Perſons, nor ought he to affect to be thought Good-natured or Moroſe, Merciful or Severe, but let him act vvith Calmneſs as the Lavv directs; […]

   1726, John Ayliffe, “Of a Judge, His Power, Duty, and the Like”, in Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani: Or, A Commentary, by Way of Supplement to the Canons and Constitutions of the Church of England. […], London: […] D. Leach, and sold by John Walthoe […], →OCLC, page 313