part of speech: noun
Sentence from text: the fear that the next global pandemic could be an apocalypse of biblical proportions
Definition : 1a: one of the Jewish and Christian writings of 200 b.c. to a.d. 150 marked by pseudonymity, symbolic imagery, and the expectation of an imminent cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil and raises the righteous to life in a messianic kingdom bcapitalized : REVELATION sense 3 2a: something viewed as a prophetic revelation b: ARMAGEDDON 3a: a large, disastrous fire : INFERNO Most foresters agree that small, "prescribed" burns, carefully controlled, are essential to prevent the larger apocalypse. — Lance Morrow b: a great disaster
Synonyms: calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, debacle (also débâcle), disaster, tragedy
Antyonyms: godsend, manna, windfall
Other forms of word:
My sentence: His book tells of an environmental apocalypse.
First known use: before the 12th century
History and Etymology: Middle English Apocalipse "Revelation (the New Testament book)," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin apocalypsis "revelation, the Book of Revelation," borrowed from Greek apokálypsis "uncovering, disclosure, revelation," from apokalyp-, stem of apokalýptein "to uncover, disclose, reveal" (from apo- APO- + kalýptein "to cover, protect, conceal," of uncertain origin) + -sis -SIS