A list of 7 words by jpin.
- irruptwas added by jpin and appears on 18 lists
- ebullitionwas added by jpin and appears on 33 lists
- paroxysmwas added by jpin and appears on 227 lists
- cataclysmwas added by jpin and appears on 123 lists
- tumultwas added by jpin and appears on 100 lists
- fiascowas added by jpin and appears on 117 lists
- debaclewas added by jpin and appears on 166 lists
jpin commented on the list debacle
"Debacle" comes from the French noun "débâcle," which comes from the verb "débâcler," meaning "to clear," "to unbolt," or "to unbar." That verb is from Middle French "desbacler," which joined the prefix "des-" (equivalent to our "de-," meaning "to do the opposite of") with the verb "bacler" ("to block"). In its original uses, "debacle" meant a breaking up of ice, or the rush of ice or water that follows such an occurrence. Eventually, "debacle" was used also to mean "a violent, destructive flood." Naturally, such uses led to meanings such as "a breaking up," "collapse," and finally "disaster" or "fiasco."
September 13, 2010
jpin commented on the list debacle
Middle English paroxism, from Medieval Latin paroxysmus, from Greek paroxysmos, from paroxynein to stimulate, from para- + oxynein to provoke, from oxys sharp
para-, beside, disordered
September 13, 2010