\Ca*lam"i*ty\n.; pl. {Calamities}. [L. calamitas, akin
to in-columis unharmed: cf. F. calamit['e]]
1. Any great misfortune or cause of misery; -- generally
   applied to events or disasters which produce extensive
   evil, either to communities or individuals.
Note: The word calamity was first derived from calamus when
      the corn could not get out of the stalk. --Bacon.
            Strokes of calamity that scathe and scorch the
            soul.                              --W. Irving.
2. A state or time of distress or misfortune; misery.
         The deliberations of calamity are rarely wise.
                                               --Burke.
         Where'er I came I brought calamity.   --Tennyson.
Syn: Disaster; distress; affliction; adversity; misfortune;
     unhappiness; infelicity; mishap; mischance; misery;
     evil; extremity; exigency; downfall.
Usage: {Calamity}, {Disaster}, {Misfortune}, {Mishap},
       {Mischance}. Of these words, calamity is the
       strongest. It supposes a somewhat continuous state,
       produced not usually by the direct agency of man, but
       by natural causes, such as fire, flood, tempest,
       disease, etc, Disaster denotes literally ill-starred,
       and is some unforeseen and distressing event which
       comes suddenly upon us, as if from hostile planet.
       Misfortune is often due to no specific cause; it is
       simply the bad fortune of an individual; a link in the
       chain of events; an evil independent of his own
       conduct, and not to be charged as a fault. Mischance
       and mishap are misfortunes of a trivial nature,
       occurring usually to individuals. ``A calamity is
       either public or private, but more frequently the
       former; a disaster is rather particular than private;
       it affects things rather than persons; journey,
       expedition, and military movements are often attended
       with disasters; misfortunes are usually personal; they
       immediately affect the interests of the individual.''
       --Crabb.