Origin of the word disaster
The word disaster comes from the Middle French désastre from the old Italian disastro, which in turn comes from the Greek pejorative prefix dis- (bad; Gr: δυσ-) + aster (star; Gr: ἀστήρ). So disaster lit. means "bad star" in Greek. The sense is astrological, of a calamity blamed on an unfavorable position of a planet.
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Note: Some etymologize dis- from the Greek dis [twice, bis-, bi-; Gr.: δις] from dyo [the number two, duo; Gr.: δύο].
In modern Greek:
a) asteri or aster: star [Gr: αστέρι or αστήρ]
OED
WKP
___________________ Post: 166. _______________________
The word disaster comes from the Middle French désastre from the old Italian disastro, which in turn comes from the Greek pejorative prefix dis- (bad; Gr: δυσ-) + aster (star; Gr: ἀστήρ). So disaster lit. means "bad star" in Greek. The sense is astrological, of a calamity blamed on an unfavorable position of a planet.
.
Note: Some etymologize dis- from the Greek dis [twice, bis-, bi-; Gr.: δις] from dyo [the number two, duo; Gr.: δύο].
In modern Greek:
a) asteri or aster: star [Gr: αστέρι or αστήρ]
OED
WKP
___________________ Post: 166. _______________________
