Main Entry: di·sas·ter

Pronunciation: \di-ˈzas-tər, -ˈsas-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle French & Old Italian; Middle French desastre, from Old Italian disastro, from dis- (from Latin) + astro star, from Latin astrum — more at astral

Date: 1568

1 obsolete : an unfavorable aspect of a planet or star
2 : a sudden calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, or destruction; broadly : a sudden or great misfortune or failure <the party was a disaster>