catastrophism

ca·tas·tro·phism

C c

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [kuh-tas-truh-fiz-uh m]
- /kəˈtæs trəˌfɪz əm/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [kuh-tas-truh-fiz-uh m]
- /kəˈtæs trəˌfɪz əm/

Definitions of catastrophism word

noun catastrophism an old doctrine, now discarded, that the earth was created and has subsequently been shaped by sudden divine acts which have no logical connection with each other rather than by gradual evolutionary processes 3
noun catastrophism a modern doctrine that the gradual evolutionary processes shaping the earth have been supplemented in the past by the effects of huge natural catastrophes 3
noun catastrophism the former theory that geologic changes are caused in general by sudden upheavals rather than gradually 3
noun catastrophism an outlook envisioning imminent catastrophe 3
noun catastrophism the doctrine that certain vast geological changes in the earth's history were caused by catastrophes rather than gradual evolutionary processes. 1
noun catastrophism The theory that changes in the earth’s crust during geological history have resulted chiefly from sudden violent and unusual events. 1

See all 7 definitions of catastrophism

Information block about the term

Origin of catastrophism

First appearance:

before 1865

One of the 28% newest English words

First recorded in 1865-70; catastrophe + -ism

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Catastrophism

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Catastrophism

catastrophism popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 46% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

catastrophism usage trend in Literature

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