The 16th-century meaning of the word disaster was which of the following?

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Prepare for the NES Elementary Education Test with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations to enhance your learning. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

The 16th-century meaning of the word disaster was which of the following?

Explanation:
Disaster started out meaning ill-starred or unlucky, coming from ideas that the stars could influence fate. In the 16th century, someone facing bad luck because of the stars would be described as star-crossed. So the best choice captures that old sense of fate tied to the heavens, rather than a modern idea of a large calamity. The word catastrophe came later to emphasize a major calamity, while good luck or general trouble don’t convey the same historical nuance.

Disaster started out meaning ill-starred or unlucky, coming from ideas that the stars could influence fate. In the 16th century, someone facing bad luck because of the stars would be described as star-crossed. So the best choice captures that old sense of fate tied to the heavens, rather than a modern idea of a large calamity. The word catastrophe came later to emphasize a major calamity, while good luck or general trouble don’t convey the same historical nuance.

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