ca·tas·tro·phism 
(kə-tăstrə-fĭz′əm)
(kə-tăstrə-fĭz′əm)n.
1.
a. The doctrine that major changes in the earth's crust result from sudden catastrophes, such as the impact of a large meteor, rather than from gradual evolutionary processes.
b. The doctrine that changes in the earth's fauna and flora result from major catastrophic events that cause the die-off of many organisms and are followed by the appearance of new types of organisms.
2. The prediction or expectation of cataclysmic upheaval, as in political or social developments.
ca·tastro·phist n.
- Indo-European root: pelə-
- Indo-European root: pelə-
- Indo-European root: pelə-
- Indo-European root: penkwe
- Indo-European root: pent-
- Indo-European root: per
- Indo-European root: per-
- Indo-European root: per-
- Indo-European root: per-
- Indo-European root: per-
- Indo-European root: perd-
- Indo-European root: perkwu-
- Indo-European root: perə-
- Indo-European root: perə-
- Indo-European root: pes-
- Indo-European root: pet-
- Indo-European root: petə-
- Indo-European root: peuk-
- Indo-European root: peuə-
- Indo-European root: pezd-
- Indo-European root: plat-
- Indo-European root: plek-
- Indo-European root: pleu-
- Indo-European root: plāk-
- Indo-European root: plāk-