Cata to Catastrophism
Cata
(Cat"a) kata`.]—> The Latin and English form of a Greek preposition, used as a prefix to signify
down, downward, under, against, contrary or opposed to, wholly, completely; as in cataclysm, catarrh.
It sometimes drops the final vowel, as in catoptric; and is sometimes changed to cath, as in cathartic,
catholic.
Catabaptist
(Cat`a*bap"tist) n. [Pref. cata + aptist. See Baptist.] (Eccl.) One who opposes baptism,
especially of infants. [Obs.] Featley.
Catabasion
(||Cat`a*ba"sion) n. [NL., fr. Gr. kataba`sion.] A vault under altar of a Greek church.
Catabiotic
(Cat`a*bi*ot"ic) a. See under Force.
Catacaustic
(Cat`a*caus"tic) a. [Pref. cata + caustic.] (Physics) Relating to, or having the properties
of, a caustic curve formed by reflection. See Caustic, a. Nichol.
Catacaustic
(Cat`a*caus"tic), n. (Physics) A caustic curve formed by reflection of light. Nichol.
Catachresis
(Cat`a*chre"sis) n. [L. fr. Gr. misuse, fr. to misuse; kata` against + to use.] (Rhet.) A
figure by which one word is wrongly put for another, or by which a word is wrested from its true signification; as,
"To take arms against a sea of troubles". Shak. "Her voice was but the shadow of a sound." Young.
Catachrestic
(Cat`a*chres"tic Cat`a*chres"tic*al) a. Belonging to, or in the manner of, a catachresis; wrested
from its natural sense or form; forced; far-fetched.
— Cat`a*chres"tic*al*ly, adv.
[A] catachrestical and improper way of speaking.
Jer. Taylor.
Cataclysm
(Cat"a*clysm) n. [L. cataclysmos, Gr. kataklysmo`s, from to dash over, inundate; kata`
downward, against + to wash or dash over: cf. F. cataclysme.]
1. An extensive overflow or sweeping flood of water; a deluge.
2. (Geol.) Any violent catastrophe, involving sudden and extensive changes of the earth's surface.
Cataclysmal
(Cat`a*clys"mal Cat`a*clys"mic) a. Of or pertaining to a cataclysm.
Cataclysmist
(Cat`a*clys"mist) n. One who believes that the most important geological phenomena
have been produced by cataclysms.
Catacomb
(Cat"a*comb) n. [It. catacomba, fr. L. catacumba perh. from Gr. kata` downward, down +
ky`mbh cavity.] A cave, grotto, or subterraneous place of large extent used for the burial of the dead; —
commonly in the plural.
The terms is supposed to have been applied originally to the tombs under the church of St. Sebastian
in Rome. The most celebrated catacombs are those near Rome, on the Appian Way, supposed to have
been the place or refuge and interment of the early Christians; those of Egypt, extending for a wide distance
in the vicinity of Cairo; and those of Paris, in abandoned stone quarries, excavated under a large portion
of the city.
Catacoustic
(Cat`a*cous"tic) n. [Pref. cata + acoustics: cf. F. caraconstique.] (Physics) That part of
acoustics which treats of reflected sounds or echoes See Acoustics. Hutton.
Catadioptric
(Cat`a*di*op"tric Cat`a*di*op"tric*al) a. [Pref. cata + dioptric: cf. F. catadioptrique.] (Physics)
Pertaining to, produced by, or involving, both the reflection and refraction of light; as, a catadioptric light.
Hutton.
