Calamiferous
(Cal`a*mif"er*ous) a. [L. calamus reed + ferous.] Producing reeds; reedy.
Calamine
(Cal"a*mine) (kal"a*min or - min), n. [F. calamine, LL. calamina, fr. L. Cadmia. See Cadmia.]
(min.) A mineral, the hydrous silicate of zinc.
The name was formerly applied to both the carbonate and silicate of zinc each of which is valuabic as
an ore; but it is now usually restricted to the latter, the former being called smithsonite.
Calamint
(Cal"a*mint) n. [OE. calamint, calemente (cf. F. calament) fr. L. calamintha, Gr. kalami`nqh,
kala`minqos. See 1st Mint.] (Bot.) A genus of perennial plants (Calamintha) of the Mint family, esp.
the C. Nepeta and C. Acinos, which are called also basil thyme.
Calamist
(Cal"a*mist) n. [L. calamus a reed.] One who plays upon a reed or pipe. [Obs.] Blount.
Calamistrate
(Cal`a*mis"trate) v. i. [L. calamistratus, curled with the curling iron, fr. calamistrum curling
iron, fr. calamus a reed.] To curl or friz, as the hair. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
Calamistration
(Cal`a*mis*tra"tion) n. The act or process of curling the hair. [Obs.] Burton.
Calamistrum
(||Cal`a*mis"trum) n. [L., a curling iron.] (Zoöl.) A comblike structure on the metatarsus of
the hind legs of certain spiders used to curl certain fibers in the construction of their webs.
Calamite
(Cal"a*mite) n. [L. calamus a reed: cf. F. calamite.] (Paleon.) A fossil plant of the coal formation,
having the general form of plants of the modern Equiseta (the Horsetail or Scouring Rush family) but
sometimes attaining the height of trees, and having the stem more or less woody within. See Acrogen,
and Asterophyllite.
Calamitous
(Ca*lam"i*tous) a. [L. Calamitosus; cf. F. calamiteux.]
1. Suffering calamity; wretched; miserable. [Obs.]
Ten thousands of calamitous persons.
South.
2. Producing, or attended with distress and misery; making wretched; wretched; unhappy. "This sad and
calamitous condition." South. "A calamitous prison" Milton.
Syn. — Miserable; deplorable; distressful; afflictive; wretched; grievous; baleful; disastrous; adverse; unhappy; severe; sad; unfortunate.
— Ca*lam"i*tous*ly, adv. — Ca*lam"i*tous*ness, n.
Calamity
(Ca*lam"i*ty) n.; pl. Calamities [L. calamitas, akin to in-columis unharmed: cf. F. calamité]
1. Any great misfortune or cause of misery; — generally applied to events or disasters which produce
extensive evil, either to communities or individuals.
The word calamity was first derived from calamus when the corn could not get out of the stalk. Bacon.
Strokes of calamity that scathe and scorch the soul.
W. Irving.
2. A state or time of distress or misfortune; misery.
The deliberations of calamity are rarely wise.
Burke.
Where'er I came I brought calamity.
Tennyson.
Syn. — Disaster; distress; affliction; adversity; misfortune; unhappiness; infelicity; mishap; mischance; misery; evil; extremity; exigency; downfall.
— Calamity, Disaster, Misfortune, Mishap, Mischance. Of these words, calamity is the strongest.
