catalyst, buffoon, calamity, catharsis, celerity: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 73. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. catalyst · noun/ˈkæt.ə.lɪst/

   a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing permanent chemical change

   In the presence of a powerful catalyst, the chemical reaction proceeded at a significantly faster rate.

   Synonyms: accelerator, inhibitor

   Origin: from the Greek 'katalusis', meaning 'a breaking down' or 'dissolution'

2. buffoon · noun/bəˈfun/

   a ridiculous but amusing person a foolish or incompetent person

   During the party, he acted like a complete buffoon, making everyone laugh with his silly antics.

   Synonyms: fool, clown, jester

   Origin: From French 'bufon', meaning 'clown' or 'fool', derived from Italian 'buffone', meaning 'buffoon, clown'.

3. calamity · noun/kəˈlæmə̩ti/

   an event causing great harm or distress

   The earthquake was a natural calamity that left thousands homeless and caused widespread destruction.

   Synonyms: disaster, catastrophe, tragedy

   Origin: From Latin 'calamitas', meaning 'loss, damage, misfortune' or from 'calamus', meaning 'a stalk of grain possibly in reference to grain failing'.

4. catharsis · noun/kəˈθɑr.sɪs/

   the process of releasing strong or repressed emotions

   After weeks of keeping her feelings bottled up, the emotional catharsis she experienced during therapy allowed her to finally confront her past.

   Synonyms: release, purification, cleansing

   Origin: from the Greek 'katharsis', meaning 'cleansing' or 'purification'

5. celerity · noun/səˈlɛr.ə.ti/

   swiftness of movement or speed

   The team responded with remarkable celerity to the unexpected crisis, ensuring that operations resumed smoothly.

   Synonyms: swiftness, speed, haste

   Origin: from Latin 'celeritas', from 'celer' meaning 'swift'