cataract

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkætəɹækt/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈkætəˌɹæk(t)/ Hyphenation: cat‧a‧ract === Etymology 1 === The noun is derived from cataracts (noun (plural only)), from Late Middle English cataract, cataracta, cateract, cateracte (“floodgate of heaven”), from Old French cataracte (modern French cataracte), and from its etymon Latin cataracta (“floodgate; waterfall”), from Ancient Greek καταρ(ρ)άκτης (katar(rh)áktēs, “(noun) waterfall; (adjective) rushing downwards”), from καταρ(ρ)ᾱ́σσω (katar(rh)ā́ssō, “to pour down; to rush downwards”) + -της (-tēs, suffix forming nouns denoting a state of being). Καταρ(ρ)ᾱ́σσω (Katar(rh)ā́ssō) is derived either: from κᾰτᾰ- (kătă-, prefix meaning ‘downwards’) + ἀρᾰ́σσω (arắssō, “to dash to pieces; to strike”) (further etymology unknown, possibly onomatopoeic) or ῥᾱ́σσω (rhā́ssō, “to dash; to strike”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wreh₂ǵʰ- (“to pound, strike”)); or from καταρρηγνύναι (katarrhēgnúnai, “to break down”). The verb is derived from the noun. ==== Noun ==== cataract (plural cataracts) A (large) waterfall, specifically one flowing over the edge of a cliff. (by extension) A flood of water; specifically, steep rapids in a river. (figurative) An overwhelming downpour or rush; a flood. (mechanics, chiefly historical) A type of governor used in single-acting steam engines, where a flow of water through an opening regulates the stroke. (obsolete, also figurative) Synonym of waterspout (“a whirlwind that forms over water”). ===== Derived terms ===== cataractal cataract bog cataracted cataractic glassblower's cataract ===== Descendants ===== → Cebuano: katarak → Marshallese: kōtrāāk ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== cataract (third-person singular simple present cataracts, present participle cataracting, simple past and past participle cataracted) (intransitive) Of a river, etc.: to fall in the form of a waterfall. (transitive, figurative, rare) To cause (something) to pour or rush like a waterfall. ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === From Late Middle English cataract, cataracta, cateract, cateracte (“(medicine) clouding of the lens in the eye”), from Old French cataracte (“clouding of the lens in the eye”), and then either: from its etymon Latin cataracta (“portcullis”) (in the sense of something blocking vision as a portcullis blocks a gateway), from Ancient Greek καταρ(ρ)άκτης (katar(rh)áktēs, “act of rushing down; portcullis”) (see further at etymology 1); or from clāthrāta (in fenestra clāthrāta (“window grating”)), an inflected form of clāthrātus (“grated, latticed, clathrate”), from clāthrī (“grate, lattic”) + -ātus (suffix denoting possession of something, forming adjectives from nouns). Clāthrī is derived from Doric Greek κλᾷθρα (klāîthra), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kleh₂w- (“crook, hook; peg; to close something”). ==== Noun ==== cataract (plural cataracts) (obsolete, rare) Synonym of portcullis (“a gate in the form of a grating which is lowered into place at the gateway of a castle, a fort, etc.”); also, a window grating. (by extension) (ophthalmology, pathology) A clouding of the lens in the eye leading to a decrease in vision. (figurative) Something which obscures. (obsolete, textiles) A tool used for breaking flax; a brake. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === References === === Further reading === cataract on Wikipedia.Wikipedia list of waterfalls by type – cataract on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “cataract”, in Online Etymology Dictionary. == Dutch == === Alternative forms === katarakt (superseded) === Etymology === From Middle Dutch cataracte, from Latin cataracta, from Ancient Greek καταρράκτης (katarrháktēs). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˌkaː.taːˈrɑkt/ Hyphenation: ca‧ta‧ract Rhymes: -ɑkt === Noun === cataract f (plural cataracten, diminutive cataractje n) cataract, waterfall (pathology) cataract ==== Synonyms ==== (waterfall): waterval (cataract disease): grauwe staar ==== Descendants ==== Afrikaans: katarak → Indonesian: katarak == Middle English == === Alternative forms === cateract, cataracta, cataracte, catheracte, catharacte, catharacta, catterak, catarac === Etymology === From Latin cataracta, from Ancient Greek καταρράκτης (katarrháktēs). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈkatərakt(ə)/, /ˈkatərak/, /ˈkatəraktaː/ === Noun === cataract (plural cateractes) (medicine) cataract (Christianity) A gate guarding the entrance to Heaven. ==== Descendants ==== English: cataract→ Cebuano: katarak→ Marshallese: kōtrāāk Scots: cataract (rare, obsolete) ==== References ==== “cataracte, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 20 April 2018.