diluvian

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   relating to, caused by, or resembling a great flood or deluge

   The geologist rejected the old claim that a single diluvian event shaped the entire valley.

2. 2
   adj

   figurative: involving an overwhelming quantity or torrential force

   A diluvian downpour turned the footpaths into streams within minutes.

From Latin diluvium, 'flood or deluge,' plus the adjective suffix -an. Diluvium comes from diluere, 'to wash away,' formed from dis-, 'apart,' and luere, 'to wash.' The word often appears in older geological or biblical descriptions of catastrophic flooding.

Topics