diluvian

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /daɪˈluvɪən/ UK /daɪˈljuːvɪən/ See IPA manual

Freq #635284

Meanings

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

adj
figurative: involving an overwhelming quantity or torrential force

A diluvian downpour turned the footpaths into streams within minutes.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · relating to, caused by, or... diluvialflood-relateddelugian

2 adj · figurative: involving an... torrential flooding overwhelming

Opposites

ariddrought-stricken

Word family

Related forms delugediluviumantediluvian flood

Etymology

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

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# diluvian

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /daɪˈluvɪən/
**IPA (UK):** /daɪˈljuːvɪən/
**Frequency rank:** 635284

## Meanings
1. relating to, caused by, or resembling a great flood or deluge
2. figurative: involving an overwhelming quantity or torrential force

## Examples
- The geologist rejected the old claim that a single diluvian event shaped the entire valley.
- A diluvian downpour turned the footpaths into streams within minutes.

## Synonyms
- diluvial
- flood-related
- delugian
- torrential
- flooding
- overwhelming

## Antonyms
- arid
- drought-stricken

## Related Forms
- deluge
- diluvium
- antediluvian
- flood

## Etymology
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
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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