災さい厄やく

noun

calamity; disaster; catastrophe

A somewhat formal or literary term for a large-scale misfortune or disaster, often implying a tragic or fateful event. Less common in everyday speech than 災害 (さいがい) or 災難 (さいなん).

• その国くには戦せん争そうと飢き饉きんという二に重じゅうの災さい厄やくに見み舞まわれた。

  The country was struck by the twin calamities of war and famine.

• 彼かれは災さい厄やくを予よ言げんするかのような不ふ吉きつな夢ゆめを見みた。

  He had an ominous dream, as if foretelling a disaster.