chaos
//ˈkeɪɒs//
Forms
- Plural
- chaoses
Definitions
1.The unordered state of matter in classical accounts of cosmogony.
2.Any state of disorder; a confused or amorphous mixture or conglomeration.
3.A behaviour of iterative non-linear systems in which arbitrarily small variations in initial conditions become magnified over time.
4.One of the two metaphysical forces of the world in some fantasy settings, as opposed to law.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3869
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰeh₂-der.
Ancient Greek χαῦνος (khaûnos)
Ancient Greek χάος (kháos)lbor.
English chaos
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek χάος (kháos, “vast chasm, void”). Doublet of gas, which was borrowed through Dutch. Displaced native Old English dwolma.