havoc
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a situation where there is a lot of damage, confusion, or lack of order.
n.widespread destruction, devastation, or chaotic disorder. Usually uncountable.
Simple“The heavy snowstorm caused havoc on the motorways this morning.”
In context“The sudden change in interest rates played havoc with the company's long-term financial planning.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'wreak havoc'.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
v.to cause a lot of trouble or damage to something.
v.to bring about devastation or chaos. Transitive use is less common than the noun form.
Simple“The invading army continued to havoc the countryside for weeks.”
In context“The storm proceeded to havoc the coastal villages, leaving a trail of ruined homes in its wake.”
UsageOften appears in older texts or poetic descriptions of war.
From Middle English havok, havyk, from Old French havok in the phrase crier havok (“cry havoc”) a signal to soldiers to seize plunder, from Old French crier (“cry out, shout”) + havot (“pillaging, looting”), of obscure origin. Probably from a derivative of Old French haf, hef (“hook”), from Frankish haf, habbjā, happjā (“pruning-hook, scythe”), derived from Proto-Germanic *habjaną (“to take up, lift”), related to Old French havee (“handful”), Old French havet (“pruning-hook”), Old High German habba, heppa (“pruning-hook, scythe”), modern German Hippe (“billhook”). If so, then also related to English heave and doublet of hatchet.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.