Origin of the word
Deluge comes from Late Middle English – a variant of the Old French ‘diluve’ – from the Latin word ‘diluvium’ meaning ‘flood’.
Example
In the UK on 16th August 2004, the sleepy Cornish village of Boscastle was severely damaged by floodwater that swept down from the hills surrounding the town. Storms had centred on the area, and exceptionally heavy rainfall had caused two rivers to burst their banks. A deluge of about two billion litres of water hit the village without warning, carrying parked cars out to sea and destroying buildings. A rescue operation was quickly organized, and evacuation by helicopter of those in danger prevented any loss of life.
Definition
a very heavy fall of rain
View the full definition in the Macmillan Dictionary.
