But how is the -_amitas_ to be explained? I may as well add,
that Döderlein, with his usual felicity, derives it from [Greek:
kolouo].

EDWARD S. JACKSON.


I beg to refer MR. F.S. MARTIN (No. 14. p. 215.), for the derivation
of "Calamity," to the _Etymologicon Linguæ Latinæ_ of Gerard Vossius,
or to the _Totius Latinitatis Lexicon_ of Facciolatus and Forcellinus.
He will there find that the word _calamitas_ was first used with
reference to the storms which destroyed the stalks (_calami_) of corn,
and afterwards came to signify metaphorically, any severe misfortune.
The terrific hail-storm of the summer of 1843, which destroyed the
crops of corn through several of the eastern and midland counties of
this kingdom, was a _calamity_ in the original sense of the word.

"W.P.P." has also kindly replied to this query by furnishing a part of
the Article on _Calamitas_ in Vossius; and "J.F.M." adds, _Calamitas_
means--

"The spindling of the corn, which with us is rare, but in
hotter countries common: insomuch as the word _calamitas_ was
first derived from _calamus_, when the corn could not get out
of the stalk."--Bacon, _Nat. Hist_. sect. 669.


_Derivation of "Zero"_ (No. 14. p. 215.).--_Zero_ Ital.; Fr. _un
chiffre_, _un rien_, a cipher in arithmetic, a nought; whence the