havoc

CEFRC1

/ˈhævək/

noun · verb · interjection

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    Great damage, confusion, or destruction.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    To pillage.

Examples

  • The hurricane has already caused havoc in the Caribbean.

  • Vandals wreaked havoc in the abandoned house.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
3
Citations
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meaning

  1. Widespread devastation and destruction.

verb

Extra meaning

  1. To cause havoc.

interjection

Extra meaning

  1. A cry in war as the signal for indiscriminate slaughter.

More examples

In context

  • His statement raised havoc.

  • Ye Gods, what Havock does Ambition make / Among your Works!

  • Do not cry havoc, where you should but hunt / With modest warrant.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The powerful tornado caused blank in the small town, destroying many homes.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

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.