end-of-the-world
UK[ˌend əv ðə ˈwɜːld]US[ˌend əv ðə ˈwɜɹld]
adj
relating to or describing a catastrophic event that seems like the end of the world, or the feelings of extreme fear or despair associated with such an event
Etymology
The phrase "end of the world" originates from Old English, where 'end' (from Proto-Germanic andja-) meant a limit or boundary, and 'world' (from Old English weorold, a compound of wer 'man' and eld 'age') referred to human existence and the age of man. The concept of a final, catastrophic end to human existence is deeply rooted in apocalyptic religious and mythological traditions across cultures. By the 20th century, this literal phrase began to be used attributively, hyphenated to form a compound adjective describing feelings of ultimate doom or events of cataclysmic scale, even in secular or hyperbolic contexts. Thus, the modern term encapsulates a shift from a specific theological prophecy to a more general metaphor for extreme despair or global catastrophe.
Analysis
This is a fixed compound adjective formed from the common English phrase "end of the world". It is not productively segmented into classical morphemes but is treated as a lexicalized unit.
Examples
She had an end-of-the-world expression after hearing the news.
The movie's special effects created a convincing end-of-the-world scenario.
He's always having these end-of-the-world anxieties about minor problems.