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Webster 1913 Edition


Disturbance

Dis-turb′ance

,
Noun.
[OF.
destorbance
.]
1.
An interruption of a state of peace or quiet; derangement of the regular course of things; disquiet; disorder;
as, a
disturbance
of religious exercises; a
disturbance
of the galvanic current.
2.
Confusion of the mind; agitation of the feelings; perplexity; uneasiness.
Any man . . . in a state of
disturbance
and irritation.
Burke.
3.
Violent agitation in the body politic; public commotion; tumult.
The
disturbance
was made to support a general accusation against the province.
Bancroft.
Syn. – Tumult; brawl; commotion; turmoil; uproar; hubbub; disorder; derangement; confusion; agitation; perturbation; annoyance.

Webster 1828 Edition


Disturbance

DISTURBANCE

,
Noun.
1.
A stirring or excitement; any disquiet or interruption of peace; as, to enter the church without making disturbance.
2.
Interruption of a settled state of things; disorder; tumult. We have read much at times of disturbances in Spain, England and Ireland.
3.
Emotion of the mind; agitation; excitement of passion; perturbation. The merchant received the news of his losses without apparent disturbance.
4.
Disorder of thoughts; confusion.
They can survey a variety of complicated ideas, without fatigue or disturbance.
5.
In law, the hindering or disquieting of a person in the lawful and peaceable enjoyment of his right; the interruption of a right; as the disturbance of a franchise, of common, of ways, of tenure, of patronage.

Definition 2024


disturbance

disturbance

English

Alternative forms

Noun

disturbance (countable and uncountable, plural disturbances)

  1. The act of disturbing, being disturbed.
  2. Something that disturbs.
    That guy causes a lot of trouble, you know, he's such a disturbance.
  3. An interruption of that which is normal or regular.
    • 2012 January 1, Donald Worster, “A Drier and Hotter Future”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, page 70:
      Phoenix and Lubbock are both caught in severe drought, and it is going to get much worse. We may see many such [dust] storms in the decades ahead, along with species extinctions, radical disturbance of ecosystems, and intensified social conflict over land and water. Welcome to the Anthropocene, the epoch when humans have become a major geological and climatic force.
  4. (psychology) A serious mental imbalance or illness.

Antonyms

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