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Webster 1913 Edition


Disturb

Dis-turb′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Disturbed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Disturbing
.]
[OE.
desturben
,
destourben
, OF.
destorber
,
desturber
,
destourber
, fr. L.
disturbare
,
disturbatum
;
dis-
+
turbare
to disturb, trouble,
turba
disorder, tumult, crowd. See
Turbid
.]
1.
To throw into disorder or confusion; to derange; to interrupt the settled state of; to excite from a state of rest.
Preparing to
disturb

With all-cofounding war the realms above.
Cowper.
The bellow’s noise
disturbed
his quiet rest.
Spenser.
The utmost which the discontented colonies could do, was to
disturb
authority.
Burke.
2.
To agitate the mind of; to deprive of tranquillity; to disquiet; to render uneasy;
as, a person is
disturbed
by receiving an insult, or his mind is
disturbed
by envy
.
3.
To turn from a regular or designed course.
[Obs.]
Syn. – To disorder; disquiet; agitate; discompose; molest; perplex; trouble; incommode; ruffle.

Dis-turb′

,
Noun.
Disturbance.
[Obs.]
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition


Disturb

DISTURB

,
Verb.
T.
[L., to trouble, disorder, discompose; a crowd, a tumult; Gr., a tumult. The primary sense seems to be to stir, or to turn or whirl round.]
1.
To stir; to move; to discompose; to excite from a state of rest or tranquillity. We say, the man is asleep, do not disturb him. Let the vessel stand, do not move the liquor, you will disturb the sediment. Disturb not the public peace.
2.
To move or agitate; to disquiet; to excite uneasiness or a slight degree of anger in the mind; to move the passions; to ruffle. The mind may be disturbed by an offense given, by misfortune, surprise, contention, discord, jealousy, envy, &c.
3.
To move from any regular course or operation; to interrupt regular order; to make irregular. It has been supposed that the approach of a comet may disturb the motions of the planets in their orbits. An unexpected cause may disturb a chemical operation, or the operation of medicine.
4.
To interrupt; to hinder; to incommode. Care disturbs study. Let no person disturb my franchise.
5.
To turn off from any direction; with from. [Unusual.]
--And disturb his inmost counsels from their destind aim.

DISTURB

,
Noun.
Confusion; disorder. [Not used.]

Definition 2024


disturb

disturb

English

Verb

disturb (third-person singular simple present disturbs, present participle disturbing, simple past and past participle disturbed)

  1. (transitive) to confuse a quiet, constant state or a calm, continuous flow, in particular: thoughts, actions or liquids.
    The noisy ventilation disturbed me during the exam.
    The performance was disturbed twice by a ringing mobile phone.
    A school of fish disturbed the water.
  2. (transitive) to divert, redirect, or alter by disturbing.
    A mudslide disturbed the course of the river.
    The trauma disturbed his mind.
    • Milton
      disturb his inmost counsels from their destined aim
  3. (intransitive) to have a negative emotional impact; to cause emotional distress or confusion.
    A disturbing film that tries to explore the mind of a serial killer.
    His behaviour is very disturbing.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

disturb

  1. (obsolete) disturbance
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Milton to this entry?)