Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Disturbance"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Disturbance \Dis*turb"ance\, n. [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.

4. (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, and the like. --Blackstone.

Syn: Tumult; brawl; commotion; turmoil; uproar; hubbub;
disorder; derangement; confusion; agitation;
perturbation; annoyance.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

disturbance
n 1: activity that is an intrusion or interruption; "he looked
around for the source of the disturbance"; "there was a
disturbance of neural function" [syn: {perturbation}]
2: an unhappy and worried mental state; "there was too much
anger and disturbance"; "she didn't realize the upset she
caused me" [syn: {perturbation}, {upset}]
3: a disorderly outburst or tumult; "they were amazed by the
furious disturbance they had caused" [syn: {disruption}, {commotion},
{turmoil}, {stir}, {flutter}, {hurly burly}, {to-do}]
4: a noisy fight [syn: {affray}, {fray}, {ruffle}]
5: the act of disturbing something or someone; setting
something in motion
6: (psychiatry) a psychological disorder of thought or emotion;
a more neutral term than mental illness [syn: {mental
disorder}, {mental disturbance}, {psychological disorder},
{folie}]
7: electrical or acoustic activity that can disturb
communication [syn: {noise}, {interference}]


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