DISTURB

disturb

(verb) damage as if by shaking or jarring; “Don’t disturb the patient’s wounds by moving him too rapidly!”

interrupt, disturb

(verb) destroy the peace or tranquility of; “Don’t interrupt me when I’m reading”

touch, disturb

(verb) tamper with; “Don’t touch my CDs!”

agitate, vex, disturb, commove, shake up, stir up, raise up

(verb) change the arrangement or position of

disturb, upset, trouble

(verb) move deeply; “This book upset me”; “A troubling thought”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

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

(transitive) to confuse a quiet, constant state or a calm, continuous flow, in particular: thoughts, actions or liquids.

(transitive) to divert, redirect, or alter by disturbing.

(intransitive) to have a negative emotional impact; to cause emotional distress or confusion.

Noun

disturb

(obsolete) disturbance

Source: Wiktionary

Dis*turb", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disturbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disturbing.] Etym: [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.] And disturb His inmost counsels from their destined aim. Milton.

Syn.

– To disorder; disquiet; agitate; discompose; molest; perplex; trouble; incommode; ruffle.

Dis*turb", n.

Definition: Disturbance. [Obs.] Milton.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition