In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.
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
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
31 March 2025
IMPROVISED
(adjective) done or made using whatever is available; “crossed the river on improvised bridges”; “the survivors used jury-rigged fishing gear”; “the rock served as a makeshift hammer”
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