turmoil
/ˈtɜːmɔɪl/ noun, verb
Forms turmoils turmoiling turmoiled
- noun A state of great disorder or uncertainty.
- noun Harassing labor; trouble; disturbance.
- verb (obsolete, intransitive) To be disquieted or confused; to be in commotion.
- verb (obsolete, transitive) To harass with commotion; to disquiet; to worry.
Synonyms
chaos disorder convulsion upheaval tumult agitation excitement hullabaloo
Etymology
Unknown. First appears c. 1526. Perhaps from Old French tremouille (“the hopper of a mill”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun Harassing labor; trouble; molestation by tumult; disturbance; worrying confusion.
- verb To harass with commotion; to disquiet; to worry. [Obs.]
- verb To be disquieted or confused; to be in commotion. [Obs.]
Etymology [Of uncertain origin; perhaps fr. OF. tremouille the hopper of a mill, trembler to tremble (cf. E. tremble); influenced by E. turn and moil.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “turmoil”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details