Dictionary entry

Tumultuous

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Tu‐mul″tu‐ous (?), a. [L. tumultuosus: cf. F. tumultueux.] 1. Full of tumult; characterized by tumult; disorderly; turbulent.

The flight became wild and tumultuous. Macaulay.

2. Conducted with disorder; noisy; confused; boisterous; disorderly; as, a tumultuous assembly or meeting.

3. Agitated, as with conflicting passions; disturbed.

His dire attempt, which, nigh the birth

Now rolling, boils in his tumultuous breast. Milton.

4. Turbulent; violent; as, a tumultuous speech.

Syn. — Disorderly; irregular; noisy; confused; turbulent; violent; agitated; disturbed; boisterous; lawless; riotous; seditious.

— Tu‐mul″tu‐ous‐ly, adv. — Tu‐mul″tu‐ous‐ness, n.