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disturbance (n.)

late 13c., "mental distress, emotional disorder of the mind, grief," from Old French destorbance (12c., Old North French distorbance), from destourber, from Latin disturbare "throw into disorder," from dis- "completely" (see dis-) + turbare "to disorder, disturb," from turba "turmoil" (see turbid).

Meaning "public disturbance, political agitation" is from c. 1300; that of "violent interruption of peace or unity" is late 14c.; it is the sense in disturbance of the (king's) peace," early 15c.

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Definitions of disturbance from WordNet

disturbance (n.)
activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption;
he looked around for the source of the disturbance
there was a disturbance of neural function
Synonyms: perturbation
disturbance (n.)
an unhappy and worried mental state;
there was too much anger and disturbance
Synonyms: perturbation / upset
disturbance (n.)
a disorderly outburst or tumult;
they were amazed by the furious disturbance they had caused
Synonyms: disruption / commotion / flutter / hurly burly / to-do / hoo-ha / hoo-hah / kerfuffle
disturbance (n.)
a noisy fight;
Synonyms: affray / fray / ruffle
disturbance (n.)
the act of disturbing something or someone; setting something in motion;
disturbance (n.)
(psychiatry) a psychological disorder of thought or emotion; a more neutral term than mental illness;
Synonyms: mental disorder / mental disturbance / psychological disorder / folie
disturbance (n.)
electrical or acoustic activity that can disturb communication;
Synonyms: noise / interference
From wordnet.princeton.edu