Middle English Dictionary Entry
distǒurbaunce n.
Entry Info
| Forms | distǒurbaunce n. Also -torbans, -torba(u)nce, -turbans, -turbaunce, -turbaunse; destorbance, -tourba(u)nce, -turbaunce. |
| Etymology | OF desto(u)rbance |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Mental distress, grief; perturbation; agitation; (b) a distressing experience or situation; an upsetting incident.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)931 : Ne beo ȝoure heorte in distourbaunce ydo.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)40b/a : In þe yȝen is I-knowe & I-seye al þe dome of mynde, desturbaunce and gladnes of þe soule.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)23.624 : And Euere spak the womman of Noysaunce To hym, And Euere Of distorbaunce.
b
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)572 : Houre swete lord..bad hem ben of god suffraunce In alle manere destourbaunce.
- (1414) RParl.4.59b : Hise tenantz..weren in swiche destourbaunce, for swiche wronful cleymes by the Priour of Huntingdon, as we be now.
- c1500(?c1450) Wedding Gawain (Rwl C.86)131 : Alle the lordes knewe by his countenaunce That the kyng had mett withe sume dysturbaunce.
2.
(a) Public disturbance; political agitation; don ~, maken ~, to cause disturbance; (b) discord; dispute; maken ~; (c) maken ~, to engage in fighting; kithen (maken) ~ up, fight against (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.MPChr.(LdMisc 108)890 : Heo ne dorsten bi-ginne it nouȝt..laste þat folk In destourbaunce were ibrouȝt.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8823 : Þo was vre king henry þoru out king alone & nadde in neuere a side destorbance none.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)12014 : Þo was þut lond in pes wiþoute destourbance.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.214 : To mak disturbaunce þei held a parlement.
- a1500 Mirk Fest.Alk.(GoughETop 4)241/14 : Þys dyddyn gret deses and gret dysturbans yn holy chyrche.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1718 : Þe king of Fraunce was euere a-nuyd of þulke desturbaunce And wende a-boute to makien a-cord.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10574 : Þo bigan þer in þis lond a newe destourbance.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.101 : Who-so make any disturbaunse for any poynt yat is ordened be ye first foundurs of yis gilde, he schal pay..ij s.
c
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8986 : Þe erl thebaud..made destourbance & bigan to rere worre vpe þe king of france.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9889 : Þe king of fraunce Cudde vpe þe king of engelond gret destourbance.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4772 : Þe kynnerede of hem to-gadres goþ, And euerech to oþerward waxeþ wroþ, & made disturbaunce.
3.
Bodily or physiological disorder; physical commotion.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.179 : Ȝif a lyme is oute of his owne place, and i-entred in to anoþer place þan his owne, anon is grete distourbaunce i-made; as whan þe ayer is closed wiþ ynne þe erþe, þan þe erþe schakeþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)256b/a : For þe fyry and ayre partyes moeueþ vpward and erþy partyes moeueþ dounwardes, and of suche destourbaunce and stryff and contrariousnesse comeþ strong boylynge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)308a/a : Þe dyuersite of þese [colours of yhen] comeþ..of superfluyte of þe whitliche humour or desturbaunce þer of or of scarsete or of superfluyte of humour.
4.
(a) Hindrance; interference; prevention; (b) law the hindrance of a person's rights to lands, estates, their produce, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.641 : Envie..began travaile In destourbance of this spousaile.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)7700 : Saul souȝte dauid to quelle Often fel so þe chaunce was þere but goddes disturbaunce.
- (1435) RParl.4.491b : That every man have power by auctorite of Parlement, to make serche..withoute impediment or destorbance of any persone.
- (1453) LRed Bk.Bristol2.203 : The vicarie..shall make due serch of the..Juelx, ornamentis..withoute any disturbaunce or lette of the saide preste.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3981 : He woll have in his honde A saff condit enselid..That he may com & pas without disturbaunce.
b
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)79 : [Sett he] his cleyme or swyche disturbaunce by hym or by his next freend with inne the ferst xl dayes after the deth of the forseyd testatour.
- (1439) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.515 : Therof to receyve and haue wtoute any distorbans vnder this condicon.
- (c1439) *Proc.Chanc.PRO ser.C 1 file 9no.119 : The seid forgid testament..causith the disturbaunce of the possession of your seid suppliaunt of the londez.
5.
(a) Injury, harm; (b) impairment of wits; (c) destruction of peace or unity; ~ of the kinges pes.
Associated quotations
a
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)1828 : Thow dost to hyre [Grace Dieu] no plesaunce But gret A-noye & dystourbaunce.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)1267 : Swythe long thou hast ous anyede kyng Garcy with distur-baunce.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.207 : Pictagoras wiþ harpe and strenges cessede þe destourbaunce of wittes [Higd.(2): perturbaciones of the sawle].
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2465 : And in such wise as he hath wroght In destorbance of worldes pes.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.2836 : Non withinne the cite In destorbance of unite Dorste ones moeven a matiere.
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)457 : In disturbaunce of þe kynges pese and wrong' and contempt of al Xristian pepele.
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.388 : That no Robbers, assembles, gederynges, or compeneys, be made in disturbaunce of the seid [kynges] pease.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. disturbance.