disturb
Meaning
to interrupt what someone is doing by making noise or annoying them
to make someone feel worried or upset
to move or change something from its usual position or arrangement
Structure
Usage
please do not disturb the baby while she is sleeping.
the news report deeply disturbed him.
archaeologists were careful not to disturb the ancient artifacts.
Etymology
the word "disturb" originates from the latin verb disturbare, which is a compound of the intensive prefix dis- and the verb turbare, meaning "to agitate or throw into confusion." the root turbare itself derives from turba, a noun signifying "turmoil, uproar, or a disorderly crowd." this etymological composition vividly illustrates the core concept of the modern verb: to thoroughly agitate or throw a state of calm into disorder. the semantic journey from the literal latin sense of physically scattering or confusing a crowd to the contemporary abstract meanings of interrupting peace, causing worry, or displacing objects demonstrates a clear and logical evolution of the word's application.
Analysis
- dis: a latin prefix meaning "apart, asunder, utterly," indicating reversal or intensive force. - turb: from latin turbare, meaning "to throw into disorder, confuse, agitate," from turba meaning "turmoil, crowd."