Also 7 -ance. [ad. L. turbulentia, f. turbulentus TURBULENT: see -ENCE: cf. F. turbulance, -ence (14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), perh. the immediate source.] The state or quality of being turbulent; violent commotion, agitation, or disturbance; disorderly or tumultuous character or conduct; with a and pl., an instance of this.
1598. Florio, Torbolenza, turbulence, disturbance.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., V. iii. 11. I haue dreampt Of bloudy turbulence.
1639. in Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk., etc. (1855), 231. Whatsomever tumilts and turbulances that shall happen to fall out.
1777. Robertson, Hist. Amer., II. v. 4. The turbulence of youth … gradually subsided.
1845. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 18. It required all the personal influence of the king to check the turbulence of his irritated followers.
1853. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk. (1873), III. I. i. 5. A temporary retreat from the turbulence of ecclesiastical politics.
b. Of natural conditions: Stormy or tempestuous state or action; violence.
1726–46. Thomson, Winter, 56. Congregated clouds, And all the vapoury turbulence of heaven.
1748. Anson’s Voy., I. viii. 82. The turbulence of the weather.
1820. Scoresby, Acc. Arctic Reg., I. 301. Capable of resisting the turbulence of the ocean.
1862. Goulburn, Pers. Relig., III. vii. 205. Think of Him as calm … amidst the most furious agitations and turbulences of nature.
