a. [ad. L. turbulent-us full of disturbance or commotion, restless, f. turba crowd, turbāre to disturb, agitate: cf. corpulent, truculent. So F. turbulent (12–13th c.).]
1. Of persons, their attributes and actions: Causing disturbance or commotion; disposed or inclined to disorder; tumultuous; unruly; violent.
1538. Coverdale, N. T., Ded. These turbulent and stormy assaultes of the wicked.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., 98. That execrable Seruetus, or other turbulent rebells in Religion.
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. i. 4. Grating so harshly all his dayes of quiet With turbulent and dangerous Lunacy.
a. 1780. Watson, Philip III., III. (1793), I. 289. The danger to which he was exposed from their turbulent ambition.
1846. Trench, Mirac., vi. (1862), 188. He expelled from the house the crowd of turbulent mourners.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Char., Wks. (Bohn), II. 59. They stoutly carry into every nook and corner of the earth their turbulent sense.
† b. Of things: Having a disturbing effect; tending to produce disturbance or trouble. Obs.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Innovations (Arb.), 527. A Froward Retention of Custome, is as turbulent a Thing, as an Innouation.
1625. K. Long, trans. Barclay’s Argenis, II. xvii. 121. Such, whose angry and turbulent Planets have indued them with a more violent disposition.
1671. Milton, Samson, 522. Nor envied them the grape Whose heads that turbulent liquor fills with fumes.
c. Violent in action or effect.
1656. Ridgley, Pract. Physick, 65. The cause is a Narcotick vapour, but it is turbulent also.
1874. Garrod & Baxter, Mat. Med. (1880), 440. When the heart is turbulent in its action, then the sedative remedies which act upon this organ are indicated;… a turbulent cardiac condition is often combined with a very imperfect flow of blood through its cavities.
2. Characterized by violent disturbance or commotion; violently disturbed or agitated; disorderly, troubled. a. Of weather, the sea, etc.: Stormy, tempestuous.
1573. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 34. After thes turbulent raging tempests I hope verrely for caulm and faier wether.
1608. Shaks., Per., III. ii. 4. T’as been a turbulent and stormie night.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith. (1690), 20. One sort of Vessels for the turbulent Sea, another for Inland Waters.
1770. G. White, Selborne, xxix. 80. Last month we had such a series of cold turbulent weather.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xiv. 94. Our way sometimes lay … across turbulent brooks.
1864. A. McKay, Hist. Kilmarnock, 261. The swollen waters bore upon their turbulent bosoms planks, trees, [etc.].
b. Of a state of mind or thought, social or political affairs, etc.
1609. Daniel, Civ. Wars, I. 9. [He] making the succession doubtfull, rent This new-got State, and left it turbulent.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 1126. Thir inward State of Mind, calme Region once And full of Peace, now tost and turbulent.
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xxxix. (1869), II. 433. The reign of the usurper was short and turbulent.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, lix. However turbulent his thoughts,… that was all past now.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 455. In the City of London, lately so turbulent, scarcely a murmur was heard.
Hence Turbulently adv., in a turbulent manner; with much commotion, tumultuously, violently; Turbulentness, rare = TURBULENCE.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., Epit. (1612), 392. The aforesaid intermitted Controuersie … hence-forth turbulently and Tragically proceeded.
1609. W. Sclater, Threefold Preserv. (1610), Ep. Ded. I know not what show of turbulentnesse they can accuse me of.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., XI. i. § 11. This meeting … proceeded turbulently, and suspiciously.
1746. Smart, Ode St. Cecilia’s Day, vi. In sorrow’s tempest turbulently tost.
1863. W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, ix. 397. The gorge [at Victoria Falls] cannot be more than a hundred yards wide, and at the bottom the river rolls turbulently boiling.
