Etymology From Middle English destourben, from Anglo-Norman distourber and Old French destorber, from Latin disturbare, intensifying for turbare (“to throw into disorder”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)twerH-, *(s)turH- (“to rotate, swirl, twirl, move around”).
1
to confuse a quiet, constant state or a calm, continuous flow, in particular: thoughts, actions or liquids.
The noisy ventilation disturbed me during the exam.
The performance was disturbed twice by a ringing mobile phone.
1 more example
A school of fish disturbed the water.
2
to divert, redirect, or alter by disturbing.
A mudslide disturbed the course of the river.
The trauma disturbed his mind.
1 more example
disturb his inmost counsels from their destined aim1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
3
to have a negative emotional impact; to cause emotional distress or confusion.
Etymology From Middle English destourben, from Anglo-Norman distourber and Old French destorber, from Latin disturbare, intensifying for turbare (“to throw into disorder”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)twerH-, *(s)turH- (“to rotate, swirl, twirl, move around”).
Instant without disturb they took alarm1667, John Milton, “(please specify the page number)”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC: