perturb

  • 1Perturb — Per*turb , v. t. [L. perturbare, perturbatum; per + turbare to disturb, fr. turba a disorder: cf. OF. perturber. See {Per }, and {Turbid}.] 1. To disturb; to agitate; to vex; to trouble; to disquiet. [1913 Webster] Ye that . . . perturb so my… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2perturb — I verb abash, agitate, alarm, annoy, arouse, badger, baffle, bewilder, bother, bring into disorder, cause a fuss, cause agitation, cause alarm, cause confusion, cause disorder, cause upset, churn, complicate, confound, confuse, derange,… …

    Law dictionary

  • 3perturb — late 14c. (implied in perturbation), probably via O.Fr. perturber (14c.), from L. perturbare to confuse, disorder, disturb, from per through + turbare disturb, confuse, from turba turmoil, crowd (see TURBID (Cf. turbid)). Related: Perturbed;… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4perturb — disturb, agitate, upset, *discompose, disquiet, fluster, flurry Analogous words: *annoy, vex, irk, bother: *confuse, muddle, addle: confound, nonplus, distract, bewilder, dumbfound (see PUZZLE vb) …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 5perturb — [v] upset, unsettle agitate, alarm, annoy, bewilder, bother, bug*, confound, confuse, disarrange, discompose, disconcert, discountenance, dismay, disorder, disquiet, disturb, flurry, fluster, irritate, make a scene*, make waves*, muddle, needle,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 6perturb — ► VERB 1) make anxious or unsettled. 2) alter the normal or regular state or path of. ORIGIN Latin perturbare, from turbare disturb …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7perturb — [pər tʉrb′] vt. [ME perturben < MFr perturber < L perturbare < per , intens. + turbare, to disturb: see TURBID] 1. to cause to be alarmed, agitated, or upset; disturb or trouble greatly 2. to cause disorder or confusion in; unsettle 3.… …

    English World dictionary

  • 8perturb — I (Roget s IV) v. 1. [To annoy] Syn. pester, worry, irritate, disturb; see bother 2 . 2. [To confuse] Syn. perplex, confound, bewilder; see confuse . See Synonym Study at disturb . II (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus) (VOCABULARY WORD) v. [pur TURB] to… …

    English dictionary for students

  • 9perturb — transitive verb Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French perturber, from Latin perturbare to throw into confusion, from per + turbare to disturb more at turbid Date: 14th century 1. to disturb greatly in mind ; disquiet 2. to throw into… …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 10perturb — perturbable, adj. perturbability, n. perturbatious /perr teuhr bay sheuhs/, adj. perturbedly /peuhr terr bid lee/, adv. perturbedness, n. perturber, perturbator /perr teuhr bay teuhr/, n. perturbingly, adv. perturbment, n. /peuhr terrb /, v.t …

    Universalium