Definition of tumultuous

The word "tumultuous" comes from the Latin word "tumultuosus," which means "full of noise or commotion." The modern English word "tumultuous" is derived from this Latin root. In its earliest use, "tumultuous" referred to a disorderly or disturbing situation, often one involving violence and chaos. In ancient Rome, tumultus was a legal term used to describe a public disturbance or riot that threatened the authority of the state. As the Latin language and its vocabulary spread throughout the European world, the word "tumultuous" took on a broader scope. It came to be associated not only with physical disturbance, but also with emotional upheaval and turbulence. In the 17th century, John Dryden used the word "tumultuous" in his poem "Absalom and Achitophel" to describe the volatile political climate of the time. Since then, the term has been widely used to describe a variety of tumultuous situations, from political unrest and social upheaval to personal relationships and emotional turmoil. Today, "tumultuous" is commonly used to describe situations that are both noisy and unpredictable, with an emphasis on commotion and disorder.