Etymology

unrest

U1N1R1E1S1T1

Today it means: A state of trouble, confusion and turbulence, especially in a political context; a time of riots, demonstrations and protests. Full definition →

Middle English unreste
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The story

  1. Middle English · inherited fromunreste
  2. English todayunrest

From Middle English unreste, equivalent to un- + rest. Cognate with West Frisian ûnrêst (“unrest”), Dutch onrust (“unrest”), German Low German Unrüst (“unrest”). Compare also Saterland Frisian Uunraue (“unrest”), German Unruhe (“unrest”), Danish uro (“unrest”), Swedish oro (“unrest”), Icelandic órói (“unrest”). Compare also Old English orrest (“battle”), Old Norse orrosta, orresta (“battle”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.