tempestuous

comparative more tempestuous · superlative most tempestuous · alternative tempestous

1. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a tempest; also, of a place: frequently experiencing tempests; (very) stormy.

   But oft the Sea / Tempeſtuous kept them back, and Southern VVinds / Deter'd them.

   1718, Virgil, “Book the Second”, in Joseph Trapp, transl., The Æneis of Virgil, Translated into Blank Verse, volume I, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 54, lines 130–132

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   I wyl aduertise you that this Boke is named the Shyp of foles of the worlde: For this worlde is nought els but a tempestous se in the whiche we dayly wander and are caste in dyuers tribulacions paynes and aduersitees: some by ignoraunce and some by wilfulnes: wherfore such doers ar worthy to be called foles.

   1509 December 24 (Gregorian calendar), Alexander Barclay, “[The Argument]”, in Sebastian Brant, translated by Alexander Barclay, edited by T[homas] H[ill] Jamieson, The Ship of Fools, volume I, Edinburgh: William Paterson; London: Henry Sotheran & Co., published 1874, →OCLC, page 18

   [A] turbulent and tempeſtuous ſtorme aroſe, that encloſed them on everie ſide, ſo that laying aſide all hope, they vvere in utter deſpaire of their life, ſecuritie, or any helpe at all.

   1610, William Camden, “Huntingdonshire”, in Philémon Holland, transl., Britain, or A Chorographicall Description of the Most Flourishing Kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press for] Georgii Bishop & Ioannis Norton, →OCLC, page 501

   A tempeſtuous noiſe of Thunder and Lightning heard: Enter a Ship-maſter, and a Boteſvvaine.

   1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 1, column 1

   [T]he Months of March and September, the tvvo Æquinoxes of Our year, are the moſt vvindy and tempeſtuous, the moſt unſettled and unequable of Seaſons in moſt Countries of the VVorld.

   1692 December 15, Richard Bentley, A Confutation of Atheism from the Origin and Frame of the World. The Third and Last Part. […], London: […] H[enry] Mortlock […], published 1693, →OCLC, pages 25–26

   Huge Uproar lords it vvide. The clouds commixt / VVith ſtars ſvvift-gliding ſvveep along the sky. / All nature reels. Till nature's King, vvho oft / Amid tempeſtuous darkneſs dvvells alone, / And on the vvings of the careering vvind / VValks dreadfully ſerene, commands a calm; […]

   1730, James Thomson, “Winter. Inscribed to the Right Honourable the Lord Wilmington.”, in The Seasons, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 200, lines 177–182

   Synonyms: breme, nimbose, procellous · Antonyms: untempestuous

2. figurativelyCharacterized by disorderly, frenetic, or violent activity; stormy, tumultuous, turbulent; also, of a person, their behaviour or nature, etc.: characterized by bouts of bad temper or sudden changes of mood; impetuous, stormy, temperamental.

   After their tempestuous argument, they did not speak to each other for weeks.

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   Yet I confesse in that tempestious hast [i.e., haste], / I said, that I from out thy sight was cast: / But thou didst heare, when I to thee did moane, / Then love the Lord all ye that feele his grace: […]

   a. 1587 (date written), Philip Sidney, “Psalm XXXI. In te, Domine, speravi.”, in The Psalmes of David […], London: From the Chiswick Press by C[harles] Whittingham, for Robert Triphook, […], published 1823, →OCLC, page 50

   [H]e vvould not ſuffer any farther inquiſition and examination to be had of the conſpirators, for feare leſt by ſtriking a terror among ſo many, the tempeſtuous troubles of the provinces vvhich vvere vvell appeaſed might revive again.

   1610, William Camden, “Romans in Britaine”, in Philémon Holland, transl., Britain, or A Chorographicall Description of the Most Flourishing Kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press for] Georgii Bishop & Ioannis Norton, →OCLC, page 80

   A Svveet diſorder in the dreſſe / Kindles in cloathes a vvantonneſſe: / […] / A vvinning vvave (deſerving Note) / In the tempeſtuous petticote: / […] Doe more bevvitch me, then vvhen Art / Is too preciſe in every part.

   1648, Robert Herrick, “Delight in Disorder”, in Hesperides: Or, The Works both Humane & Divine […], London: […] John Williams, and Francis Eglesfield, and are to be sold by Tho[mas] Hunt, […], →OCLC, page 29

   VVhat various Noiſes do mines^([sic]) ears invade? / And have a Conſort made? / The ſhriller Trumpet, and tempeſtuous Drum: / The deaf'ning clamor from the Canons vvombe; / VVhich through the Air like ſuddain Thunder breaks, / Seems calm to Souldiers ſhouts and VVomens ſhrieks.

   1656 May (first performance), Will. D’avenant [i.e., William Davenant], The Siege of Rhodes […], London: […] J. M. for Henry Herringman, […], published 1659, →OCLC, 1st entry, page 4

   I at night / In vain ſeek Sleep vvith a tempeſtuous VVife. / VVink at my ſhame, that I, vvhoſe Banners brave / The vvorld, ſhould thus to Beauty be a Slave.

   1657–1659 (first performance), Will. D’avenant [i.e., William Davenant], The Siege of Rhodes: The Second Part, […], London: […] Henry Herringman, […], published 1663, →OCLC, Act I, scene [i], page 23

   Antonyms: untempestuous