Forms: 5–6 com(m)ocion, -cyon, 6– commotion. [a. OF. com(m)ocion (12th c. in Littré), ad. L. commōtiōn-em, n. of action f. commovēre; see COMMOVE.]
† 1. lit. Continuous or recurring motion; movement hither and thither, up and down, or the like. Obs. exc. as in 2.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 291. The cause of this great commocyon or mouynge of theyr bodyes.
1549. Compl. Scot., xiii. (1872), 111. Agitatione and commotione of his army vp and doun.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1673), 242. In the commotion of his horse, he [the rider] may not touch any member or part of him, but only his back.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet, 188. Commotion of the Arms.
2. Physical disturbance, more or less violent; tumultuous agitation of the parts or particles of any thing; of the sea: turbulence, tossing.
1592. trans. Junius on Rev. vi. 15. There is no man that shall not be astonished at that generall commotion.
1634. Peacham, Gentl. Exerc., 124. The Ocean … by reason of his often commotion and raging.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 992. Nor onely Paradise In this commotion, but the Starrie Cope … or all the Elements At least had gon to rack.
1741–3. Wesley, Jrnl. (1749), 13. In a moment the commotion ceased, the heat was over.
1794. Southey, Botany Bay Eclog., III. I … was soon sick and sad with the billows’ commotion.
1823. J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 31. Drop good vinegar … upon flour contaminated with other admixtures, and immediate commotion takes place.
b. (with a and pl.)
1794. Sullivan, View Nat., II. 173. The earth has undergone commotions abstracted from a deluge.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. ii. 12. The upper air exhibited a commotion which we did not experience.
3. Bustle, stir, confusion, hurly-burly; often in phr. in commotion. (Also with a and pl.)
1616. Bullokar, Commotion, a great stir, a hurly burly.
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 202, ¶ 4. That perpetual contest for wealth which keeps the world in commotion.
1868. Q. Victoria, Life Highl., 61. When I went on deck there was a great commotion, such running and calling, and pulling of ropes.
4. Public disturbance or disorder; tumult, sedition, insurrection. (The earliest sense recorded.)
1471. in Camden Misc. (1847), I. 17. To have [made] commocion ayeinst the king.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. i. 358. I haue seduc’d a head-strong Kentishman Iohn Cade of Ashford, To make Commotion.
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Commotion, rebellion, trouble, or disquietnesse.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., IV. ii. § 14. The open commotion of your people.
b. (with a and pl.) A disturbance, agitation; a tumult, rising, insurrection.
1540. Act 32 Hen. VIII., c. 26. Commocions or sedicions among themselfes.
1542. Contn. Fabyan’s Chron., VII. 700. In October folowyng beganne a folishe comocion in Lincolnshire.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxx. 183. The punishment of the Leaders, and teachers in a Commotion.
1749. Smollett, Regicide, I. i. Each popular commotion he improv’d By secret ministers.
1876. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. III. ii. 314. He became once more engaged in the political commotions of the day.
† 5. Mental perturbation; agitation, excitement.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 50. A certeine commotion also which we doe call anger.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., II. iii. 185. Kingdom’d Achilles in commotion rages.
1711. Shaftesb., Charact. (1737), II. II. II. 144. What is justly stil’d Passion or Commotion.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1775), II. 105. Trusting the issue of his commotions to reason only.
6. attrib.
a. 1555. Latimer, Serm. & Rem. (1845), 389. The misbehaviour of a certain priest in the commotion time [i.e., the Pilgrimage of Grace].
