[f. prec.]
1. intr. To make a tumult, commotion, or disturbance; to raise an insurrection, to riot. ? Obs.
1570. Levins, Manip., 187/42. To Tumulte, tumultuare.
1616. Hayward, Sanct. Troub. Soul, II. To Rdr. ¶ 2. The sensuall powers did tumult, and breake loose.
1653. Milton, Paraphr. Ps. ii. 1. Why do the Gentiles tumult…?
1699. R. L’Estrange, Erasm. Colloq. (1725), 248. Monks run up and down,… the Rabble tumult; Erasmus writes Colloquies.
1864. [see tumulting below].
2. trans. To pat into tumult; to agitate violently.
1819. ‘B. Cornwall,’ Dram. Scenes, Rape Proserpine, i. My heart … seems tumulted By some delicious passion.
a. 1851. Moir, To wounded Ptarmigan, iv. The snorting whale … In its anger tumults ocean.
Hence Tumulting vbl. sb.; also † Tumulter, one who stirs up a tumult, a rioter (obs.).
1584. Horsey, Trav. (Hakl. Soc.), App. 270. To subdue the *tumulters and mainteine quietnes.
1670. Milton, Hist. Eng., II. Wks. (1847), 497/1. He … punished the tumulters.
1658. Cromwell, Sp., 4 Feb., in Carlyle, Lett. & Sp. (1871), V. 130. To stir up the people of this town into a *tumulting.
1864. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XVII. ii. IV. 519. Tired of … fighting and tumulting.
