▪ I. uproar, n.
(ˈʌprɔə(r))
Also 6 uprour(e, 6–7 uprore (9), -roare.
[ad. Du. oproer or MLG. uprôr (MHG. ûfruor, G. aufruhr), f. op-, up- up- 2 + roer, rôr roar n.2 Cf. also WFris. oproer, oproar, Da. opr{obar}r, Norw. uppr{obar}r, Sw. up(p)rör. In sense 2 associated with roar n.1
First used by Tindale and Coverdale in passages in which Luther's Bible has aufruhr. In the same passages the Dutch version of 1563 has oproer, which in that of 1531 appears only as a marginal variant to 2 Kings xi. 14.]
1. An insurrection or rising of the populace; a serious tumult, commotion, or outbreak of disorder among the people or a body of persons. Also without article. Now rare.
| α 1526 Tindale Acts xxi. 38 That ægipcian whych..made an vproure, and ledde out into the wildernes about iiij. thousande men. 1535 Coverdale 2 Kings xi. 14 Athalia rente hir clothes, & sayde vproure, vproure. 1555 W. Watreman Fardle Facions ii. xi. 247 Among them is no mutinyng, no vproures, no sturres. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 13 b, Who shall represse the sodayne insurrections and civile vprours [L. motus]? |
| β a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VI, 169 b, The beginner of this temerarious commocion, and sodain vprore. 1561 J. Daus tr. Bullinger on Apoc. lxxvi. 524 Al wise men haue greuousely condemned seditions, which we are wonte to calle tumultes or vprores. 1595 Daniel Civ. Wars iii. xix, Least the realme might chance indure Some new reuolt, or any fresh vprore. 1606 G. W[oodcocke] Hist. Ivstine xxxiv. 112 That the kingdome should remaine in more safety, and lesse vprore. 1628 Coke On Litt. 109 b, Keeping the king's peace in time of sudden uprores. |
| γ a 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. lxv. iv, When stormy uproares tosse the peoples brayn. 1607 Dekker Wh. Babylon C 2 b, Confusion, tyranie, vproares will shake all. 1677 Hubbard Narrative ii. 84 These late Uproars amongst the Indians. 1702 Calamy Life Baxter vi. 76 To avoid Uproars of this kind, he was advis'd to withdraw a while from Home. 1748 Anson's Voy. iii. vi. 347 The officers found it difficult for some time to appease the uproar. 1905 J. H. McCarthy Dryad 258 There was nothing so wonderful in the crushing of such an uproar as that of the Catalan Grand Company. |
b. In
fig. uses.
| 1593 Shakes. Lucr. 427 His eye, which late this mutiny restrains, Unto a greater uproar tempts his veins. 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. i, The rocks gron'd At the intestine uprore of the maine. |
2. Loud outcry or vociferation; noise of shouting or tumult.
| 1544 Betham Precepts War i. clxiii. H vj, The souldiours..cannot take anye counsayle of thynges to be doone in suche vprore and wepynges [of women]. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. ii. 20 That all on vprore..The house was raysd, and all that in did dwell. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 386 The King was receiued into the house.., where without any vproar he slew seuentie. 1667 Milton P.L. x. 479 Night and Chaos wilde..fiercely oppos'd My journey strange, with clamorous uproare Protesting Fate supreame. 1718 Free-thinker No. 63. 52 A Field of War, stained with Blood, and filled with Uproar and Confusion. 1820 Keats Hyperion iii. 1 Thus in alternate uproar and sad peace, Amazed were those Titans utterly. 1852 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xxxv. 317 The sound of wild shrieking,..mingled with the barking of dogs and other symptoms of general uproar. |
| transf. 1726 Thomson Winter 190 Wild Uproar lords it wide; the Clouds commixt, With Stars, swift-gliding, sweep along the Sky. 1820 Keats Eve St. Agnes xl, The arras..Flutter'd in the besieging wind's uproar. |
b. With article (
an or
the) and in
pl.| 1572 Forrest Theophilus 1057 Although to his shame yt make an uprore Of admyration before the worldes sight. 1623 Bingham Xenophon 98 We heard vpon the sudden a great vprore and cry, Strike, strike, throw, throw. a 1670 Hacket Abp. Williams ii. (1693) 187 The daily Uproars about his Palace of Whitehall, which did emperil and threaten his Life. 1760 G. Colman Polly Honeycombe 19 There's always an uproar in the family about marrying the daughter. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxx, It was the wild uproar of riot, not the cheering gaiety of tempered mirth. 1832 Downes Lett. Cont. Countries I. 291 Hearing..a prodigious uproar in the street, we hastened to the window. 1849 C. Brontë Shirley xv, His uproars are all sound and fury, signifying nothing. 1897 Henty On the Irrawaddy 152 The uproar of the advancing crowd was prodigious. Every man was yelling, at the top of his voice. |
3. in (an) uproar, in a state of tumult, commotion, or excitement.
| (a) 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark Pref. C iv b, To haue all the worlde in an vprore, and inquieted with warres. 1596 Danett tr. Comines (1614) 55 Those that escaped put all the country in an vprore as they went. 1635 Life & Pranks Long Meg of Westm. viii. 16 The street was in such an uproar. 1778 F. Burney Evelina xl, For some minutes the room seemed quite in an uproar [of laughter]. 1831 [Hare] tr. Tieck's Old Man of Mount. 40 His head is in an uprore, his heart throbs tumultuously. 1848 L. Hunt Jar of Honey 188 Thus it was at Alcamo, where the streets seemed to be in an uproar till after midnight. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. (1856) 522 Ice in an uproar. |
| (b) 1597 Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 68 Whereat heauen grieuing, clad it selfe in blacke: But earth in vprore triumpht at their wracke. 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 573 All Persia was in uprore about the election of a new Prince. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 16 Aug. 1650, As we pass'd St. Denis the people were in uproar. |
▪ II. ˈuproar, v. [f. prec.] 1. trans. To throw into confusion.
rare.
| 1605 Shakes. Macb. iv. iii. 99 Nay, had I powre, I should..Vprore the vniuersall peace, confound All vnity on earth. 1811 W. R. Spencer Poems 48 The demon rage which uproared Europe's peace. |
2. intr. To make an uproar.
| 1831 Carlyle Sart. Res. iii. viii, Do not we..uproar (poltern), and revel in our mad Dance of the Dead? 1837 ― Fr. Rev. iii. vi. ii, Danton was not prone..to act or uproar for his own safety. Ibid. vii, All men accuse, and uproar, and impetuously acclaim. |