inquietude
(ɪnˈkwaɪətjuːd)
[a. F. inquiétude (14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), or ad. late L. inquiētūdo, n. of condition f. inquiētus inquiet a.]
† 1. The fact or condition of being inquieted or having one's quiet disturbed; disturbance. Obs.
| c 1440 J. Capgrave Life St. Kath. i. 355 Of many thinges was sche sor a-gast, But most of inquietude. a 1639 Wotton Life Dk. Buckhm. in Reliq. (1651) 104 Having had such experience of his fidelity..he..found himself engaged in honour..to support him..from any further inquietude. 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. v. 178 The Commodore..giving strict orders that they [the female prisoners] should receive no kind of inquietude or molestation whatever. 1797 Mrs. Radcliffe Italian iii. 20 Guard her from inquietude as vigilantly as I have done. |
2. Med. Restlessness (of the body), caused by pain, uneasiness, or debility.
| 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 52/1 Out of the which insueth Inquietude, Agues, Convulsions, Spasmus. 1661 Lovell Hist. Anim. & Min. 334 Inquietude, which is a various turning of the body, and members, caused by matter molesting the sentient parts. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. iii. iii. §8 The inquietude, aches, and infirmities of old age. 1822–34 Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 638 A general soreness over the body, yawning, inquietude, and most of the other concomitants of a febrile incursion. 1875 H. C. Wood Therap. (1879) 476 A narcotic, producing in animals at first inquietude, soon followed by paresis. |
† 3. Restlessness (of a thing). Obs. rare.
| 1790 Proc. African Assoc. 19, I was struck with..the inquietude of his eye. |
4. Disturbance of mind; uneasiness, disquietude.
| 1658 Phillips, Inquietude, restlessnesse, want of repose, or quiet of minde. 1695 Ld. Preston Boeth. Pref. 11 We are travelled with Uneasiness, and Inquietude amidst our largest Enjoyments. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 142 ¶3 The following Letter is what has given me no small Inquietude. 1794 Ld. Sheffield in Ld. Auckland's Corr. (1862) III. 168, Gibbon is better, but I am by no means without inquietude on his account. 1876 Bancroft Hist. U.S. IV. xxxvii. 593 His forehead was sometimes marked with thought, but never with inquietude. |
b. pl. Disquieting thoughts; anxieties.
| 1652 Kirkman Clerio & Lozia 122 Since I was first molested by these inquietudes for your fair Mistress. 1783 Cowper Lett. 29 Sept., Wks. (1876) 140 In the meantime your philosopher..escapes a thousand inquietudes to which the indolent are subject. 1865 M. Arnold Ess. Crit. iv. (1875) 176 The very passion of the sister's longing sometimes inspired torturing inquietudes. |