riotous, a.
(ˈraɪətəs)
Forms: 4–6 ryotous (6 -uouse), 5 ryottouse, ryoteux, ryoutis; 6 Sc. ryatous(e, -us, riattous; 4– riotous (4–5, 7 -ouse), 6–7 riotus. See also royetous a.
[a. OF. riotous, rioteus, f. riot(e riot n.]
† 1. Troublesome, difficult. Obs.—1
| 1340 Ayenb. 170 He ouercomþ þane viȝt, þet is wel liȝt to ouercome to þe bolde herte, and lang and riotouse [F. ryhoteuse] to þe sleauuolle. |
2. Of persons: Given to wantonness, revelry, or dissolute life; prodigal, extravagant. Now
rare.
| c 1386 Chaucer Melib. §15 It were better dwelle in desert þan with a womman that Is riotous. c 1420 Hoccleve Min. Poems 228 The conpaignie of wommen riotous Thow flee. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 54 There be other that haue free hert, true and iuste, and be not riotous. 1503 Hawes Examp. Virt. v. lxxii, Ryotous company do thou not haunt. 1581 Marbeck Bk. of Notes 970 As thou maist see by the similitude of the riotous son. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) iv. ix. 390 Drunkards and riotus persons they [Persians] hate. 1634 Milton Comus 763 As if she would her children should be riotous With her abundance. 1648 Hexham ii, Een Smetser, a Riotous man, or a Glutton. 1847 Lytton Lucretia (1853) 123, I own..that they are riotous fellows, but some of them are clever. |
† b. Fond of commotion or fighting.
Obs. rare.
| ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 363, I salle..ryfe it in sondyre, Bot he be redily reschowede with riotous knyghtez. Ibid. 432, [I shall] Ryde alle thas rowme landes wyth ryotous knyghttes. |
† c. transf. Luxuriant; exuberant.
Obs.| 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. xiii. §3 Shall wee esteeme them as riotous Branches wherewith we sometimes behold most pleasant Vines ouergrowne? 1605 F. Mason Auth. Church (1607) 41 Those things which seemed most superfluous, she lopped awaie like riotous branches. |
3. Of life, conduct, etc.: Wanton, dissolute, extravagant; marked by excessive revelry.
| 1389 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 38 Nat be his owne folye ne ryotous lyuyng. 1542 Udall in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 5 Of a veray riottous and dissolute sorte of livynge in his youth. 1544 Suppl. Hen. VIII (E.E.T.S.) 53 Yf suche ryotuouse expenses had ben auoyded. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. vii. 40 Ane declamatioun against diligat and superfluous cheir in ryatous bankatis. 1618 Bolton Florus i. xviii. (1636) 59 Fabricius..condemned it for riotous in Rufinus,..because he had silver plate in all to a ten pound weight. 1755 W. Duncan Cicero's Sel. Orat. ix. (1816) 223 Dancing is always the last act of riotous banquets. 1756–7 tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) I. 42 The detestable welcome bowls,..with many other riotous customs, are daily disappearing in Germany. 1844 H. H. Wilson Brit. India I. 473 The dissolute and riotous conduct of a large proportion of its inhabitants or visitors. 1888 F. Hume Mme. Midas i. i, He spent all her wealth in riotous living. |
b. Noisy, tumultuous, unrestrained.
| 1508 Dunbar Tua mariit Wemen 193 He ralis, and makis repet with ryatus wordis. Ibid. 481 Sum raiffis furght rudly with riatus speche. 1781 Cowper Conversat. 261 They dare not wait the riotous abuse,..When wine has giv'n indecent language birth. 1873 ‘Ouida’ Pascarel I. 137 Down in the courtyard the children played with their spoils in riotous glee. |
4. Characterized or marked by rioting or disturbance of the peace; taking part in or inciting to a riot or tumult; turbulent.
| 1439 Rolls of Parlt. V. 17/2 To have yis open and ryoteux wrong and oppressioun remedied. 1464 Cov. Leet-bk. 331 To tyme that he haue..receyued sich punicion for his Riottous demeanyng as shal-be accordyng with oure lawes. 1491 Act 7 Hen. VII, c. 15 Certeyn persones of evyll, riotous and sedicious disposicions. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VII, 34 b, Assone as the comminge of the Mayre was intymate..to the ryotous persones, they fledde. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 141 The Commons of the Citie were farre out of rule by the insensyng of ryotous persons. 1621 Sir R. Boyle in Lismore Papers Ser. i. (1886) II. 38 The..Sirieant at armes cam with warrant for her and the Rest of her Riotouse servants. 1649 Milton Eikon. 22 Such a riotous act; to wit when hee came to dragg the five Members out of the House. 1714 Act 1 Geo. I, st. 2, c. 5 (title), An Act for preventing Tumults and riotous Assemblies. 1737 Gentl. Mag. VII. 672/1 The Act for apprehending those guilty of the riotous Murder of Capt. Porteous. 1845 Ld. Campbell Chancellors X. 158 A resolution to violate the law by refusing the payment of taxes was illegal and riotous. 1887 Hunt Bristol 200 Riotous proceedings ensued in London..and other places. |
| transf. 1778 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. 6 Feb. 1775, Rung the riotous ox. 1814 Scott Diary 25 Aug. in Lockhart, Advancing up this huddling and riotous brook. |
† b. in riotous wise, riotously.
Obs.| 1433 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 458/1 Wheras the Commons..in grete noumbre, in riotouse wise, pulled, brak, and hakked doun a pale of the said Abbey. 1443–50 in Baildon Sel. Cases Chanc. (Selden Soc.) 134 There came John Wayte..and..other persones.., and in full ryoutis wyse..entred the house of youre seid besecher. |