tempest
UK: ˈtɛmpɪst | US: ˈtɛmpɪst
n. 1. A violent windy storm.
n. 2. A tumultuous or agitated situation (often metaphorical).
tempest = temp<time/storm> + est<noun suffix>
- temp (from Latin tempus "time," later associated with storms due to seasonal weather shifts)
- est (noun-forming suffix, often indicating a state or condition)
Etymology Origin:
The word "tempest" traces back to Latin tempestas, originally meaning "period of time" or "season," but later narrowed to "stormy weather" (as storms were tied to seasonal changes). This semantic shift reflects how ancient cultures linked time and natural phenomena. The modern sense retains the idea of turbulence, both literal (storms) and figurative (chaos).
The ship was lost in the tempest off the coast.
Her arrival caused a tempest of emotions in him.
The political scandal stirred a tempest in the media.
Sailors feared the sudden tempests of the North Sea.
His speech ignited a tempest of protests among the crowd.