riotous
English
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English riotous, from Anglo-Norman riotous; equivalent to riot + -ous.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɹaɪətəs/
Adjective
riotous
- Having the characteristics of a riot.
- Causing, inciting or taking part in a riot.
- 1982 April 10, Roosevelt Williamson, “Prison Racism and Legal Slavery in America”, in Gay Community News, page 15:
- The prison administrators are always planting seeds of hate, division, separatism, and prison peer group racism in the various ethnic groups here, causing friction and riotous situations where one group is set against another.
- Unrestrained and boisterous; degenerate or dissolute.
Synonyms
Derived terms
- riotous living
Middle English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Borrowed from Anglo-Norman riotous; equivalent to rioten + -ous.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˌriːutˈuːs/, /ˈriːutus/, /ˈriːətus/
Adjective
riotous (plural and weak singular riotouse)
- degenerate, dissolute, lax
- riotous, rowdy, boisterous
- (rare) violent, savage
- (rare) difficult, unmanageable
References
- “rīotǒus, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
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