Perturbatory

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Inducing a disruption or alteration in a process
2. Related to elements that invoke a shift or modification in circumstances
3. Producing a state of disturbance or causing disarray in a system or situation

Etymology: The Latin root "turba" meant a crowd or throng, and "turbare" meant to stir a crowd into confusion. A disturbance was originally a mob in motion, not a state of mind. The prefix "per-" intensified the sense, so "perturbare" meant to throw something thoroughly into disorder. English took the verb "perturb" from Old French "perturber," which descended from the Latin. Over time it came to describe troubling a person's peace or composure rather than a physical crowd. This adjective is most likely formed by adding the suffix "-ory," which makes adjectives meaning "having the quality of" or "serving to," to that verb's stem, in the same way as "preparatory" or "declaratory."