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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Storm


STORM, noun [G., to disturb. Latin The primary sense of storm is a rushing, raging or violent agitation.[

1. A violent wind; a tempest. Thus a storm of wind, is correct language, as the proper sense of the word is rushing, violence. It has primarily no reference to a fall of rain or snow. But as a violent wind is often attended with rain or snow, the word storm has come to be used, most improperly, for a fall of rain or snow without wind.

O beat those storms, and roll the seas in vain.

2. A violent assault on a fortified place; a furious attempt of troops to enter ad take a fortified place by scaling the walls, forcing the gates and the like.

3. Violent civil or political commotion; sedition; insurrection; also, clamor; tumult; disturbance of the public peace.

I will stir up in England some black storms.

Her sister began to scold and raise up such a storm--

4. Affliction; calamity; distress; adversity.

A brave man struggling in the storms of fate.

5. Violence; vehemence; tumultuous force.

STORM, verb transitive To assault; to attack and attempt to take by scaling the walls, forcing gates or breaches and the like; as, to storm a fortified town.

STORM, verb intransitive

1. To raise a tempest.

2. To blow with violence; impersonally; as, it storms.

3. To rage; to be in a violent agitation of passion; to fume. The master storms.