riotous

English

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English riotous, from Anglo-Norman riotous; equivalent to riot +‎ -ous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɹaɪətəs/

Adjective

riotous

1. Having the characteristics of a riot.
2. 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.

3. Unrestrained and boisterous; degenerate or dissolute.

Synonyms

• ragmatical

Derived terms

• riotous living

Middle English

Alternative forms

• ryetous, reyetous
• riatous, riottes, ryoteux, ryotous, ryoutis (Late Middle English)

Etymology

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman riotous; equivalent to rioten +‎ -ous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌriːutˈuːs/, /ˈriːutus/, /ˈriːətus/

Adjective

riotous (plural and weak singular riotouse)

1. degenerate, dissolute, lax
2. riotous, rowdy, boisterous
3. (rare) violent, savage
4. (rare) difficult, unmanageable

Descendants

• English: riotous
• Middle Scots: riotous

References

• “rīotǒus, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.