perturbamus

Perturbamus is a Latin verb form that means “we disturb” or “we trouble.” It is the first-person plural present indicative active form of perturbāre, a verb in the first conjugation. In ordinary prose, perturbāmus appears as perturbamus when written without diacritical marks.

Etymology and meaning: Perturbāre is formed from per- “through, thoroughly” plus turbāre “to disturb, trouble,” with a root related to turb- meaning disorder or confusion. The overall sense includes causing disturbance in a physical, emotional, or situational sense. The related noun perturbatio and the English word perturbation derive from the same family.

Grammar and usage: As a present indicative active form, perturbāmus translates to “we disturb” or “we trouble” in the present tense. It takes a direct object in the accusative when the disturbance is directed at something, for example perturbāmus rem (we disturb the matter). The form is part of the standard first-conjugation paradigm, with the full present tense: perturbō, perturbās, perturbat, perturbāmus, perturbātis, perturbant. The non-macron spelling perturbamus is common in ordinary texts, though the long-a stress falls on the syllable in properly marked Latin.

In use, perturbāre can convey physical disruption, disruption of order, or figurative perturbation (emotional or cognitive disturbance). The passive form perturbārī means “to be disturbed.” The word appears across classical Latin literature and has given rise to the English derivative perturbation.

See also: perturbāre, perturbatio, perturbāre’s root turb- relating to disturbance.