"Tumultus" itself is a combination of two elements:
* "tumere", meaning "to swell" or "to be swollen"
* "-ultus", a suffix indicating a result or consequence
Therefore, "tumultus" originally referred to a "swelling" or "bulging" of a crowd which, in turn, implied a state of agitation, confusion, and disorder.
Over time, the word "tumult" evolved from its literal meaning to encompass the broader sense of "a commotion or disturbance". This evolution is reflected in its use to describe a loud and chaotic scene, usually involving a large group of people.