bouleversement : M-W's Word of the Day

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The Word of the Day for October 20 is:

bouleversement \bool-vair-suh-MAHNG (the "NG" is not pronounced, but the vowel is nasalized)\ noun
*1 : reversal
2 : a violent disturbance : disorder

Example sentence:
The economist pointed out that, in a bouleversement of housing trends, more people are purchasing homes now, whereas rentals have dropped off.

Did you know?
English picked up "bouleversement" from French in the latter part of the 18th century (it ultimately traces to Middle French "boule," meaning "ball," and "verser," meaning "to overturn"), and while not very common, it has steadily remained in use since that time. F. Scott Fitzgerald, for one, used it in his 1920 novel _This Side of Paradise_: "For the second time in his life Amory had had a complete bouleversement and was hurrying into line with his generation." Both Fitzgerald's use and our own example sentence suggest the idea of turning something around, but some usage of "bouleversement" dispenses with this notion and instead implies a general kind of upheaval or dramatic change, as in a revolution.

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