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usually uncountable, plural mayhems
A state or situation of great confusion, disorder, trouble or destruction; chaos. quotations examples
Available in an instant, it can be firmly grasped and employed to scrape, gouge, rake, and generally wreak mayhem on any pest who accelerates into assaultive status.
1998, Anton Szandor La Vey, Satan Speaks!
Jack lifted the binoculars to his eyes, and it was difficult not to laugh at the utter mayhem. Faeries ripped plumes from helmets; soldiers found their pistols dangled just out of reach.
2014, Emma Trevayne, Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times
Infliction of violent injury on a person or thing. examples
(law) The maiming of a person by depriving him of the use of any of his limbs which are necessary for defense or protection. examples
(law) The crime of damaging things or harming people on purpose. examples
third-person singular simple present mayhems, present participle mayheming, simple past and past participle mayhemed
(archaic, law) To commit mayhem quotations
the king shal punish him for mayheming of his subject
1628, Edw[ard] Coke, The First Part of the Institutes of the Lawes of England. […], London: […] [Adam Islip] for the Societe of Stationers