disconcert
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to disturb the composure of
-
to frustrate or upset
Related Words
See confuse.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of disconcert
From the obsolete French word disconcerter, dating back to 1680–90. See dis- 1, concert
Explanation
To disconcert is to unsettle someone, or make them feel confused and out of sorts. Finding a soup ladle in your sock drawer would definitely disconcert you! Disconcert comes from the old French word disconcerter, meaning "confused." The prefix dis means "not" — it has a bad attitude and shows up in words like disagree and disown. The second part of the word comes from the verb concerter, "to bring together." If you disconcert someone, you make them feel uncomfortable and maybe a little embarrassed.
Vocabulary lists containing disconcert
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Graceling
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Tess of the d'Urbervilles
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Disconcert them, she thought, keep them off balance; and this angel did not know what he should do, so he did as she told him.
From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman
Disconcert, dis-kon-sėrt′, v.t. to deprive of harmony or agreement: to disturb: to frustrate: to defeat: to put out of countenance.—n.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
