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disconcert

[dis-kuh n-surt]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to disturb the self-possession of; perturb; ruffle: Her angry reply disconcerted me completely.
  2. to throw into disorder or confusion; disarrange: He changed his mind and disconcerted everybody's plans.
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Origin of disconcert

From the obsolete French word disconcerter, dating back to 1680–90. See dis-1, concert
Related formsdis·con·cert·ed, adjectivedis·con·cer·tion, dis·con·cert·ment, noun

Synonyms

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1. discompose, perplex, bewilder, abash, discomfit.

Synonym study

1. See confuse.

Antonyms

1. calm. 2. arrange.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for disconcert

Historical Examples

  • The man's conceit irritated Henry and he longed to disconcert him.

    Changing Winds

    St. John G. Ervine

  • Still this did not disconcert Rose, but rather made her laugh the more.

    Fruitfulness

    Emile Zola

  • The sixteen stories under him did not disconcert him at all.

    The Mind Master

    Arthur J. Burks

  • Even the old Mexican shooting-suit seemed in no way to disconcert him.

    The Market-Place

    Harold Frederic

  • This exclamation appeared to disconcert Yoga Rama a good deal.

    Telepathy

    W. W. Baggally

British Dictionary definitions for disconcert

disconcert

verb (tr)
  1. to disturb the composure of
  2. to frustrate or upset
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Derived Formsdisconcertion or disconcertment, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for disconcert

v.

1680s, from Middle French disconcerter (Modern French déconcerter) "confused," from dis- "do the opposite of" (see dis-) + concerter (see concert). Related: Disconcerted; disconcerting; disconcertingly.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper