dishevel

American  

[dih-shev-uhl] / dɪˈʃɛv əl /

verb (used with object)

disheveled, disheveling, dishevelled, dishevelling

1. to let down, as hair, or wear or let hang in loose disorder, as clothing.

2. to cause untidiness and disarray in.

   The wind disheveled the papers on the desk.

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dishevel British  

/ dɪˈʃɛvəl /

verb

1. to disarrange (the hair or clothes) of (someone)

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Other Word Forms

• dishevelment noun

Etymology

Origin of dishevel

First recorded in 1590–1600; back formation from disheveled

Explanation

To dishevel is to mess up slightly, the way a breeze might dishevel your carefully combed hair. This verb is nearly always used to talk about tousling someone's hair or mussing their clothes or bedding. So you might carefully tuck in your sheets and comforter only to watch your puppy jump on the bed and dishevel them. Or you might reach over and dishevel your little brother's curls when he's looking particularly adorable. The adjective disheveled came first, from the Old French descheveler, "disarrange the hair."

Example Sentences

Eve dishevel Your hair for the bliss-drenched revel On our primal loam.

From Look! We Have Come Through! by Lawrence, D. H. (David Herbert)

Abashed, astounded, the prince retreated a space and looked, with savage intentness, upon the beautiful girl, superb in her denunciation, enchanting in the rebellious dishevel of her hair, the indignant rebuke of her eyes.

From The Flaw in the Sapphire by Snyder, Charles M.

With rant and revel My hair I dishevel, And I am the queen of Astrofelle.

From Love Letters of a Violinist and Other Poems by Mackay, Eric

I find it clear and very clarifying, after the innumerable hours I have spent in trying to dishevel him.

From The Letters of William James, Vol. II by James, William

“Know you not ’tis rank treason to discrown our sacred Majesty, far more to dishevel or destroy our locks? 

From A Reputed Changeling Or Three Seventh Years Two Centuries Ago by Yonge, Charlotte Mary