disport

American  

[dih-spawrt, -spohrt] / dɪˈspɔrt, -ˈspoʊrt /

verb (used with object)

1. to divert or amuse (oneself ).

2. to display (oneself ) in a sportive manner.

   The picnickers disported themselves merrily on the beach.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to divert oneself; sport.

noun

1. diversion; amusement; play; sport.

disport British  

/ dɪˈspɔːt /

verb

1. (tr) to indulge (oneself) in pleasure

2. (intr) to frolic or gambol

---

noun

1. archaic amusement

Other Word Forms

• disportment noun

Etymology

Origin of disport

1275–1325; (v.) Middle English disporten, desporten < Anglo-French desporter, equivalent to des- dis- ¹ + porter literally, to carry ( port ⁵ ); (noun) Middle English < Anglo-French, derivative of the v.

Example Sentences

"He certainly could be, and it would be a question of how far out he goes, how far he reaches, how disported he gets," Dean replied.

From Salon

He demonstrated his ability to accurately transcribe a barely-legible original manuscript of Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984” by disporting his skills in paleography, the study of ancient and antiquated writing systems.

From New York Times

We don’t often wonder about the names of the places where we disport ourselves.

From Los Angeles Times

Blending them, we would seem to be in store for ghosts, ghouls and goblins disporting themselves beneath a full moon and amid suddenly chilly days and nights.

From Washington Post

If the systems were automatic, the human beings ought to walk away and disport themselves in beautiful pleasure gardens while the machines toiled on their behalf.

From Nature