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.

Explanation

Visitors to an elementary school during recess may be surprised by the way the kids disport themselves. Disport means to play in a carefree way or to amuse yourself in a lighthearted fashion. To correctly pronounce disport, accent the second syllable: "dih-SPORT." It comes from the French word desporter, which means "to carry away" or "to entertain." Think of disport as what kids do when they have so much fun playing that they get carried away, forgetting all about school until the bell rings. You might disport yourself by frolicking at the beach with friends and enjoying lively conversation.

Example Sentences

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

From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2022

Other than: may all would-be statesmen disport themselves with the casual larceny of a guy who knows if you don’t let the legal papers physically touch you, then they haven’t been served on you.

From The Guardian • Dec. 9, 2019

While elsewhere in town, van loads of tourists are being carted around to view houses once inhabited by movie stars gone and long forgotten, at San Vicente Bungalows the live ones disport themselves.

From New York Times • Feb. 23, 2019

They can enjoy the hot dry weather that followed a spring of relentless rain and fog here and disport themselves in public with an apparent ease that seems singularly Italian.

From New York Times • Jun. 25, 2012

The seat for your disport shall be Over some river in a tree; Where silver sands and pebbles sing Eternal ditties with the Spring.

From Bacon and Shakspere by Burr, William Henry