I. də̇ˈskəmfə̇]t, in dial speech in the southern US & the Brit Isles |diskəm|fi]; usu ]d.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English disconfiten, discomfiten, from Old French desconfit, past participle of desconfire to destroy, defeat, from des- dis- (I) + confire to prepare — more at comfit
1.
a. archaic : to defeat in battle : put to rout : overthrow
discomfited the pagans in two great battles
pictured the ground … as strewn with the discomfited — Stephen Crane
b. : to defeat or rout (an opponent) in any way
in the ensuing debate he utterly discomfited his less agile adversary
discomfited all her rivals in the race for colonies
: frustrate the plans of : thwart, foil
completely discomfited, the would-be robbers fled the scene
2. : to cause perplexity or embarrassment to : disconcert , upset
completely discomfited by the unexpected question
: abash
hung his head in shame and looked quite discomfited
Synonyms: see embarrass
II. də̇ˈskəmfə̇t\ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English discomfite, from discomfiten, v.
archaic : rout , overthrow , discomfiture