DISCONCERT


Meaning of DISCONCERT in English

I. də̇ˈskän(t)sə(r)]t, -nˌsər], -nˌsə̄], -nˌsəi]; ˈdisˌkän(t)sə(r)]; usu ]d.+V noun

Etymology: dis- (I) + concert

: lack of concert : the state of being disconcerted

there was a brief disconcert of the whole gay company — E.A.Poe

II. |diskən |sər]t, -|sə̄], -|səi], usu ]d.+V transitive verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: obsolete French disconcerter, alteration (influenced by Latin dis- dis- (I)) of Middle French desconcerter, from des- dis- (I) + concerter to concert — more at concert

1. : to break up the concert or arrangement of : throw into confusion : disarray , upset , frustrate , disturb

disconcerting enemy plans by a sudden offensive

confessed that the eerie howls disconcerted his slumbers — Rex Ingamells

2. : to disturb the composure or shake the complacency of : ruffle , embarrass

disconcerted his academic cronies by confessing that inspiration was most often induced in him by a pint of beer — Herbert Read

in an interview with Washington, he succeeded chiefly in disconcerting that most just of men — A.L.Kroeber

Synonyms: see embarrass

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.