disconcert

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˌdɪskənˈsɚt/ UK /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːt/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to throw into confusion or unsettle

His blunt question seemed to disconcert the speaker.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to throw into confusion or... unsettle disturb fluster discompose perturb abash discomfit ruffle

Opposites

reassure compose calm settle

Word family

Derived forms disconcertingdisconcertment

Related forms concertconcerted

Etymology

From obsolete French disconcerter, from des- (Latin dis-, 'reversal') plus concerter ('to bring into agreement'), from Italian concertare ('to bring into harmony'), perhaps from Latin concertare ('to contend').

disconcerter French concertare Latin

View etymology graph ->

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Actions & Processes

# disconcert

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** ˌdɪskənˈsɚt
**IPA (UK):** ˌdɪskənˈsɜːt

## Meanings
1. to throw into confusion or unsettle

## Examples
- His blunt question seemed to disconcert the speaker.

## Synonyms
- unsettle
- disturb
- fluster
- discompose
- perturb
- abash
- discomfit
- ruffle

## Antonyms
- reassure
- compose
- calm
- settle

## Derived Forms
- disconcerting
- disconcertment

## Related Forms
- concert
- concerted

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: disconcerter
- Root: concertare

## Etymology
From obsolete French disconcerter, from des- (Latin dis-, 'reversal') plus concerter ('to bring into agreement'), from Italian concertare ('to bring into harmony'), perhaps from Latin concertare ('to contend').

## AI Etymology
Disconcert comes from obsolete French disconcerter, from des- (Latin dis-, 'reversal') plus concerter ('to bring into agreement'), from Italian concertare ('to bring into harmony'), perhaps from Latin concertare ('to contend'). The historical trail runs through French disconcerter and Latin concertare. Morphologically, the surface form is analyzable into prefixes, suffixes, compounds, or participial endings that carry part of the history. In modern use it means to throw into confusion or unsettle. Derived formations include disconcerting, disconcertment; related forms include concert, concerted.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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disconcert

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