dissociate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to separate or disconnect someone or something from an association, relationship, or idea

   The charity moved quickly to dissociate itself from the offensive remarks.

2. 2
   verb

   psychology: to become mentally detached from one's thoughts, feelings, identity, or surroundings

   Under extreme stress, a person may dissociate from the immediate experience.

3. 3
   verb

   chemistry: to split, or cause a substance to split, reversibly into smaller molecules, atoms, or ions

   In water, the acid can dissociate into hydrogen ions and anions.

From Latin dissociare ("to separate from fellowship"), built from dis- ("apart") + sociare ("to join or associate"), from socius ("companion, ally"). The chemical and psychological uses specialize the same underlying idea of breaking an association.

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