Nearby Words

dishearten

[dis-hahr-tn] Example Sentences Origin

dis·heart·en

[dis-hahr-tn]
verb (used with object)
to depress the hope, courage, or spirits of; discourage.

Origin:
1590–1600; dis-1 + hearten

dis·heart·en·er, noun
dis·heart·en·ing·ly, adverb
dis·heart·en·ment, noun
un·dis·heart·ened, adjective


dismay, daunt, deject, dispirit.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Dishearten is one of our favorite verbs.
So is fletcherise. Does it mean:
to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.
to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly.
Example Sentences
  • They would dishearten any teacher, but especially a conscientious apprentice.
Collins
World English Dictionary
dishearten (dɪsˈhɑːtən)
 
vb
(tr) to weaken or destroy the hope, courage, enthusiasm, etc, of
 
dis'hearteningly
 
adv
 
dis'heartenment
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

dishearten
1590s (first recorded in Shakespeare's "Henry V"), from dis- "the opposite of" (see dis-) + hearten, verb formed from figurative sense of heart. Related: Disheartened; disheartening.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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