Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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verb
To embarrass (someone) greatly; to confuse; to perplex; to disconcert.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Synonyms: abash, disconcert, abase, bring low, confuse, confound, debase, degrade, demean, depress, discomfit, dishonour, embarrass, humble, humiliate, lower, mortify, put to shame, shame
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To defeat the plans or hopes of; to frustrate; disconcert.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: rare, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: foil, thwart
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To defeat completely; to rout.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: overthrow, vanquish
Antonyms: none provided
verb
cause to lose one's composure
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: upset, discompose, untune, disconcert
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: arouse, elicit, enkindle, kindle, evoke, fire, raise, provoke
Narrower terms: faze, unnerve, enervate, unsettle, dissolve, bewilder, bemuse, discombobulate, throw, embarrass, abash, pain, anguish, hurt, afflict
History
From Middle English discomfiten, from Old French desconfit, past participle of desconfire (“to undo, to destroy”), from des- (“completely”), from Latin dis- + Old French confire (“to make”), from Latin cōnficiō (“to finish up, to destroy”), from com- (“with, together”) + faciō (“to do, to make”). Later sense of “to embarrass, to disconcert” due to confusion with unrelated discomfort.
Across languages
13 source translations are retained for this English entry.
