Etymology dictionary
dinar (n.) — disappointment (n.)
dinar (n.)
Middle Eastern unit of currency; generic name of Arab gold coins, 1630s, from Arabic dinar, originally the name of a gold coin issued by the caliphs of Damascus, from late Greek denarion, from Latin denarius (see denarius).
Dinaric (adj.)
from Dinara, ancient name of a mountain in Dalmatia, of unknown origin.
dining (n.)
c. 1400, "feasting, a feast," verbal noun from dine (v.). Dining-room "room in which principal meals are eaten" is attested from c. 1600. The railway dining-car is from 1838.
dine (v.)
c. 1300, dinen, "eat the chief meal of the day, take dinner;" also in a general sense "to eat," from Old French disner "to dine, eat, have a meal" (Modern French dîner), originally "take the first meal of the day," from stem of Gallo-Roman *desjunare "to break one's fast," from Vulgar Latin *disjejunare, from dis- "undo, do the opposite of" (see dis-) + Late Latin jejunare "to fast," from Latin iejunus "fasting, hungry, not partaking of food" (see jejune).
Transitive sense of "give a dinner to" is from late 14c. To dine out "take dinner away from home" is by 1758.
diner (n.)
1815, "one who dines," agent noun from dine. Meaning "railway car for eating" is 1890, American English; of restaurants built to resemble dining cars (or in some cases actual converted dining cars) from 1935. The Diner's Club credit card system dates from 1952.
dinero (n.)
Peruvian silver coin, 1835, from Spanish dinero, from Latin denarius (see denarius).
dinette (n.)
"small room or alcove set aside for meals," 1930, from dine + diminutive (or false French) suffix -ette. Earlier it meant "preliminary dinner, luncheon" (1870).
ding (v.)
1819, "to sound as metal when struck," possibly abstracted from ding-dong (1550s), which is of imitative origin. The meaning "to deal heavy blows" is c. 1300, probably from Old Norse dengja "to hammer," perhaps also imitative. Meaning "dent" is 1960s. Related: Dinged; dinging.
ding-a-ling (n.)
"one who is crazy," 1940, from earlier adjective (1935), from noun meaning "the sound of little bells" (1894), ultimately imitative of the tinkling sound (by 1848; see ding (v.)). The extended senses are from the notion of hearing bells in the head.
dingbat (n.)
1838, American English, apparently originally the name of some kind of alcoholic drink, of unknown origin. It has joined that class of words (such as dingus, doohickey, gadget, gizmo, thingumabob) which are conjured up to supply names for items whose proper names are unknown or not recollected. Used at various periods for "money," "a professional tramp," "a muffin," "male genitalia," "a Chinese," "an Italian," "a woman who is neither your sister nor your mother," and "a foolish person in authority." Popularized in sense of "foolish person" by U.S. TV show "All in the Family" (1971-79), though this usage dates from 1905. In typography, by 1912 as a printer's term for ornament used in headline or with illustrations.
ding-dong
imitative of the sound of a bell, 1550s. As a verb from 1650s.
dinger (n.)
"something superlative," 1809, American English, agent noun from ding (v.). Baseball sense of "a home run" is by 1984.
dinghy (n.)
name for various native boats in the East Indies, 1810, from Hindi dingi "small boat," perhaps from Sanskrit drona-m "wooden trough," related to dru-s "wood, tree," from PIE root *deru- "be firm, solid, steadfast," with specialized senses "wood, tree" and derivatives referring to objects made of wood. The spelling with -h- is to indicate a hard -g-.
dingy (adj.)
1736, in Kentish dialect, "dirty, foul," a word of uncertain origin, but perhaps related to dung. Meaning "soiled, tarnished, having a dull, brownish color" (from grime or weathering) is by 1751; hence "shabby, shady, drab" (by 1855). The noun dinge "dinginess" (1816) is a back-formation; as a derogatory word for "black person, Negro," by 1848. Related: Dingily; dinginess.
dingle (n.)
"deep dell or secluded hollow, usually wooded," c. 1200, of unknown origin; a dialectal word until it entered literary use 17c. The Middle English Compendium compares Old English ding "dungeon," Old High German tunc "cellar," Old Norse dyngja "lady's bower."
dingleberry (n.)
by 1973, perhaps with suggestions of dangle and berry. Attested from late 19c. through 1930s as a humorous-sounding surname in comedic writing.
dingo (n.)
the Australian dog, of wolf-like appearance and very fierce, 1789, Native Australian name, from Dharruk (language formerly spoken in the area of Sydney) /din-go/ "tame dog," though the English used it to describe wild Australian dogs. Bushmen continue to call the animal by the Dharruk term /warrigal/ "wild dog." Plural dingoes.
dingus (n.)
"any unspecified or unspecifiable object; something one does not know the name of or does not wish to name," by 1874, U.S. slang, from Dutch dinges, literally "thing" (see thing).
dink (n.2)
derogatory for "Vietnamese," 1969, U.S. military slang, of uncertain origin.
dink (n.1)
"drop-shot," in lawn tennis, 1939, probably somehow imitative. As a verb by 1942. Related: Dinked; dinking.
DINK
acronym for double income, no kids, popular from 1987.
dinky (adj.)
1788, dinkie, "neat, trim, dainty, small," from Scottish dialectal dink "finely dressed, trim" (c. 1500), which is of unknown origin. Modern sense of "small, tiny" is by 1859. Related: Dinkiness.
dinkum (n.)
1888, "hard work," Australian slang, of unknown origin, perhaps from Lincolnshire dialect. Adjectival meaning "honest, genuine" is attested from 1916. Phrase fair dinkum "fair play" is attested by 1894.
dinna (v.)
a Scottish contraction of do not.
dinner (n.)
c. 1300, "first big meal of the day" (eaten between 9 a.m. and noon), from Old French disner "breakfast" (11c.), noun use of infinitive disner (Modern French dîner) "take the first meal of the day," from Gallo-Roman *desiunare "to break one's fast," from Vulgar Latin *disieiunare, from dis- "undo, do the opposite of" (see dis-) + Late Latin ieiunare, jejunare "to fast," from Latin ieiunus "fasting, hungry, not partaking of food" (see jejune).
Always used in English for the main meal of the day, but the time of that has gradually grown later.
The change from midday to evening began with the fashionable classes. Compare dinette.
Dinner-time is attested from late 14c.; dinner-hour is from 1750. Dinner-table is from 1784; dinner-jacket from 1852; dinner-party by 1780. Childish reduplication din-din is attested from 1905.
dinnerless (adj.)
"having no dinner," 1660s, from dinner + -less.
dinosaur (n.)
one of the Dinosauria, a class of extinct Mesozoic reptiles often of enormous size, 1841, coined in Modern Latin by Sir Richard Owen, from Greek deinos "terrible" (see dire) + sauros "lizard" (see -saurus). Figurative sense of "person or institution not adapting to change" is from 1952. Related: Dinosaurian.
dint (n.)
Old English dynt "blow dealt in fighting" (especially by a sword), from Proto-Germanic *duntiz (source also of Old Norse dyntr "blow, kick"), a word well represented only in Germanic and of disputed etymology. Phrase by dint of "by force of, by means of," is early 14c.
diocese (n.)
"district and population under the pastoral care of a bishop," mid-14c., from Old French diocese (13c., Modern French diocèse), from Late Latin diocesis, in the Roman Empire "a governor's jurisdiction, a subdivision of a prefecture containing a number of provinces," later, in Church Latin, "a bishop's jurisdiction," from Greek dioikesis "government, administration; province," originally "economy, housekeeping," from dioikein "control, govern, administer, manage a house," from dia "thoroughly" (see dia-) + oikos "house" (from PIE root *weik- (1) "clan").
diocesan (adj.)
"pertaining to a diocese," mid-15c., from Old French diocésain (15c.) and directly from Medieval Latin diocesanus, from diocese (see diocese). As a noun, "a diocesan bishop," from mid-15c.
diode (n.)
1919, in electricity, "tube with two electrodes," from Greek di- "twice" (from dis "twice," related to duo, from PIE root *dwo- "two") + hodos "a way, path, track, road," a word of uncertain origin (see Exodus).
Diomedes
Greek hero in the Trojan War, literally "advised by Zeus," from Dios, genitive of Zeus (see Zeus) + medos "counsel, plan, device, cunning" (see Medea).
Dion
masc. proper name, short for Dionysius (see Dennis).
Dionysian (adj.)
c. 1600, of or pertaining to Dionysos (Latin Dionysus), Greek god of wine and revelry, identified with Roman Bacchus. His name is of unknown origin. In some cases a reference to historical men named Dionysius, such as the two tyrants of that name of Syracuse, both notorious for cruelty, or Dionysius Exiguus, 6th c. Scythian monk who invented the Anno Domini era (see A.D.). The reference is to him in Dionysian period, a measure of 532 Julian years, at the end of which the full moons recur on the same days of the year.
Dionysus
Latin form of Greek Dionysos, in Greek mythology the name of the youthful and beautiful god of wine and drama, identified by the Romans with their Bacchus. His name is of unknown origin.
diorama (n.)
1823, a spectacular painting intended to be exhibited in a darkened room to produce an appearance of reality using lighting from behind it, from French diorama (1822), from assimilated form of Greek dia "through" (see dia-) + orama "that which is seen, a sight" (see panorama, on which this word is based). It was invented in France by Daguerre (later the pioneer photographer) and Bauton and first exhibited in England in 1823.
Meaning "small-scale replica of a scene, etc., using three-dimensional objects and a painted background" is from 1902. Related: Dioramic.
Dioscuri
in Greek mythology, Castor and Polydeuces (Pollux), warrior-gods and tutelary protectors of sailors, twin sons of Zeus and Leda; a Latinized form of Greek Dioskouroi, literally "Zeus' boys," from Dios, genitive of Zeus (see Zeus) + kouroi, plural of kouros "boy, son," from PIE *korwo- "growing" (hence "adolescent"), from suffixed form of root *ker- (2) "to grow." Related: Dioscuric; Dioscurian.
dioxin (n.)
1919, from dioxy-, word-forming element in chemistry indicating the presence of two oxygen atoms or two additional oxygen atoms (see di- (1) + oxy-) + chemical suffix -in (2). All the compounds in the group are characterized by two oxygen atoms.
dip (v.)
Old English dyppan "to plunge or immerse temporarily in water, to baptize by immersion," from Proto-Germanic *daupejanan (source also of Old Norse deypa "to dip," Danish døbe "to baptize," Old Frisian depa, Dutch dopen, German taufen, Gothic daupjan "to baptize"), related to Old English diepan "immerse, dip," and probably a causative of Proto-Germanic *deup- "deep" (see deep (adj.)).
Intransitive sense of "plunge into water or other liquid" and transferred sense "to sink or drop down a short way" are from late 14c. From c. 1600 as "to raise or take up by a dipping action;" from 1660s as "to incline downward;" from 1776 as "to lower and raise (a flag, etc.) as if by immersing."
dip (n.1)
1590s, "act of dipping," from dip (v.). Sense of "a downward slope" is by 1708. Meaning "liquid into which something is to be dipped" is attested by 1825, in 19c. especially "sweet sauce for pudding, etc.," also "juices and fat left after cooking meat." The sense "thick, savory sauce for dunking pieces of raw vegetables" (by 1962) is probably a modern re-coinage.
dip (n.2)
"stupid person, eccentric person," 1920s slang, perhaps a back-formation from dippy. "Dipshit is an emphatic form of dip (2); dipstick may be a euphemism or may reflect putative dipstick 'penis' " [DAS].
diphtheria (n.)
infectious disease, formerly frequently fatal, 1857, from French diphthérie, coined 1855 by physician Pierre Bretonneau (1778-1862) from Greek diphthera "prepared hide, leather," which is of unknown origin; the disease so called for the tough membrane that forms in the throat.
Bretonneau's earlier name for it was diphthérite (1821), which had been Englished as diphtheritis (1826). Related: Diphtheritic.
diphthong (n.)
"a union of two vowels pronounced in one syllable," late 15c., diptonge, from Late Latin diphthongus, from Greek diphthongos "having two sounds," from di- "double" (from PIE root *dwo- "two") + phthongos "sound, voice," which is related to phthengesthai "to utter a sound, sound, raise one's voice, call, talk," which Beekes reports as of "no certain etymology. None of the existing connections with semantically comparable words ... is phonetically convincing." Related: Diphthongal; diphthongization.
diplo-
before vowels dipl-, word-forming element of Greek origin, from Greek diploos, diplous "twofold, double," from di- "two" (see di- (1)) + -ploos "-fold," from PIE root *pel- (2) "to fold."
diplodocus (n.)
genus of long-necked, long-tailed Jurassic dinosaurs, 1884, coined in Modern Latin in 1878 by U.S. paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh (1831-1899) from Greek diploos "double" (see diplo-) + dokos "a bearing-beam," connected to dekomai "to take, accept, receive," as an agent-noun, so, properly, "which takes on (the load or covering)," from suffixed form of PIE root *dek- "to take, accept." The dinosaur was so called for the peculiar structure of the tail bones.
diploid (adj.)
in cellular biology, "having two homologous sets of chromosomes," 1908, from German (1905), from Greek diploos "double, twofold," (see diplo-) + eidos "form" (see -oid).
diploma (n.)
1640s, "state paper, official document," from Latin diploma (plural diplomata) "a state letter of recommendation," given to persons travelling to the provinces, "a document drawn up by a magistrate," from Greek diploma "licence, chart," originally "paper folded double," from diploun "to double, fold over," from diploos "double" (see diplo-) + -oma, suffix forming neuter nouns and nouns that indicate result of verbal action (see -oma).
The main modern use is a specialized one, "a writing under seal from competent authority conferring some honor or privilege," especially that given by a college conferring a degree or authorizing the practice of a profession (1680s in English).
Compare diplomacy, diplomatic.
diplomacy (n.)
"the science of formal intercourse between nations through authorized agents; the art of negotiating and drafting treaties;" more loosely, "transactions and management of international business in general," 1793, from French diplomatie, formed from diplomate "diplomat" (on model of aristocratie from aristocrate), from Modern Latin diplomaticus (1680s), from Latin diploma (genitive diplomatis) "official document conferring a privilege" (see diploma; for sense evolution, see diplomatic).
Meaning "dexterity or skill in managing negotiations of any kind" is by 1848.
diplomatic (adj.)
1711, "pertaining to official or original documents, texts, or charters," from Modernl Latin diplomaticus (1680s), from diplomat-, stem of Latin diploma "a state letter of recommendation," given to persons travelling to the provinces, "a document drawn up by a magistrate," from Greek diploma "a licence, a chart," originally "paper folded double," from diploun "to double, fold over," from diploos "double" (see diplo-) + -oma, suffix forming neuter nouns and nouns that indicate result of verbal action (see -oma).
Meaning "pertaining to or of the nature of diplomacy; concerned with the management of international relations" is recorded by 1787, apparently a sense evolved in 18c. from the use of diplomaticus in Modern Latin titles of collections of international treaties, etc., in which the word referred to the "texts" but came to be felt as meaning "pertaining to international relations."
In the general sense of "tactful and adroit, skilled in negotiation or intercourse of any kind" it dates from 1826. Diplomatic immunity is attested by 1849. Related: Diplomatically.
diplomat (n.)
"one skilled in diplomacy," 1813, from French diplomate, a back-formation from diplomatique "pertaining to diplomatics," from Modern Latin diplomaticus (see diplomatic) on model of aristocrate from aristocratique. Compare diplomatist.
diplomatist (n.)
"person officially employed in international intercourse; one versed in the art of diplomacy," 1801, from French diplomatiste, from Latin diplomat-, stem of diploma (see diplomacy).
dipper (n.)
late 14c., as a type of diving bird, agent noun from dip (v.). As "a ladle or long-handled utensil for drawing liquid," from 1783, chiefly American English. Also "a Dunker, an Anabaptist" (1610s); "one who dips snuff" (1870). As the popular U.S. name for the asterism known in Britain as The Plough or Charles's Wain, attested by 1833, so called for the arrangement of the stars. Compare Big Dipper.
dippy (adj.)
"mad, insane, crazy," especially in love, 1903, perhaps from dip + -y (2), but the exact signification is unclear. Another theory connects it with dipsomania.
dipsomania (n.)
1843, "morbid craving for alcohol," also used of the temporary madness caused by excessive drinking, coined in medical Latin from Greek dipsa "thirst" (which is of unknown origin) + mania. It is recorded earlier in Italian (1829) and German (1830) medical works.
dipsomaniac (n.)
"drunkard, one suffering from an uncontrollable craving for strong drink," 1844, from dipsomania on the model of maniac. Slang shortening dipso is attested by 1880.
dipstick (n.)
"rod for measuring the depth of a liquid" (originally and especially the oil in a motor engine), 1927; see dip (v.) + stick (n.). For slang "penis" sense, see dip (n.2).
diptych (n.)
1620s, "hinged, two-leaved tablet of wood, ivory, etc., with waxed inner surfaces, used by the Greeks and Romans for writing with the style," from Latin diptycha (plural), from late Greek diptykha, neuter plural of diptykhos "double-folded, doubled," from di- "two" (see di- (1)) + ptykhe "fold," which is of uncertain etymology. In art, "a pair of pictures or carvings on two panels hinged together," by 1852.
dire (adj.)
"causing or attended by great fear, dreadful, awful," 1560s, from Latin dirus "fearful, awful, boding ill," a religious term, which is of unknown origin. Apparently a dialect word in Latin; perhaps from Oscan and Umbrian and perhaps cognate with Greek deinos "terrible," Sanskrit dvis- 'hate, enmity, enemy," from PIE root *dwei-, forming words for "fear; hatred."
direction (n.)
late 14c., direccioun, "action of directing or guiding," from Latin directionem (nominative directio) "a making straight, a straight line, a directing (toward something)," noun of action from past-participle stem of dirigere "to set straight, arrange; give a particular direction to," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + regere "to direct, to guide, keep straight" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line").
Meaning "the act of governing, administration" is from early 15c. Sense of "relative position without regard to distance" is from 1660s. Meaning "course pursued by a moving object" is from 1660s.
Sense of "order, instruction in how to proceed" is from early 15c.; specific sense of "instruction in how to get somewhere" is from 1590s (directions in this sense is by 1749). Related: Directional.
directive (adj.)
mid-15c., "pointing out the proper direction," from Medieval Latin directivus, from direct-, past-participle stem of Latin dirigere "to set straight" (see direct (v.)). From 1590s as "having the power of directing." From 1640s as a noun, "that which directs," a sense now obsolete; meaning "a general instruction how to proceed or act" is a modern use (1902).
direct (v.)
late 14c., directen, "to write or address (a letter, words)" to someone, also "to point or make known a course to," from Latin directus past participle of dirigere "set straight, arrange; give a particular direction to, send in a straight line; guide" a thing, either to something or according to something, from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + regere "to direct, to guide, keep straight" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line"). Compare dress; address.
Sense of "to point or aim in a straight line toward a place or an object" is from c. 1400. Meaning "to govern, regulate as to behavior, prescribe the course or actions of" is from early 15c. Sense of "to order, ordain" is from 1650s. Sense of "to write the destination on the outside of a letter" had emerged by 17c. In reference to plays, films, etc., "to supervise and control the making of," it is attested from 1913. Related: Directed; directing.
direct (adj.)
c. 1400, "straight, undeviating, not crooked," from Old French direct (13c.) and directly from Latin directus "straight," adjectival use of past participle of dirigere "to set straight," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + regere "to direct, to guide, keep straight" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line"). Meaning "plain, expressive, not ambiguous" is from 1580s.
directness (n.)
1590s, "straightness;" 1610s, "freedom from ambiguity;" see direct (adj.) + -ness.
directly (adv.)
late 14c., "completely;" early 15c., "in a straight line," also, figuratively (of speaking or writing) "clearly, unmistakably, expressly," from direct (adj.) + -ly (2). Meaning "at once, straightway, immediately in time" (c. 1600) is from earlier sense of "without intermediate steps" (1520s).
director (n.)
late 15c., "a guide," from Anglo-French directour, French directeur, agent noun from Latin dirigere "set straight, arrange; give a particular direction to," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + regere "to direct, to guide, keep straight" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line").
Corporate sense of "one of a number of persons having authority to manage the affairs of a company" is from 1630s; theatrical sense of "the leader of a company of performers" is from 1911.
directorate (n.)
1834, "a body of directors," from director + -ate (1). From 1837 as "office of a director."
directory (n.)
mid-15c., "a guide;" 1540s, "a book of rules," especially ecclesiastical, "book of directions for saying various Church offices," from Medieval Latin directorium, noun use of neuter of Latin directorius, from directus, past participle of dirigere "to set straight,"(see direct (v.)).
Meaning "alphabetical listing of inhabitants of a region" is from 1732; sense of "listing of telephone numbers" is from 1908.
As "a board of directors" by 1803, especially in reference to the French Directoire, the five-man executive government of France from 1796 to 1799.
As an adjective, "guiding, directive," from mid-15c. As "of or resembling the style in fashion and decorative arts prevailing at the time of the Directoire," by 1878.
directorial (adj.)
"that directs," 1770, from director + -ial.
directorship (n.)
"condition or office of a director," 1720; see director + -ship.
dirge (n.)
c. 1200, dirige (the contracted form is from c. 1400), "that part of the Office for the Dead beginning with the antiphon for the first psalm of the first nocturn of matins," from Latin dirige "direct!" imperative of dirigere "to direct" (see direct (v.)). The antiphon begins, Dirige, Domine, Deus meus, in conspectu tuo viam meam ("Direct, O Lord, my God, my way in thy sight"), from Psalm v.9.
Hence, broadly, "the funeral service as sung." Transferred sense of "any funeral song or hymn, a song or tune expressing grief" is from c. 1500.
dirigible (n.)
"airship," 1885, short for dirigible balloon, from dirigible (adj.) "that may be directed, controlled, or steered" (1580s), from French dirigeable "capable of being directed or guided," from Latin dirigere "to set straight" (see direct (v.)).
dirk (n.)
"stabbing weapon, dagger, poinard," c. 1600, perhaps from Dirk, the proper name, which was used in Scandinavian for "a picklock." But the earliest spellings were dork, durk (Johnson, 1755, seems to be responsible for the modern spelling). The earliest association is with Highlanders, however there seems to be no such word in Gaelic, where the proper word is biodag. Another candidate is German dolch "dagger."
The masc. given name is a variant of Derrick, ultimately from the Germanic compound in Dietrich.
dirndl (n.)
style of women's dress imitating Alpine peasant costume, with bodice and full skirt, 1937 (from 1921 as a German word in articles on German fashion), from German dialectal diminutive of dirne "girl" (in dirndlkleid "peasant dress"), from a diminutive of Middle High German dierne "maid," from Old High German thiorna, which is related to Old English þegn (see thane).
dirt (n.)
15c. metathesis of Middle English drit, drytt "excrement, dung, feces, any foul or filthy substance," also "mud, earth," especially "loose earth" (c. 1300), from Old Norse drit, cognate with Old English dritan "to void excrement," from Proto-Germanic *dritan (source also of Dutch drijten, Old High German trizan).
Used abusively of persons from c. 1300; figurative of something worthless from early 14c. Meaning "gossip" first attested 1926 (in Hemingway).
As an adjective, "consisting or made of loose earth," by 1860. The dirt-bike is attested by 1970. Dirt-cheap "as cheap as dirt" is by 1766; dirt-poor "extremely poor" is by 1906. Dirt road, one not paved or macadamized, is attested by 1835, American English. Pay-dirt "earth containing gold" is by 1857, originally California miners' slang.
dirty (v.)
"to defile; make filthy," 1590s, from dirty (adj.). Related: Dirtied; dirtying.
dirty (adj.)
"of or imparting filth," early 15c. metathesis of dritty "feculent; muddy" (late 14c.), from dirt + -y (2). Sense of characterized by dirt, unclean" is from 16c. Meaning "smutty, morally unclean" is from 1590s. Of colors, from 1690s. Sense of "not streamlined; rough, untidy, or imperfect" is by 1925. Of atomic bombs, "producing much radioactive fallout," by 1956.
Dirty linen "personal or familial secrets" is first recorded 1860s. Dirty work in the figurative sense is from 1764; dirty trick is from 1670s. Dirty joke is by 1856. The dirty look someone gives you is by 1923; dirty old man "superannuated lecher" is from 1932. Related: dirtiness.
disability (n.)
1570s, "want of power, strength, or ability," from dis- + ability. Meaning "incapacity in the eyes of the law" is from 1640s. Related: Disabilities.
disable (v.)
"render unable, weaken or destroy the capability of," late 15c., from dis- "do the opposite of" + ablen (v.) "to make fit" (see able). Related: Disabled; disabling. Earlier in the same sense was unable (v.) "make unfit, render unsuitable" (c. 1400).
disabled (adj.)
"incapacitated," 1630s, past-participle adjective from disable. Earlier it meant "legally disqualified" (mid-15c.).
disabuse (v.)
"free from mistake, fallacy, or deception," 1610s, from dis- + abuse (v.). Related: Disabused; disabusing.
disaccord (v.)
late 14c., disacorden "be contrary; disagree, refuse assent," from Old French desacorder (12c., Modern French désaccorder), from des- "opposite of" (see dis-) + acorder "agree, be in harmony" (see accord (v.)). Related: Disaccorded; disaccording.
disaccordance (n.)
mid-15c., disacordaunce, "lack of agreement," from Old French desacordance, from desacorder (see disaccord). Related: Disaccordant.
disaccustom (v.)
late 15c., "render a thing no longer customary" (a sense now obsolete); 1520s in modern sense "render (a person) unaccustomed to (something), cause to lose (a habit) by disuse," from Old French desacostumer "render unfamiliar" (Modern French désaccoutumer), from des- "not, opposite of" (see dis-) + acostumer "become accustomed, bring into use" (see accustom). Discustom (c. 1500) also was used. Related: Disaccustomed.
disadvantageous (adj.)
"not adapted to promote interest, reputation, or other good," c. 1600; see disadvantage (n.) + -ous. Perhaps modeled on French désavantageux. Related: Disadvantageously; disadvantageousness.
disadvantaged (adj.)
1610s, "hindered by loss, injury, or prejudice," past-participle adjective from disadvantage (v.). Of races or classes deprived of opportunities for advancement, from 1902, a word popularized by sociologists. As a noun, shorthand for disadvantaged persons, it is attested by 1939.
disadvantage (v.)
"hinder, do something disadvantageous to," 1530s, from disadvantage (n.). Related: Disadvantaged; disadvantaging.
disadvantage (n.)
late 14c., disavauntage, "loss, injury, prejudice to interest," from Old French desavantage (13c.), from des- "not, opposite of" (see dis-) + avantage "advantage, profit, superiority" (see advantage). Meaning "that which prevents success or renders it difficult" is from 1520s.
disaffected (adj.)
"estranged, hostile, having the affections alienated," usually in reference to one displeased with the actions of an authority or a party, "disloyal," 1630s, past-participle adjective from disaffect. Related: Disaffectedly; disaffectedness.
disaffection (n.)
"alienation of affection, attachment, or good will; estrangement," especially "disloyalty to a government or existing authority," c. 1600; see dis- + affection. Perhaps from or based on French désaffection.
disaffect (v.)
1620s, "lack affection for" (a sense now obsolete); 1640s, "alienate the affection of, make less friendly" (the main modern sense), from dis- + affect (v.1). Related: Disaffected; disaffecting.
disaggregate (v.)
"separate into component parts," 1803, from dis- "reverse, opposite of" + aggregate (v.) "bring together in a sum or mass." Related: Disaggregated; disaggregating; disaggregation.
disagreement (n.)
late 15c., "refusal to agree or assent," from disagree + -ment. From 1570s as "difference in form or essence," also "difference of opinion or sentiments," perhaps a separate formation from dis- + agreement. From 1580s as "a falling out, contention." As "unsuitableness, unfitness," by 1702.
disagree (v.)
late 15c., "refuse assent to," from Old French desagreer (12c.), from des- "not, opposite of" (see dis-) + agreer "to please, satisfy; to receive with favor, take pleasure in" (see agree). Sense of "differ in opinion, express contrary views" is from 1550s. Related: Disagreed; disagreeing.
disagreeable (adj.)
c. 1400, "not in agreement, unamiable," from Old French desagreable (13c.), from des- "not, opposite of" (see dis-) + agreable "pleasing; in agreement; consenting" (see agreeable). Meaning "not in accord with one's taste, offensive to the mind or senses" is from 1690s. Related: Disagreeably; disagreeableness. Slightly earlier in same sense was unagreeable (late 14c.). Related: Disagreeability.
disallow (v.)
late 14c., "to refuse to praise" (a sense now obsolete), from Old French desalouer "to blame," from des- "not, opposite of" (see dis-) + alouer (see allow). Meanings "to reject, refuse to receive or acknowledge," also "refuse to allow, refuse to approve or sanction" are from c. 1400. Related: Disallowed; disallowing; disallowance.
disallowable (adj.)
"not to be sanctioned or permitted, inadmissible," mid-15c., from dis- "not, reverse of" + allowable.
disambiguation (n.)
"removal of ambiguity," 1827; see dis- + ambiguous + -ation.
disambiguate (v.)
"remove ambiguity from," 1963, back-formation from disambiguation. Related: Disambiguated; disambiguating.
disappearance (n.)
"act or fact of disappearing; a ceasing to appear or exist," 1712; see disappear + -ance.
disappear (v.)
early 15c., disaperen, "cease to be visible, vanish from sight, be no longer seen," from dis- "do the opposite of" + appear. Earlier was disparish (early 15c.), from French disparaiss-, stem of desapparoistre (Modern French disparaître).
Transitive sense, "cause to disappear," is from 1897 in chemistry; by 1948 of inconvenient persons. Related: Disappeared; disappearing; disappears. Slang disappearing act "fact of absconding, action of getting away," is attested by 1884, probably originally a reference to magic shows.
disappointment (n.)
1610s, "defeat or failure of hope or expectation," from French désappointement or else a native formation from disappoint + -ment. Meaning "feeling of being disappointed" is from 1756. Meaning "a thing that disappoints" is from 1756.