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discomfit

 
Dictionary: dis·com·fit   (dĭs-kŭm'fĭt) pronunciation
 
tr.v., -fit·ed, -fit·ing, -fits.
  1. To make uneasy or perplexed; disconcert. See synonyms at embarrass.
  2. To thwart the plans of; frustrate.
  3. Archaic. To defeat in battle; vanquish.
n.

Discomfiture.

[Middle English discomfiten, from Old French desconfit, past participle of desconfire, descumfire, to defeat : des-, dis- + confire, to make (from Latin cōnficere, to prepare; see comfit).]

USAGE NOTE   It is true that discomfit originally meant “to defeat, frustrate” and that its newer use meaning “to embarrass, disconcert” probably arose in part through confusion with discomfort. But the newer sense is now the most common use of the verb in all varieties of writing and should be considered entirely standard.


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Thesaurus: discomfit
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verb

    To cause (a person) to be self-consciously distressed: abash, chagrin, confound, confuse, discomfort, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, mortify. Idioms: put on the spot, throw for a loop. See pain/pleasure.

 
Antonyms: discomfit
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v

Definition: defeat, frustrate; confuse
Antonyms: surrender, yield


 
Word Tutor: discomfit
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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: To make uneasy or perplexed; disconcert.

pronunciation Younger siblings have an easy time discomfiting their brothers and sisters.

Tutor's tip: The collision caused him "discomfort" (physical pain or distress) but did not "discomfit" (to frustrate or thwart, to foil) his opponent.

 
Translations: Discomfit
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Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - bringe ud af fatning, tage modet fra en
n. - forurolige, genere, komme på tværs af, overvinde

Nederlands (Dutch)
in verlegenheid brengen, storen, verslaan, verwarren

Français (French)
v. tr. - décevoir, tromper les espoirs de, déconcerter, décontenancer, confondre
n. - déception, tromperie

Deutsch (German)
v. - in Verlegenheit bringen, vereiteln, (ehem.) schlagen (Armee)
n. - Verunsicherung, Verwirrung, (ehem.) Bezwingung

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - περιάγω σε σύγχυση ή ταραχή, σαστίζω

Italiano (Italian)
imbarazzare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - desbaratar, derrotar, embaraçar

Русский (Russian)
побеждать, приводить в замешательство

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - desconcertar, confundir, frustrar
n. - derrota

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - gäcka, bringa ur fattningen

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
破坏, 使为难, 扰乱, 挫败, 大败, 崩溃, 破灭

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 破壞, 使為難, 擾亂, 挫敗
n. - 大敗, 崩潰, 挫敗, 破滅

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 쳐부수다, 어리둥절하게 하다, (계획을) 뒤집다
n. - 패주, 계획의 수정

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - まごつかせる, 狂わせる, 打ち破る, 覆す

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يربك, يحرج‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮סיכל, הביך‬
n. - ‮תבוסה (מיושן)‬


 
 
Learn More
scomfit
outlaugh
discomfort

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
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