DISCONCERT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does disconcert mean? 

• DISCONCERT (verb)
  The verb DISCONCERT has 2 senses:

1. cause to feel embarrassment

2. cause to lose one's composure

  Familiarity information: DISCONCERT used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISCONCERT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they disconcert    ... he / she / it disconcerts   
Past simple: disconcerted   
Past participle: disconcerted   
-ing form: disconcerting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to feel embarrassment

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

confuse; disconcert; flurry; put off

Context example:

The constant attention of the young man confused her

Hypernyms (to "disconcert" is one way to...):

abash; embarrass (cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious)

Verb group:

bedevil; befuddle; confound; confuse; discombobulate; fox; fuddle; throw (be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "disconcert"):

fluster (cause to be nervous or upset)

bother (make confused or perplexed or puzzled)

deflect; distract (draw someone's attention away from something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The bad news will disconcert him

Derivation:

disconcertion; disconcertment (anxious embarrassment)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to lose one's composure

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

discomfit; discompose; disconcert; untune; upset

Hypernyms (to "disconcert" is one way to...):

arouse; elicit; enkindle; evoke; fire; kindle; provoke; raise (call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "disconcert"):

enervate; faze; unnerve; unsettle (disturb the composure of)

dissolve (cause to lose control emotionally)

inhibit (make (someone) self-conscious and as a result unable to act naturally)

bemuse; bewilder; discombobulate; throw (cause to be confused emotionally)

abash; embarrass (cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious)

anguish; hurt; pain (cause emotional anguish or make miserable)

afflict (cause great unhappiness for; distress)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to disconcert Sue

Derivation:

disconcertion; disconcertment (anxious embarrassment)

 Context examples 

He was, at first, somewhat disconcerted to meet us two together; but quickly decided what to do, and came up to me.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I was exceedingly surprised on receiving so rude an answer from a stranger, and I was also disconcerted on perceiving the frowning and angry countenances of his companions.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

I put my question quickly and somewhat sternly, on purpose to disconcert him.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“About what?” he asked, so innocently that Wolf Larsen was disconcerted, while the others smiled.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The hostile gang was temporarily disconcerted by the manoeuvre, then it dashed from the train in pursuit.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Mr. Bingley was obliged to be in town the following day, and, consequently, unable to accept the honour of their invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite disconcerted.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

They had seldom seen him eat so heartily at any table but his own, and never before known him so little disconcerted by the melted butter's being oiled.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

He bled freely, but showed no signs of being disconcerted.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

I shall keep clear of you, Crawford, as long as I can, said Edmund; for you would be more likely to disconcert me, and I should be more sorry to see you trying at it than almost any other man.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

The Elfin suddenness with which she pounced upon me with this question, and a searching look, quite disconcerted me for a moment.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)