dishearten, v.
(dɪsˈhɑːt(ə)n)
Also 7 disharten.
[f. dis- 6 + hearten, or from prec. + -en5, after hearten.]
trans. To deprive of ‘heart’ or courage; to discourage, dispirit, make despondent.
| 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iv. i. 117 No man should possesse him with any appearance of feare; lest hee, by shewing it, should dis-hearten his Army. 1606 Warner Alb. Eng. xiv. xc. 365 Their former losse dishartned them so much. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 120 A great part..disheartened by the severity of the winter, returned to England. 1838 Thirlwall Greece IV. 115 Lysander exerted his utmost efforts to thwart, discredit, and dishearten his successor. |
† b. with complement: To discourage from doing something (also with to and inf.). Obs.
| 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 121 The Turkes got the greatest losse, and were disheartned to proceed further. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. ii. xvi. 109 They are disheartened from doing their best. 1684 Bunyan Pilgr. ii. (1862) 235 She urged what she could to dishearten me to it. 1697 W. Dampier Voy. I. 27 Disheartned them from that design. |
† c. with an action or the like as object: cf. discourage 2. Obs.
| 1658 Whole Duty Man Pref. 4 Where this is wanting, it disheartens our care. 1668 Clarendon Vind. Tracts (1727) 64 An uncertainty which must dishearten any industry. |