▪ I. † disˈconcert, n. Obs. rare.
[f. dis- 9 + concert n.: cf. It. sconcerto, for disconcerto, Sp. desconcierto, mod.F. déconcert.]
Want of concert or concerted action; disunion, disagreement in action.
| 1668 Temple Let. to Ld. Arlington Wks. 1731 II. 113 Avoid all Pretexts..of France's breaking the Business..which I knew they would be strongly tempted to..by our Disconcert for their Defence. 1673 ― Observ. Netherl. Pref. (Seager), The remainders of their state are..kept alive by neglect or disconcert of their enemies. 1839 Poe Masque Red Death Wks. 1864 I. 341 The waltzers perforce ceased their evolutions; and there was a brief disconcert of the whole gay company. |
▪ II. disconcert, v.
(dɪskənˈsɜːt)
[a. obs. F. disconcerter (1611 Cotgr., disconcerté, ‘disordered, confused; set awry’), mod.F. déconcerter, f. dis-, dé-, dis- 4 + concerter to concert: cf. It. disconcertare ‘to vntune’ (Florio), Sp. desconcertár ‘to disagree, to break a match, to set at variance’ (Minsheu).]
1. a. trans. To put out of concert or harmonious action; to throw into confusion, disarrange, derange, spoil, frustrate; now esp. to disarrange or upset measures or plans concerted.
| 1687 A. Lovell tr. Bergerac's Com. Hist. ii. 134 The best Harmony of the four Qualities may be dissolved..and the loveliest Proportion of Organs disconcerted. 1704 Swift T. Tub xi. 128 Which a drop of film can wholly disconcert. 1769 Robertson Chas. V, V. ii. 293 But an unforeseen accident disconcerted all his measures. 1818 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. iv. iv. 154 One of the four divisions..fell behind its time, and disconcerted the operations of the remainder. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 151 This scheme was..completely disconcerted by the course which the civil war took. |
† b. To disturb or displace in material position. Obs. rare.
| 1747 Gentl. Mag. 102 His shatter'd leg being cut off, the bandage was disconcerted by the ship's motion. |
2. To disturb the complacency of self-possession of; to confuse, ruffle, ‘put out’. Also absol.
| 1716 Collier tr. Panegyrick 59 'Tis part of the Devil's business to disconcert our Mind, to ruffle our Humour, and blow us up to Rage and Passion. 1752 Johnson Rambler No. 188 ¶10 He never..disconcerts a puny satirist with unexpected sarcasms. 1856 Mrs. Browning Aur. Leigh iii. 606 He would not disconcert or throw me out. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 482 Are you at all disconcerted, Cebes, at our friend's objection? 1908 Smart Set Sept. 47 She was conscious of a baffling reserve, a poise that disconcerted. |
Hence disconˈcerting ppl. a., that disturbs self-possession or complacency.
| 1807 Barrett All the Talents (ed. 9) 41 A hundred disconcerting measures mov'd. 1891 R. Kipling City Dreadf. Nt. 61 A stolid and disconcerting company is this ring of eyed monsters. 1892 Athenæum 2 Apr. 434/2 Curious and disconcerting problems relating to human nature. |