different between discomfit vs discomfiting

English

Etymology

From Old French desconfit, past participle of desconfire (“to undo, to destroy”), from des- (“completely”), from Latin dis- + confire (“to make”), from Latin conficio (“to finish up, to destroy”), from com- (“with, together”) + facio (“to do, to make”).

Later sense of “to embarrass, to disconcert” due to confusion with unrelated discomfort.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d?s?k?mf?t/

Verb

discomfit (third-person singular simple present discomfits, present participle discomfiting or discomfitting, simple past and past participle discomfited or discomfitted) (transitive)

1. (archaic) To defeat completely; to rout.

   Synonyms: overthrow, vanquish
2. (rare) To defeat the plans or hopes of; to frustrate; disconcert.

   Synonyms: foil, thwart

   • 1886, Andrew Lang, chapter 10, in The Mark Of Cain:

     In these disguises, Maitland argued, he would certainly avoid recognition, and so discomfit any mischief planned by the enemies of Margaret.

3. To embarrass greatly; to confuse; to perplex; to disconcert.

   Synonyms: abash, disconcert; see also Thesaurus:abash

Usage notes

While the word is widely used to mean “to embarrass, to disconcert”, prescriptive usage considers this a mistake (confusion with discomfort), and restricts discomfit to meaning “to defeat”. However, Merriam–Webster notes that “[...] the sense "to discomfort or disconcert" has become thoroughly established and is the most prevalent meaning of the word.”

Translations

See also

• discomfort

Adjective

discomfit (comparative more discomfit, superlative most discomfit)

1. (obsolete) Discomfited; overthrown.

Further reading

• “discomfit”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.

References

English

Etymology

From discomfit +? -ing.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /d?s?k?mf?t??/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /d?s?k?mf?t??/, [-???]
• Hyphenation: dis?com?fit?ing

Adjective

discomfiting (comparative more discomfiting, superlative most discomfiting)

1. Tending to discomfit (“embarrass greatly; upset the composure of, disconcert”).

   Synonyms: discomforting, disconcerting, troubling, unsettling, upsetting

Derived terms

• discomfitingly

Related terms

• discomfit
• discomfiture

Translations

Verb

discomfiting

1. present participle of discomfit

References