Discussions about eggcorns and related topics
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Chris -- 2018-04-11
I was surprised to learn that these two words have entirely different etymologies. ‘Discomfit’ derives from the French verb meaning ‘to defeat’ and that was it’s old meaning.
It’s current usage as ‘embarrass’ or ‘make uncomfortale’ is said, by the American Heritage Dictionary, probably to have arisen in part through confusion with ‘discomfort.’ That would make it an archaic and/or nearly mainstream eggcorn.
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Good point. The confusion is not yet over. I’d call the following an eggcorn squash, and a very common one.
That love would be secured by wary watching and patient waiting. It should never be jeopardised by impetuousity and folly; therefore she would not cause him any more discomforture, would never again be the cause of the slightest embarrassment or unease in the presence of others. A man who suffers a public discomforture on a woman’s account loves her that much less.
http://www.postcolonialweb.org/singapor … /love.html
Supposedly the officer in charge of the execution was discomforted by Davis’ youth and calm demeanor and had trouble carrying out his orders.
http://www.biographicon.com/view/50jsh
Mrs. Follansbee, who was discomforted by intellect in anyone, said that their reading excesses were very likely the result (not the cause) of their having to put on eyeglasses at such an early age
http://books.google.ca/books?id=aMJn3gz … 22&f=false
Edit: And see this other disconcerning squash of disconcerting and a matter of concern.
Last edited by David Bird (2010-11-09 15:15:26)
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