Let down in mood or spirit; disappointed or sad, or having air removed from something that was inflated.
From Latin 'de-' (down/away) + 'flatus' (blown). The word first appeared in late 19th-century English, initially describing literal removal of air, then expanded to emotional states.
The famous 2015 'Deflategate' scandal showed how this technical football term entered the cultural consciousness—it became a shorthand for 'cheating' and sparked debates about integrity that lasted years.
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