Disappointments

/ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənts/ noun

Definition

Feelings of sadness or dissatisfaction when something you hoped for doesn't happen or isn't as good as expected.

Etymology

From French 'désappointer,' formed from 'dis-' (negation) and 'appoint' (to assign or satisfy). The term emerged in the 16th century when it literally meant 'to undo an appointment.'

Kelly Says

Disappointment is uniquely human—it requires both imagination (picturing a better outcome) and memory (comparing reality to expectations). Animals can feel frustrated, but disappointment needs that special gap between hope and reality.

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