To throw away or get rid of something you no longer want or need; unwanted cards removed from your hand in a card game.
From Old French 'descarter' (to discard from a card game), combining 'des-' (away, reverse) and 'carte' (card). The term originated in 16th-century card games and broadened to mean discarding anything unwanted.
The word 'discard' perfectly shows how game terminology enters everyday language—we 'discard' ideas, relationships, and products just like we discard cards, suggesting games have deeply shaped how we talk about rejection.
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