Displease

/dɪsˈplɛz/ verb

Definition

To make someone feel annoyed, unhappy, or dissatisfied about something.

Etymology

From Old French 'desplaisir,' combining 'dis-' (opposite/not) with 'please.' The prefix 'dis-' inverts the meaning of 'please,' literally meaning 'the opposite of pleasing' or to cause dissatisfaction.

Kelly Says

English has dozens of 'dis-' words that flip positive meanings into negative ones (dislike, disapprove, disorder), and this pattern is so useful that we keep creating new ones—it's a shortcut our brains invented for expressing opposition efficiently.

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