Distrusts

/dɪsˈtrʌsts/ verb, noun

Definition

Third person singular present tense of distrust; lacks confidence or belief in someone or something, or plural instances of this lack of confidence.

Etymology

From Middle English distrusten, combining dis- (opposite) + trust (from Old Norse traust, meaning confidence). The prefix dis- has been used since Old English to negate or reverse the meaning of verbs.

Kelly Says

Interestingly, 'distrust' is one of the few words where the prefix dis- actually weakens rather than inverts meaning—you can partially trust something, making distrust a spectrum rather than a simple opposite like 'dishonest' is to 'honest.'

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