Disaffecting

Part of speech: adjective, verb

Definitions

1. To cause a loss of affection or loyalty toward someone or something
2. to alienate or make someone feel estranged in relation to a group or ideology
3. to disrupt a previously positive connection or bond through dissatisfaction or discontent

Etymology: Disaffecting is a participle of "disaffect", and the verb's whole story lies in a prefix attached to a very old Latin word. The Latin "afficere" meant to act upon or influence something, from "ad" ("to") and "facere" ("to make or do"), so it originally described doing something to a person or thing. From it came the English "affect", first used in the sense of acting on the mind or feelings, and later the noun "affect" for an emotional state. "Disaffect" adds the prefix "dis-", which reverses or removes the sense of what follows. Its literal idea is to undo a bond of loyalty or goodwill, so a disaffected person has been pulled away from a government, cause or institution. The Latin prefix passed into English through Old French and Middle English, and the verb is built on the English "affect" rather than inherited whole.

Synonyms: alienating, estranging, disenchanting, displeasing, distressing

Antonyms: pleasing, satisfying, appeasing, charming, delighting