Disheartenments

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The acts or instances of causing a loss of confidence or morale
2. The emotional responses resulting from disappointment or discouragement in various situations
3. Events or factors that lead to feelings of despair or demotivation in individuals

Etymology: "Disheartenments" is the plural of "disheartenment," which is formed from "dishearten" plus the suffix "-ment." The verb "dishearten" is itself built from the English noun "heart," with "hearten" (to encourage, from the older verb "heart," meaning to give courage) and the reversing prefix "dis-" added to it. The base "heart," in its sense of courage or spirit, descends from Old English "heorte," which goes back to a Germanic root shared by many languages, so the word's core meaning concerns the seat of feeling and resolve rather than the organ. The suffix "-ment" came into English through Old French from Latin "-mentum," a suffix that turns a verb into a noun for the act, process, or result of that verb. Words like "disheartenment" therefore name the result of having one's courage drained away, giving English speakers a single noun for a state that would otherwise need a phrase.

Synonyms: discouragements, despondencies, dismays, dejections, disappointments

Antonyms: encouragements, inspirations, upliftments, motivations, elations