Disporten

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. An archaic verb meaning to entertain oneself through play, sport, or lighthearted recreation
2. Old English-style term for enjoying oneself by playing, frolicking, or taking part in diversion
3. Obsolete word describing the act of passing time pleasantly through games, amusement, or merriment

Etymology: Its path runs from carrying things away to carrying one's mind away. Latin "deportare" meant "to carry away" or "to remove," built from "de-" (away) and "portare" (to carry). In Old French, "desporter" shifted toward amusement, as if a person were being carried off from work or worry into pleasure. English borrowed the sense as the Middle English "disporten," meaning to amuse or entertain oneself. Its modern form, "disport," survives mostly in the phrase "to disport oneself," meaning to play or frolic, and it is now mostly found in formal or literary writing.