disport
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /dɪˈspɔːt/
ipa: /dəˈspɔɹt/
rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)t
Forms: form: disports
Etymology: The verb is derived from Middle English disporten, desporten (“to take part in entertainment, sport, etc., to pass time, amuse oneself, be merry; to amuse, entertain; to cheer, console; to behave (in a particular way), deport; to be active, to busy; to relieve (someone of a task); to prevent (someone from attending)”), from Anglo-Norman desporter, Old French desporter, deporter, depporter (“to amuse, entertain; to pass time, amuse oneself; to forbear; to stop”), from Latin deportāre, present active infinitive of dēportō (“to bring, convey; to bring or take home; to carry along or down; to banish, transport”), from dē- (prefix meaning ‘from, off’) + portō (“to bear, carry; to bring, convey”) (from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to carry forth; fare”)). The English word is a doublet of deport and sport.
The noun is derived from Middle English disport, desport (“activity providing amusement, pleasure or relaxation; entertainment, recreation; game, pastime, sport; pleasure derived from an activity; source of comfort; consolation, solace; conduct, deportment; customary behaviour, manner; act, activity; departure”), from Anglo-Norman disport, Old French desport, deport (“game, pastime, sport; pleasure, recreation; disport”), from desporter: see further above.
Senses: examples: text: It hath beene very frequent with the Kings of England, France, and other Princes, for triall of their man hood, to runne at Iouſts, and fight at Barriers, not onely with forraigners, but with their owne valianteſt Lords and Knights, of which there are various Examples. In theſe Martiall diſports, by the very Law of Armes, theſe Subjects have not onely defended themſelves againſt their kings aſſaults and blowes; but retorted lance for lance, ſtroke for ſtroke, and ſometimes unhorſed, diſarmed, and wounded their Kings, […]
ref: 1643, William Prynne, “Proving 1ˢᵗ. that the Parliaments Present Necessary Defensive Warre, is Iust and Lawfull both in Point of Law and Conscience, and No Treason nor Rebellion”, in The Soveraigne Povver of Parliaments and Kingdomes: Divided into Fovre Parts. Together with an Appendix: […], printed at London: For Michael Sparke Senior, →OCLC, page 14:
glosses: Anything which diverts one from serious matters; a game, a pastime, a sport.
examples: text: And whether they were a bedde or at other maner of disportes me lyst not herof make no mencyon for loue that tyme was not as is now adayes.
"And whether they were abed or at other manner of disports, me list not hereof make no mention, for love that time was not as is now-a-days."
ref: 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur Book XX, Chapter iii, leaf 400v:
glosses: Amusement, entertainment, recreation, relaxation.
examples: text: [Y]et have I carried myſelf towards thee in ſuch fanciful guiſe of careleſs diſport, that right ſore am I aſhamed now to entreat thy lenity ſeriouſly— […]
ref: 1761, [Laurence Sterne], chapter XXII, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, volume IV, London: […] R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley […], →OCLC, page 143:
glosses: The way one carries oneself; bearing, carriage, deportment.
examples: text: ... shooting a bullet ... out of a Culverin towards the East, and afterwards another, with the same charge, and at the same elevation or disport towards the West.
ref: 1662, Thomas Salusbury, Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief Systems of the World (Dialogue Two)
glosses: Bearing, elevation, orientation.
glosses: Fun, gaiety, joy, merriment, mirth.