Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “disarm” come from?

Disarm comes from Middle English desarmen, from Anglo-Norman desarmer, composed of Old French des- (from Latin dis-, meaning "apart") and Latin arma, "weapons," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂er-, "to fit together."

disarm (English): To deprive of weapons; to deprive of the means of...

Definitions

  1. To deprive of weapons; to deprive of the means of...

Ancestry of “disarm”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishdesarmento divest of arms
2Anglo-Normandesarmerto disarm
3Old Frencharmerto arm
4Latinarmō—
5Latinarmadefensive arms, armor/armour, shields, weapons of...
6Late Latinarmistitium—
7Latinsisteresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanstísteh₂tito be standing up, to be getting up
9Proto-Indo-Europeansteh₂-to stand

Words derived from “disarm”

  • disarmament
  • disarming
  • disarmingly
  • disarmer
  • disarmeth
  • prodisarmament
  • disarmest
Every word from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- →