Where does “disengagement” come from?

Disengagement comes from Middle English dis- and Latin -mentum combined with Latin dis-, ex, in, and the Proto-Indo-European negation ne, ultimately tracing the sense of separation or detachment through layers of prefix negation and nominal formation.

disengagement (English): Release or detachment from a physical situation...

Definitions

  1. Release or detachment from a physical situation...

Ancestry of “disengagement”, step by step

disengagement traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via English Dis

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishDisHades
2EnglishdisrespectA lack of respect, esteem or courteous behaviour;...
3Englishrespectan attitude of consideration or high regard; good...
4Middle Englishrespect
5Old Frenchrespect
6Latinrespectusrespected; looking back; regard, consideration,...
7Latinrespiciōto look behind, look back at or upon, look to, look around
8Latinrĕ-back, backwards
9Latinprōdūcōto lead or bring forth, forward or out
10Latinprō-forward direction, forward movement
11Proto-Italic*pro-pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
13Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
14Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
15Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via English engagé

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishengagéSomeone serving under a contract of engagement;...
2Middle Englishengagen
3Old Frenchengagierto use as a guarantee
4Old Frenchgagewage; payment
5Frankishwaddī
6Latinwadiumpledge; legal contract; marriage contract
7Frankishwadiwager, stake, pledge
8Proto-Germanicwadjąwager, stake, pledge
9Proto-Indo-Europeanwedʰ-to bind, to secure; to pledge, to guarantee; to...

via English ment

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishmentsimple past tense and past participle of meng;...
2Korean멘트
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tósEvery word from Proto-Indo-European per-Every word from Latin rĕ-