disport

Meaning

Verb

To amuse oneself divertingly or playfully; in particular, to cavort or gambol.

Noun

1. Anything which diverts one from serious matters; a game, a pastime, a sport.
2. Amusement, entertainment, recreation, relaxation.
3. (obsolete) The way one carries oneself; bearing, carriage, deportment.
4. (obsolete) Bearing, elevation, orientation.
5. (obsolete) Fun, gaiety, joy, merriment, mirth.

Synonyms

frolic

divert

skylark

sport

amuse

lark

cavort

frisk

gambol

rollick

romp

run around

lark about

merriment

merrymaking

play

relax

tittup

divert oneself

amusement

deport

amuse oneself

have a good time

have fun

comport

Hyphenated as

dis‧port

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dɪˈspɔːt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: disporten

Inherited from Middle English: disport

In summary

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.