A bit of a digression re déçue: how is it that décevoir means disappoint,

Susan R.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

A bit of a digression re déçue: how is it that décevoir means disappoint,

but seems to come from the same root as deceive?
Asked 8 years ago
AurélieNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer
Bonjour Susan !

That's an interesting remark :)
I guess the two meanings are not that far from each other: after all you would be disappointed if someone deceived you. I guess that's probably the link between the two meanings!

Note that in French we also have "désappointé" and "désappointement", they're just not common and considered quite old-fashioned and quaint.

À bientôt !
Susan R.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
The linkage you point to may be an example of French as the language of diplomacy - "We were disappointed" sounds far more moderate than, "We were deceived." Or maybe not. Thanks for your reply, Aurélie.

A bit of a digression re déçue: how is it that décevoir means disappoint,

but seems to come from the same root as deceive?

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