Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

dishevel

/dɪ(s)ˈʃɛvl̩/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: di-shev-el
IPA: /dɪ(s)ˈʃɛvl̩/

15

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To throw into disorder; upheave.

Transitive verb

verb

To disarrange or loosen (hair, clothing, etc.).

Transitive verb

verb

To spread out in disorder.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"The wind disheveled the papers on the desk."
"With garments rent, and haire discheueled, / Wringing her hands, and making piteous mone;"
"Like the fair flower dishevell'd in the wind."
"[...] the natural finish seems much less likely to show up the stains of travel which might soon dishevel the golden ochre or dark blue—especially the latter—[...]."

Etymology

From Old French descheveler (modern French écheveler, ultimately from Old French chevel).

Origin

Source language: Old French

Word Breakdown

Root: descheveler

Usage

Inflected Forms

dishevels (present, singular) disheveling (US, participle) dishevelling (UK, participle) disheveled (US, participle) disheveled (US, past) dishevelled (UK, participle) dishevelled (UK, past)

Derived Forms

dishevelment

Synonyms

rumple muss tousle tangle

Rhymes With

level high-level low-level devil revel bevel multilevel evel bedevil bevil bevill neville

Questions

How do you pronounce dishevel?: The recorded pronunciation is /dɪ(s)ˈʃɛvl̩/.
What does dishevel mean?: To throw into disorder; upheave.
Where does dishevel come from?: It is traced to Old French.

How to pronounce dishevel

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “dishevel”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/dɪ(s)ˈʃɛvl̩/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “dishevel” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.