disheveled — untidy in appearance; having very messy hair or clothes
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: untidy in appearance; having very messy hair or clothes
Pronunciation (IPA): /dɪˈʃevəld/
Example Sentences
- The professor arrived at class looking completely disheveled, with his shirt inside out and coffee stains everywhere.
- After the long flight, all the passengers looked disheveled and exhausted.
- My disheveled appearance made the interviewer raise an eyebrow.
disheveled
ADJECTIVE[/dɪˈʃevəld/]
untidy in appearance; having very messy hair or clothes
He stumbled into the meeting looking completely disheveled after running through the rain.
Though disheveled from work leveled, he reveled in success!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from 14th-century French, originally meaning 'to remove the covering from hair.' In medieval society, covering one's hair was considered a mark of propriety and decorum, so exposed or uncovered hair came to signify untidiness and disarray.
Breakdown
des- (remove, away) + cheveler (hair, from Latin capillus). The prefix des- indicates removal or reversal, while cheveler relates to the hair or head covering.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The professor arrived at class looking completely disheveled, with his shirt inside out and coffee stains everywhere.”
“After the long flight, all the passengers looked disheveled and exhausted.”
“My disheveled appearance made the interviewer raise an eyebrow.”
“The cat emerged from under the bed completely disheveled, covered in dust bunnies.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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