disengaged

English

Etymology

From disengage +‎ -ed.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪsɪnˈɡeɪdʒd/

Verb

disengaged

1. simple past and past participle of disengage

Adjective

disengaged (comparative more disengaged, superlative most disengaged)

1. Not engaged; at leisure; free from occupation or attachment; unconnected; detached.
   • 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 5, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:

     “Calm yourself, dear Arthur,” she said, in her low rich voice, and sniffled sweetly and gravely upon him. Then, with her disengaged hand, she put the hair lightly off his throbbing forehead.

2. (dated) Not (socially) engaged; available, free.
   • 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 1, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:

     These perused, the Major took out his pocket-book to see on what days he was disengaged, and which of these many hospitable calls he could afford to accept or decline.

   • 1890, Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Vintage, published 2007, page 40:

     ‘You must come and dine with us some night. Tuesday? Are you disengaged Tuesday?’

Derived terms

• disengagedness

 

References

• “disengaged”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.