distrait

adjective

dis·​trait di-ˈstrā 

: apprehensively divided or withdrawn in attention : distracted

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Distrait is a somewhat literary word with an unusual history. Borrowed from Anglo-French, it was used in the 15th century in a sense very close to that of "distraught," which means "deeply agitated or troubled." (Both words are ultimately from the Latin adjective distractus.) Later, during the 18th century, "distrait" appears to have been borrowed again from French in a milder sense closer to "preoccupied" or "distracted." Another peculiarity of the word is that it tends to be treated in English as if it were still a French word: it has a feminine variant, "distraite," like a French adjective, and it is pronounced as if French. It can still suggest agitation, but not as strongly as "distraught"; more often it means simply "mentally remote."

Synonyms

• agitated
• delirious
• distracted
• distraught
• frantic
• frenzied
• hysterical
• hysteric

Examples of distrait in a Sentence

he grew more and more distrait as hours passed without confirmation that there were survivors of the plane crash

Recent Examples on the Web

Roman bored, Kendall oddly distrait. —Hunter Harris, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Middle English distrait, destrat, destrait "separated, distracted, distressed," borrowed from Anglo-French detreit, destrait, past participle of detraire, detreire, destreire "to tear to pieces, destroy, slander," probably from de- de- + traire "to draw, pull" (going back to Latin trahere) but associated with both distracten "to distract entry 1" and detracten "to speak ill of, slander" (see detract) — more at abstract entry 1

Note: The Middle English word apparently did not survive into Modern English. French distrait was reborrowed in the eighteenth century, as is reflected in the current pronunciation. The Modern French word is the past participle of destraire, a loan from Latin distrahere (see distract entry 1) with the second element assimilated to traire.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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