discontented
UK[ˌdɪskənˈtɛntɪd]US[ˌdɪskənˈtɛntɪd]
adj
dissatisfied and unhappy, especially with one's circumstances.
Morpheme Breakdown
dis
content
ed
dis
not
content
satisfied
ed
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word "discontented" is built upon the latin root 'contentus,' the past participle of 'continere' meaning "to hold together, contain," which evolved to signify being contained within limits and thus satisfied. the negative prefix 'dis-' was added in late middle english, directly from latin, to reverse this state to one of dissatisfaction. the adjectival suffix '-ed,' of germanic origin, was then appended to describe the permanent or habitual state of a person who is not satisfied. thus, the literal construction "not in a state of satisfaction" perfectly captures the modern abstract feeling of restless unhappiness.
Analysis
Structure: dis (not) + content (satisfied) + ed (adjective suffix)
- dis: latin origin, a prefix meaning "apart," "asunder," "away," or having a negative or reversing force.
- content: latin origin via french, from 'contentus' meaning "satisfied." functions as the core root.
- ed: old english origin, a suffix forming adjectives from nouns or verbs, indicating a state or condition.
Examples
the workers were discontented with the new policies and low wages.
a discontented sigh escaped her lips as she looked at the endless paperwork.
his discontented attitude made it difficult for the team to maintain a positive atmosphere.