discordance
UK[dɪsˈkɔːdəns]US[dɪsˈkɔːrdəns]
n
a lack of agreement or harmony between things
n
a harsh or unpleasant combination of sounds
Morpheme Breakdown
dis
cord
ance
dis
apart, away
cord
heart, mind
ance
state or quality
Etymology
the word discordance traces a clear path from the physical to the abstract. its core, the latin cor (heart), was the seat of feeling and intention in ancient thought. the prefix dis- negates or reverses this, suggesting hearts or minds being pulled apart. the suffix -ance then crystallizes this action into a state or condition. thus, the literal notion of "hearts being apart" evolved logically into the modern meanings of conflict, disagreement, or a jarring lack of harmony, whether in opinions, facts, or sounds.
Analysis
Structure: dis (apart, away) + cord (heart, mind) + ance (state or quality)
- dis: latin origin, a prefix meaning "apart," "asunder," "away," or having a negative or reversing force.
- cord: from latin cor, cordis meaning "heart," used figuratively for mind, feelings, or will.
- ance: from latin -antia, a suffix forming nouns indicating a state, quality, or condition.
Examples
there was a noticeable discordance between his optimistic report and the company's actual financial data.
the discordance in the committee's votes highlighted the deep divisions within the group.
the composer intentionally used discordance in the symphony's opening to create a sense of tension.