dismantlement
UK[dɪsˈmæntl̩mənt]US[dɪsˈmæntl̩mənt]
n
the act of taking a machine or structure apart so that it is in separate pieces.
n
the process of ending an organization or system gradually and in a planned way.
Morpheme Breakdown
dis
mantle
ment
dis
apart
mantle
to cover
ment
act of
Etymology
the word 'dismantlement' is built upon the verb 'dismantle', which entered english in the late 16th century from the french 'dismantler'. the french term was a compound of the prefix 'des-' (expressing reversal) and 'manteler' (to cover or cloak, from 'mantel' meaning a cloak). the original, literal sense was to strip a fortress of its defensive coverings, such as cloaks, roofs, and battlements. over time, the meaning broadened from this specific military action to the general act of taking apart any complex structure. the suffix '-ment', of latin origin via french, was then added to form the noun denoting the process or result of this action, solidifying its modern abstract meanings related to systematic deconstruction.
Analysis
Structure: dis (apart) + mantle (to cover) + ment (act of)
dis- (latin origin, a prefix meaning "apart, away, reversal"); mantle (from old french 'manteler', meaning "to cover", from latin 'mantellum', meaning "cloak"); -ment (latin origin via french, a suffix forming nouns indicating an action or resulting state).
Examples
the dismantlement of the old factory took several months.
the treaty called for the complete dismantlement of the nuclear weapons program.
environmental groups protested the dismantlement of the environmental protection agency.