dismissive
Meaning
Showing that you think something or someone is not important and not worth considering
Behaving in a way that shows you do not think someone or something is worth your attention or respect
Structure
Usage
He was dismissive of my suggestions, saying they were impractical.
She gave a dismissive wave of her hand and continued with her work.
The manager's dismissive attitude towards customer complaints led to a decline in business.
Etymology
The word "dismissive" is built upon the core concept of "sending away," inherited from the Latin verb dismissus, the past participle of dimittere (to send away, disperse). This Latin verb itself is a compound of dis- (apart) and mittere (to send). The literal, physical act of sending someone away evolved metaphorically into the act of rejecting an idea, a proposal, or a person from one's consideration. The addition of the adjectival suffix -ive transforms the action into a descriptive quality, characterizing a person or attitude as one that figuratively "sends away" subjects, treating them as unworthy of attention or respect.
Analysis
dis: A Latin prefix meaning "apart," "away," or "having a negative or reversing force." miss: A Latin root from the verb mittere, meaning "to send." ive: A suffix of Latin origin (-ivus) used to form adjectives meaning "tending to," "having the nature of," or "performing the action of."