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disport

noun /dɪˈspɔːt/

  1. Anything which diverts one from serious matters; a game, a pastime, a sport.

    archaic, countable

  2. Amusement, entertainment, recreation, relaxation.

    archaic, uncountable

    "And whether they were abed or at other manner of disports, me list not hereof make no mention, for love that time was not as is now-a-days."

    And whether they were a bedde or at other maner of disportes me lyst not herof make no mencyon for loue that tyme was not as is now adayes.
  3. The way one carries oneself; bearing, carriage, deportment.

    countable, obsolete

    [Y]et have I carried myſelf towards thee in ſuch fanciful guiſe of careleſs diſport, that right ſore am I aſhamed now to entreat thy lenity ſeriouſly— […]

  4. Bearing, elevation, orientation.

    countable, obsolete

    ... shooting a bullet ... out of a Culverin towards the East, and afterwards another, with the same charge, and at the same elevation or disport towards the West.

Where it comes from

The verb is derived from Middle English disporten, desporten (“to take part in entertainment, sport, etc., to pass time, amuse oneself, be merry; to amuse, entertain; to cheer, console; to behave (in a particular way), deport; to be active, to busy; to relieve (someone of a task); to prevent (someone from attending)”), from Anglo-Norman desporter, Old French desporter, deporter, depporter (“to amuse, entertain; to pass time, amuse oneself; to forbear; to stop”), from Latin deportāre, present active infinitive of dēportō (“to bring, convey; to bring or take home; to carry along or down; to banish, transport”), from dē- (prefix meaning ‘from, off’) + portō (“to bear, carry; to bring, convey”) (from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to carry forth; fare”)). The English word is a doublet of deport and sport.

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry disport (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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