dépaysé

adjective

dé·​pay·​sé
¦dā(ˌ)pā¦zā
: situated in unfamiliar surroundings : being out of one's element : displaced, astray
lived in hope of being instructed to drive me to Biarritz, where among the other hired-car chauffeurs … he would feel less dépayséA. J. Liebling

Word History

Etymology

French, from past participle of dépayser to remove (a person) from his element, from Old French despaisier to exile, from des- de- + pais region, country, from Medieval Latin pagensis of a region, from Latin pagus region, district, village + -ensis -ese

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near dépaysé

Cite this Entry

“Dépaysé.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/d%C3%A9pays%C3%A9. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!