To strip someone of their noble rank, status, or dignity.
From dis- (reverse, undo) + ennoble (to make noble), from Old French ennobler. The prefix dis- was added to create the opposite meaning, following the pattern of many English verbs that use dis- to negate or reverse an action.
This word shows how English uses prefixes like puzzle pieces—you can flip 'ennoble' (to dignify someone) backwards with 'dis-' to mean the opposite. It's the same pattern we see with 'dislike,' 'dishonest,' and 'dismay,' making English surprisingly logical once you understand its building blocks.
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