Disobling

/ˌdɪsəˈblaɪdʒɪŋ/ adjective

Definition

Unwilling to help or be kind; treating others with rudeness or lack of courtesy.

Etymology

Present participle of disoblige, from dis- + oblige. The -ing suffix creates an adjective describing someone's habitual tendency to refuse favors.

Kelly Says

In Jane Austen novels, characters are often described as 'disobling' to signal they're selfish or disagreeable—it was the Regency era's cutting way to describe someone rude. The word perfectly captures a specific social offense that was particularly important in hierarchical societies.

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