Langimage
English

distrustfully

|dis/trust/ful/ly|

B2

/dɪsˈtrʌstfəli/

(distrustful)

lack of trust

Base FormNounAdverb
distrustfuldistrustfulnessdistrustfully
Etymology
Etymology Information

'distrustfully' originates from the word 'distrustful,' which is derived from the prefix 'dis-' meaning 'not' and the root 'trust' meaning 'confidence or faith.'

Historical Evolution

'distrustful' evolved from the Middle English word 'distrusten,' which was influenced by the Old French 'destruire,' meaning 'to destroy or ruin,' eventually leading to the modern English word 'distrustful.'

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'to destroy trust,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'lacking trust or confidence.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adverb 1

in a manner that shows a lack of trust or confidence.

She looked at him distrustfully, unsure of his intentions.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42