Dear Cecil: “Dishonest” is the opposite of “honest,” right? So does that mean the opposite of “disgruntled” is “gruntled”? D.J., Atlanta
Cecil replies:
Cecil replies:
You must have been a great trial to your mother, D. Dis- isn’t always used to negate; sometimes it’s an intensifier. “Gruntle” is an old dialect word meaning “to grumble.” So “disgruntled” means you’re really grumbling. There are times when I can definitely relate.
Cecil Adams
Send questions to Cecil via cecil@straightdope.com.