discommon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely rareObsolete / Archaic / Historical / Technical (Legal/Historical)
Quick answer
What does “discommon” mean?
To deprive someone of the right to use common land or services.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To deprive someone of the right to use common land or services; to make something unavailable to someone.
Historically, it referred to the action of a university (especially Oxford) depriving a tradesperson of the privilege of trading with its members. More broadly, it can mean to deny access to shared resources or to boycott.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is primarily known in British historical contexts, particularly Oxford University history. It is virtually unknown in American English.
Connotations
In the UK, it has specific connotations related to university history and common land law. In the US, it would be almost entirely unfamiliar.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both variants, but marginally more likely to be encountered in British historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “discommon” in a Sentence
[Subject] discommons [Object] from [Resource/Service][Subject] was discommonedVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “discommon” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The university could discommon any tradesman who sold faulty goods.
- The lord of the manor sought to discommon the villagers from the pasture.
American English
- The term is not used in American English.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. No standard adverbial form exists.
American English
- Not applicable. No standard adverbial form exists.
adjective
British English
- The discommoned tailor lost his main source of income.
- There was a formal process for discommoning actions.
American English
- The term is not used in American English.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical or legal studies discussing medieval land rights or the history of Oxford/Cambridge universities.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Specific to historical English law regarding common land or ancient university statutes.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “discommon”
- Using it as a synonym for 'dislike' or 'disagree with'.
- Assuming it is a modern, active verb.
- Using it in any contemporary context without clear historical framing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is an obsolete historical term. Use 'exclude', 'deprive', or 'boycott' instead for modern contexts.
The historical noun form is 'discommoning' (the act) or 'discommonance' (the state). Both are extremely rare.
Yes, etymologically it is derived from 'common', specifically in the sense of 'common land' or 'common privilege'. The prefix 'dis-' indicates removal or deprivation.
You might find it in academic texts on English legal history, the history of Oxford and Cambridge universities, or documents pertaining to medieval land tenure and common rights.
To deprive someone of the right to use common land or services.
Discommon is usually obsolete / archaic / historical / technical (legal/historical) in register.
Discommon: in British English it is pronounced /dɪsˈkɒmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪsˈkɑːmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The word itself is too obscure to form part of any idiom.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DIS + COMMON. To take away (DIS) the right to use COMMON land or services.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXCLUSION IS THE REMOVAL OF COMMON GROUND.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'to discommon' most accurately used?