unsettle
不安にさせる、動揺させる
解説 Definition
人の気持ちや状況の安定を崩し、不安や落ち着かなさ、動揺を引き起こすことを表す動詞。ニュースや相手の言動、急な変化などが心理的な揺らぎを与え、安心感や平静さを失わせる場面でよく使われる。
To unsettle someone means to make them feel nervous, uneasy, or emotionally disturbed. It can happen because of surprising news, strange behavior, or an uncertain situation. The word is often used for feelings rather than physical action.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
settle を「落ち着く・腰を据える」として覚えていると、unsettle はその安定を外す感覚でつかめます。settle down が「落ち着く」なら、unsettle は「落ち着けなくする」。upset が強く感情を乱す場面にも使えるのに対し、unsettle はじわっと安心感を崩す感じが出やすい語です。a remark unsettled me, political changes unsettled the market のように、人にも状況にも使えると覚えると残りやすいです。
Think of settle down = become calm or stable. Unsettle is the reverse: something takes that calm feeling away. It often suggests a slow loss of comfort or confidence, not just a sudden strong emotion.
例文
The unexpected news unsettled everyone.
予期しない知らせは皆を不安にさせた。
Her behavior began to unsettle the guests.
彼女の振る舞いは客たちを次第に動揺させた。
The economic situation unsettles investors.
その経済情勢は投資家たちを不安にさせる。
unsettle の類義語・関連語
unsettle の語源・成り立ち Etymology
unsettle は un-「外す・元に戻す」+ settle「落ち着かせる、定着させる」。settle は古英語 setlian・settan 系にさかのぼり、set や settlement も同根です。『据わった状態を崩す』と考えると、『不安にする、落ち着きを失わせる』意味が腑に落ちます。
Unsettle is made from the prefix un- meaning "reverse" and settle. Settle goes back to Old English verbs related to set, with the idea of putting something in a fixed or stable place. From the sense of "undoing a settled state," unsettle came to mean making someone feel disturbed or no longer calm. Related English words include set, settled, and settlement.
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