disarm

1. a. To divest of a weapon or weapons.
   b. To deprive of the means of attack or defense; render harmless: “Have the courage to appear poor, and you disarm poverty of its sharpest sting” (Washington Irving).
2. a. To overcome or allay the suspicion, hostility, or antagonism of.
   b. To win the confidence of.

1. To lay down arms.
2. To reduce or abolish armed forces.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English disarmen

Origin: , from Old French desarmer

Origin: : des-, dis-

Origin: + armer, to arm (from Latin armāre, from arma, weapons; see ar- in Indo-European roots)

Related Forms:

• dis·armˈer noun