What does discording mean?
'Discording' is the present participle of the rare English verb 'discord', which means to disagree or be at variance with others. While the noun 'discord' — signifying conflict, strife, or lack of harmony — remains firmly established in modern usage, its verbal counterpart has largely fallen out of everyday speech and survives mainly in older or deliberately literary writing. When encountered, 'discording' describes parties who are quarrelling or failing to agree, as in a group discording over a decision. The word ultimately traces back through Old French 'desordre'-related forms to Latin roots concerning the heart ('cor'), literally suggesting hearts that do not beat together. Because it looks strikingly similar to the common word 'discarding' (throwing away), careful readers should note the distinction. In contemporary English, writers seeking a natural expression of disagreement will almost always prefer 'disagreeing', 'clashing', or simply using the noun 'discord'; 'discording' persists as an interesting but marginal form.
verb (present participle/gerund)The present participle of 'discord' (a rare or archaic verb), meaning disagreeing or being at variance with one another.
- Disagreeing or quarrelling; being in a state of discord (rare, chiefly archaic use of the verb 'discord').
"The committee members were discording over the final wording of the resolution."
"The two factions were endlessly discording over matters of doctrine."
"Rather than discording, they sought a compromise both could accept."
Though 'discord' thrives as a noun for conflict, its verb form is so rare that most dictionaries barely record it — making 'discording' a word you'll almost never hear spoken aloud.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of discording
The verb 'discord' entered Middle English from Anglo-Norman and Old French 'descorder', itself derived from Latin 'discors' (disagreeing, at variance), formed from 'dis-' ('apart') and 'cors'/'cord-', the stem of 'cor' meaning 'heart'. Thus etymologically, people who discord have their hearts set apart. The participle 'discording' follows regular English inflection but has remained scarce since early modern times, while cognates such as 'accord', 'concord', and 'discordant' flourish from the same heart-root.
Related word forms
How discording is actually used
'Discording' is very rare in modern English; speakers overwhelmingly use the noun 'discord' or verbs like 'disagree' or 'clash'. It may appear in archaic or literary prose. The spelling must not be confused with the far more common 'discarding'.
Easily confused with discording
'Discarding' means throwing something away, while 'discording' relates to disagreement or discord between people.