Original Definition:
to remove from office
Example:
"And under this power are comprehended all the other rights and marks of soveraigntie ... to proclaime warre, or to make peace: to take knowledge in the last appeale of the iudgments of all Magistrates: to appoint or to disappoint the greatest officers ..." – Pierre de la Primaudaye (Translated by T. Bowes), The French Academy, 1586
About the Word:
It seems as though such a word should be quite simple; if you appoint a person to some position you can also disappoint them from it.
Yet the English language does not always work in a way that makes sense. Not only do words change meaning, but some of our prefixes do not always mean the same thing. For instance, dis- can mean 'do the opposite of,' as in disqualify, and also can mean 'completely' as in disannul.
It would certainly be pleasant if we could immediately disappoint those who disappoint us, but we generally have to wait for an election to do this.
