The English language is strange. Perhaps it's because the words originate from so many other languages, new words have been coined over the years, and they've all been thrown into one big vocabulary pot. Take for example the prefix "dis" which is added to the front of a word to form its opposite. Examples would be disarm and arm, disappear and appear, etc. But what do you do with comfit and discomfit? A comfit is a confection consisting of a piece of fruit, a root, or a seed coated and preserved with sugar. So does one discomfit someone by forbidding the consumption of sugar-coated roots? No, discomfit is to defeat in battle, frustrate plans, or thwart. Also there's discombobulate , which means to upset and confuse.Yet one does not combobulate to bring order or clarity to a situation. However, it might be the perfect text to send to your friend Robert who is tardy. :)