"disrespect / disrespected"

[ladyinthemists]

I keep hearing that someone "disrespected" someone or something. Is this proper grammar? I would have thought that the correct way of saying it would be: "he/she was disrespectful to someone or something." Am I wrong about this or has the English language changed that much since my own school days?

 

[GoesStation]

A quick Google search found a late 18th-century attestation of to disrespect. I'll try to remember to look it up in my OED the next time I get it out to see how far back it's shown there.

 

[bubbha]

I don't recall hearing "disrespect" being used as a verb before the mid 90s.

 

[tedmc]

I have only seen "disrespect" and "disrespectful" used as a noun and adjective respectively.

 

[GoesStation]

My OED lists attestations of disrespect as a verb beginning in 1614.

 

[Tdol]

It certainly seems to have been gaining popularity as a verb in recent years.

 

[Raymott]

In any case, I believe Americans call it 'dissing'.

 

[Tarheel]

In any case, I believe Americans call it 'dissing'.

Some Americans do.

 

[ladyinthemists]

That depends on how long ago you were at school. The verb 'disrespect' appears in dictionaries today. Here is one example: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disrespect

ahem, I graduated from high school in 1963 before furthering my education in university so guess I'm of the "old school".....

 

[Tarheel]

Ahem, I graduated from high school in 1963 before furthering my education in university, so I guess I'm of the "old school".

Ahem.

 

[ladyinthemists]

Ahem.

Corrections noted, Tarheel

 

[Roman55]

According to this, its use as a verb is North American informal.

 

[GoesStation]

I would not hesitate to use disrespect as a verb in any context.