1640s, "act or process of setting free; state of being disengaged," from French désengagement, from desengager (see disengage). By 1701 as "freedom from engrossing occupation, leisure."
Entries linking to disengagement
disengage v.
c. 1600 in figurative sense "loosen from that which entangles;" 1660s in literal sense of "detach, release from connection," from dis- "do the opposite of" + engage (q.v.). Intransitive sense of "withdraw, become separated" is from 1640s. Related: Disengaged; disengaging.