Page 96 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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D: SAT Words
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disseminate (dis EM in AYT) vt. to scatter far and wide; spread about, as if sow-
ing seed; make known widely
• The newspaper’s purpose was to disseminate the ideas of its editorial staff
over a wide region.
• Maple seeds have sails so that they can be disseminated by air currents over
a wide area.
[-d, disseminating] [Syn. broadcast, promulgate]
dissent (dis ENT) vi. 1. to have a different belief or opinion; disagree, often with
from; 2. to reject the doctrine of an established religion —n. the act of disagreeing,
specifically a legal opinion against the majority’s; religious nonconformity
• Bulls and bears dissent from one another in their stock purchase plans.
• Henry VIII’s dissent with the pope caused the formation of the Anglican
Church.
• Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. wrote some very famous dissents during his term
on the Supreme Court.
[-ed, -ing]
dissimilar (dis SIM i loer) adj. not alike; different
• Cats and dogs have very dissimilar personality traits, with the dog trying to
please you and the cat believing it’s your job to please it.
• Twins Bob and Ray have dissimilar jobs at the phone company; Bob’s in
operations, and Ray’s an operator.
[-ity n., -ly adv.] [Syn. different]
dissipate (DIS i PAYT) vt. 1. to break up and scatter; dispel; disperse; 2. to drive
completely away; make disappear; 3. to waste or squander
• The rising sun will help to dissipate the fog.
• Of course, it won’t completely dissipate until the sun’s rays have had a
chance to dry up all the water droplets.
• Don’t dissipate all your energy looking for a leprechaun.
[-d, dissipating] [Syn. scatter]
distinct* (dis TEENKT) adj. 1. not alike; different; 2. not the same; individual;
separate; 3. clearly sensed or marked off; clear; plain; 4. well defined; unmistakable;
definite
• Each ballplayer is a distinct entity.
• Every puppy in the litter has a distinct personality.
• Every school bus has a distinct serial number.
• Our effort brought a distinct success.
[Syn. different]
distinguish (dis TING wish) vt. 1. to tell apart; to sense or show the difference
in; to differentiate; 2. to be an essential feature of; characterize; 3. to separate and
classify; 4. to make famous or prominent; give distinction to
• Rubies and sapphires can be easily distinguished from each other by color.
• Hardness distinguishes real diamonds from fake ones.
• The Dewey Decimal System helps us to distinguish a book by its cover.
• “The distinguished senator from (your state)” is a title of rank and respect.
[-ed, -ing, -able adj., -ably adv.] [Syn. discriminate]