Page 281 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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Essential Vocabulary
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disinter (dis in TER) vt. 1. to dig up from the grave; to exhume; 2. to bring to
light something that had been hidden
• The medical examiner sometimes has to disinter a body from the grave in
order to perform an autopsy on it.
• It is only with the passage of time that the actual tape recordings of
Lyndon Johnson’s White House conversations were disinterred.
[-red, -ring] [Syn. exhume]
disinterestedness (dis IN trist id niss) n. a lack of caring, involvement, or concern
• When asked whether she would like to go to the Dodgers game, Maria
expressed a total disinterestedness.
• Joel’s disinterestedness in getting his schoolwork done on time led to his
failing grades.
[Syn. indifference]
disputatious (DIS pyoo TAY shis) adj. fond of arguing; contentious; eager to
dispute
• Allen’s disputatious nature made him a likely candidate for the debating team.
• Whenever Daphne was accused of being disputatious, she would retort
“That’s debatable.”
[-ly adv.]
dissonance (DIS uh nins) n. 1. inharmonious sounds; chords containing clash-
ing sounds; 2. a lack of harmony or agreement; discord; incongruity
• If you want to learn the true meaning of dissonance, go listen to an ele-
mentary school band concert.
• The later works of Igor Stravinsky are famous for their deliberate use of
dissonance.

QUICK REVIEW #98

Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most
nearly the same thing.
1. diatribe a. contentious
2. diffidence b. denunciation
3. digress c. exhume
4. diminutive d. shyness
5. dirge e. indifference
6. disabuse f. discord
7. disburse g. deviate
8. discontent h. correct
9. disinter i. lament
10. disinterestedness j. dissatisfaction
11. disputatious k. small
12. dissonance l. expend