Page 94 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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D: SAT Words
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disguise (dis GYZ) vt. 1. to make look, sound, etc. different from usual so as to
be unrecognizable; 2. to hide or obscure the real nature of —n. 1. anything used to
change one’s appearance, voice, etc.; 2. the state of being disguised; 3. the act or
practice of disguising
• Red Chief’s kidnappers disguised their voices when they made ransom
demands, never dreaming that the child’s parents would not want him back.
• While disguised as a ghost, Shaila kept bumping into walls.
• The bank robber was incorrect when he thought the Groucho Marx dis-
guise would prevent his being recognized.
[-d, disguising]
disheveled (dis SHEV ild) adj. sloppily dressed and untidy; sloppy; not neatly
groomed; having wrinkled clothing, etc.
• Donna’s hair was quite disheveled, as if she had gotten up after a night’s
tossing and turning and not brushed it.
• Howard looked disheveled, as if he were wearing the clothes he had slept in.
disingenuous (DIS in JEN yoo uhs) adj. not straightforward; not candid or
frank; insincere
• Carrie was disingenuous, telling Kaj what she thought he wanted to hear
just to get rid of him.
• When Harry asked Sally why she had been late, her disingenuous answer
included a story about a jacknifed tractor-trailer truck.
[-ness n., -ly adv.]
disparage* (dis PA ridzh) vt. 1. to discredit; 2. to speak ill of; show disrespect
for; to belittle
• Walter disparaged his own reputation when he told the story of the time he
had spent behind bars.
• Don’t disparage me by talking about me behind my back.
[-d, disparaging vt. or adj., disparagingly adv.]
disparate (dis PA rit) adj. not alike; distinct or different in kind; unequal
• When Diane interviewed the brother and sister for the job, she spent a dis-
parate amount of time with the brother.
• Marty said the twins were as alike as peas in a pod, but to Jill they seemed
as disparate as green beans and cantaloupes.
disparity* (dis PA ri tee) n. 1. difference or inequality, as in rank, amount, qual-
ity, etc.; 2. unlikeness; incongruity
• There is a disparity between a private’s and a general’s paycheck commen-
surate with that of their ranks.
• There is a disparity in the areas of a triangle and a rectangle of equal base
and height.
dispel (dis PEL) vt. to drive away; scatter; make vanish; disperse
• When Kate saw Julio stand on his head while spinning two rings on each
ankle, it was enough to dispel any doubt that he was the man for her.
• The policemen’s presence helped to dispel the crowd.
[-led, -ling] [Syn. scatter]