#33 discern ~ disparage

Question 1

discern

/dɪˈsɜrn, -ˈzɜrn/

Answer 1

v. to have insight; to see things clearly; to discriminate; to differentiate
To discern sth. is to perceive it clearly. A writer whose work demonstrates discernment is a writer who is a keen observer.
- The ill-mannered people at Tisha’s party proved that she had little discernment when it came to choosing friends.

Question 2

discreet

/dɪˈskrit/

Answer 2

adj. prudent; judiciously reserved
To make discreet inquiries is to ask around without letting the whole world know you’re doing it.
- The psychiatrist was very discreet; no matter how much we pestered him, he wouldn’t gossip about the problems of his famous patients.
He had discretion.

Question 3

indiscreet

/ˌɪndɪˈskrit/

Answer 3

adj. imprudent, esp. to say or do things you shouldn’t
- It was indiscreet of Laura to tell Salima how much she hated Bailey’s new hairstyle, because Salima always tells Bailey everything.
- When Laura told Salima, she committed an indiscretion.

Question 4

discrete

/dɪˈskrit/

Answer 4

adj. unconnected; separate; distinct
Do not confuse discrete with discreet.
- The twins were identical but their personalities were discrete.
- The drop in the stick market was not the result of any single force but of many discrete trends.

Question 5

indiscrete

/ˌɪndɪˈskrit, ɪnˈdɪskrit/

Answer 5

adj. not separated or sorted

- When things are all jumbled up together, they are said to be indiscrete.

Question 6

discriminate

/v. dɪˈskrɪməˌneɪt/

Answer 6

v. to notice or point out the difference between two or more things; to discern; to differentiate
A person with a refined aesthetic sense is able to discriminate subtle differences where a less observant person would see nothing. Such a person is discriminating. This kind of discrimination is a good thing.
To discriminate unfairly, though, is to dwell on differences that shouldn’t make a difference. It is unfair - and illegal - to discriminate between black people and white people in selling a house. Such a practice is not discriminating (which is good), but discriminatory (which is wrong).

Question 7

indiscriminate

/ˌɪndɪˈskrɪmənɪt/

Answer 7

adj. not discriminating; random or haphazard

Question 8

disdain

/dɪsˈdeɪn, dɪˈsteɪn/

Answer 8

n. arrogant scorn; contempt
- Bertram viewed the hot dog with disdain, believing that to eat such a disgusting food was beneath him.
- The millionaire looked upon the poor workers with evident disdain.
Disdain can also be a verb. The millionaire in the previous example could be said to have disdained those workers.
To be filled with disdain is to be disdainful.

Question 9

disinterested

/dɪsˈɪntəˌrɛstɪd, -trɪstɪd/

Answer 9

adj. not taking sides; unbiased
Disinterested should not used to mean uninterested. If you don’t care about knowing sth., you are uninterested, not disinterested.
- A referee should be disinterested. He or she should not be rooting for one of the competing teams.
A disinterested observer is one who has no personal stake in or attachment to what is being observed.
- Meredith claimed that the accident had been Louie’s fault, but several disinterested witnesses said that Meredith had actually bashed into his car after jumping the median and driving in the wrong lane for several miles.

Question 10

disparage

/dɪˈspærɪdʒ/

Answer 10

v. to belittle; to say uncomplimentary things about, usually in a somewhat indirect way
- The mayor disparaged our efforts to beautify the town square when he said that the flower bed we had planted looked somewhat worse than the bed of weeds it had replaced.
- My guidance counselor disparaged my high school record by telling me that not everybody belongs in college.