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 disguisedtheir voices when they made ransom
demands, never dreaming that the child’s parents would not want him back. - While disguisedas a ghost, Shaila kept bumping into walls.
- The bank robber was incorrect when he thought the Groucho Marx dis-
guisewould 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 disingenuousanswer
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 disparagedhis own reputation when he told the story of the time he
had spent behind bars. - Don’t disparageme 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-
parateamount of time with the brother. - Marty said the twins were as alike as peas in a pod, but to Jill they seemed
as disparateas 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 disparitybetween a private’s and a general’s paycheck commen-
surate with that of their ranks. - There is a disparityin 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 dispelany doubt that he was the man for her. - The policemen’s presence helped to dispelthe crowd.
[-led, -ling] [Syn. scatter]
D: SAT Words 85