Comments on: Word Confusion http://blog.gordaen.com/2006/11/04/word-confusion/ Ramblings about art, education, Linux and a lot more Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:10:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: John http://blog.gordaen.com/2006/11/04/word-confusion/#comment-1728 John Sun, 17 Dec 2006 23:07:47 +0000 http://blog.gordaen.com/2006/11/04/word-confusion/#comment-1728 Then it seem to me that the confusion lies with the people who think that "disinterested" does not mean "not interested." Then it seem to me that the confusion lies with the people who think that “disinterested” does not mean “not interested.”

]]> By: Gordaen http://blog.gordaen.com/2006/11/04/word-confusion/#comment-1725 Gordaen Sun, 17 Dec 2006 21:54:05 +0000 http://blog.gordaen.com/2006/11/04/word-confusion/#comment-1725 The fact is (according to Gilman of MW and to Random House) that "disinterested" is used far more to mean "impartial" than "not interested" and that "uninterested" is not used to mean "impartial" in present day. It's only logical to make a distinction, instantly clarifying statements like: "We require a jury with a certain level of disinterest." The primary meaning of "disinterest," "disinterestedness," etc. is "impartial." Saying there is <strong>no</strong> confusion between the words seems like a rather limited view (if there were no confusion, I'm sure a Google search wouldn't reveal 100,000+ pages on the topic). Nearly all professors (in the US at least), recommend making the distinction. Without making distinctions between/among words, you end up with words like "cleave," which is nearly its own antonym. The fact is (according to Gilman of MW and to Random House) that “disinterested” is used far more to mean “impartial” than “not interested” and that “uninterested” is not used to mean “impartial” in present day. It’s only logical to make a distinction, instantly clarifying statements like: “We require a jury with a certain level of disinterest.” The primary meaning of “disinterest,” “disinterestedness,” etc. is “impartial.” Saying there is no confusion between the words seems like a rather limited view (if there were no confusion, I’m sure a Google search wouldn’t reveal 100,000+ pages on the topic). Nearly all professors (in the US at least), recommend making the distinction. Without making distinctions between/among words, you end up with words like “cleave,” which is nearly its own antonym.

]]> By: John http://blog.gordaen.com/2006/11/04/word-confusion/#comment-1694 John Sat, 16 Dec 2006 22:21:11 +0000 http://blog.gordaen.com/2006/11/04/word-confusion/#comment-1694 The fact is that "disinterested" means both "impartial" and "not interested." The original meaning was "not interested" - it dates from 1612. The "impartial" meaning dates from 1659. So I don't know what your complaint is here. There is no confusion between these words. The fact is that “disinterested” means both “impartial” and “not interested.” The original meaning was “not interested” - it dates from 1612. The “impartial” meaning dates from 1659.

So I don’t know what your complaint is here. There is no confusion between these words.

]]> By: Gordaen http://blog.gordaen.com/2006/11/04/word-confusion/#comment-1659 Gordaen Fri, 15 Dec 2006 19:00:57 +0000 http://blog.gordaen.com/2006/11/04/word-confusion/#comment-1659 For whatever reason, that link goes to the verb "disinterest." If you click on the choice for disinterested, their synonym is listed as "indifferent," the primary meaning of which is unbiased or impartial. Of course, that too can mean something along the lines of apathetic. The usage notes point out the mixing of meanings, but it is good to know that "uninterested" always means "not interested" rather than "objective," even if "disinterested" can currently be used for either meaning. For whatever reason, that link goes to the verb “disinterest.” If you click on the choice for disinterested, their synonym is listed as “indifferent,” the primary meaning of which is unbiased or impartial. Of course, that too can mean something along the lines of apathetic. The usage notes point out the mixing of meanings, but it is good to know that “uninterested” always means “not interested” rather than “objective,” even if “disinterested” can currently be used for either meaning.

]]> By: John http://blog.gordaen.com/2006/11/04/word-confusion/#comment-1608 John Thu, 14 Dec 2006 15:40:05 +0000 http://blog.gordaen.com/2006/11/04/word-confusion/#comment-1608 "disinterested" also means "not interested": http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/disinterested “disinterested” also means “not interested”: http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/disinterested

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