These two adjectives have quite unrelated meanings. Discreet means “not drawing attention” and implies caution and politeness: Please be discreet if you enter the theater after the play has started. Discrete means “separable” or “clearly different”: How many discrete ways are there to use this word? You may also have heard the term discrete mathematics, […]

These words are nearly the same, but not quite.  Discomfort, as a noun, means “a state or feeling of uneasiness, the opposite of comfort”: We usually think that discomfort is bad, but sometimes discomfort leads to change. (Discomfit is not used as a noun).  As verbs, both words can mean, “to cause discomfort or uneasiness.” Discomfit, however, also […]

These two confusing words have similar meanings, but are used in different ways. Disburse means “to give something to multiple recipients,” usually in an official way, such as when giving financial aid to students. Disburse most often refers to giving out money: The office of financial aid disburses funds to students once per month. Disperse, on […]

These unrelated words are often mixed up.Desert is both a noun and a verb, with completely different meanings.  Desert, the noun, refers to a geographical area with a very dry climate. In desert regions such as the Sahara Desert, Gobi Desert, and Death Valley, there may be no rain at all for years.  Desert, the verb, means […]

Descension is not a modern English word—500 years ago, it had the same meaning as descent, “to go down”; but now, it’s use is so rare, most publications would not consider it a word, other than to mention its historical usage.Dissension is a modern word and, similarly to the descension/descent relation, dissension has the same meaning as dissent; […]