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disabuse

American  
[dis-uh-byooz] / ˌdɪs əˈbyuz /

verb (used with object)

disabuses, present (3rd person singular) disabused, past participle, past disabusing present participle
  1. to free (a person) from deception or error.


disabuse British  
/ ˌdɪsəˈbjuːz /

verb

  1. to rid (oneself, another person, etc) of a mistaken or misguided idea; set right

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of disabuse

From the French word désabuser, dating back to 1605–15. See dis- 1, abuse

Explanation

Disabuse means to free someone of a belief that is not true. Many teachers of health find that when they teach, they spend as much energy disabusing kids of false beliefs as they do giving them the facts. Disabuse is often connected to the word notion or idea. In singing lessons, you must disabuse young singers of the idea that they can sing better by singing louder. In the first year of college, many people are disabused of the notion that their experiences are universal — by meeting so many people who have had different experiences or come from different backgrounds.

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Vocabulary lists containing disabuse

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Disabuse yourself of the notion that there's this machine out there that just kind of materializes when you say, 'Yes--go!'

From Time Magazine Archive

Disabuse yourself of the notion that there's this machine out there that just kind of materializes when you say, 'Yes � go!'

From Time Magazine Archive

Disabuse yourselves of the notion that it is the teachers' work, and a way out of the difficulty will be found.

From Library Work with Children by Hazeltine, Alice Isabel

Disabuse yourself especially of the belief that any grace or flow of style can come from writing rapidly.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 09, No. 54, April, 1862 by Various

"Disabuse your mind of that," I told him.

From Edgar Saltus: The Man by Saltus, Marie

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