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Interested in this interest in disinterest, I looked into MW online and found this paragraph--and like especially the London quote:
usage Disinterested and uninterested have a tangled history. Uninterested orig. meant impartial, but this sense fell into disuse during the 18th century. About the same time the original sense of disinterested also disappeared, with uninterested developing a new sense--the present meaning--to take its place. The original sense of uninterested is still out of use, but the original sense of disinterested revived in the early 20th century. The revival has since been under frequent attack as an illiteracy and a blurring or loss of a useful distinction. Actual usage shows otherwise. Sense 2 of disinterested is still its most frequent sense, especially in edited prose; it shows no sign of vanishing. A careful writer may choose sense 1a of disinterested in preference to uninterested for emphasis <teaching the letters of the alphabet to her wiggling and supremely disinterested little daughter -- C. L. Sulzberger>. Further, disinterested has developed a sense (1b), perhaps influenced by sense 1 of the prefix dis-, that contrasts with uninterested <when I grow tired or disinterested in anything, I experience a disgust -- Jack London (letter, 1914)>. Still, use of senses 1a and 1b will incur the disapproval of some who may not fully appreciate the history of this word or the subtleties of its present use.
I have gotten a good dose of education this night and have enjoyed my meal of crow.
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted disinterest wwh 02/17/03 09:35 PM Re: disinterest Buffalo Shrdlu 02/17/03 09:40 PM Re: disinterest wwh 02/17/03 10:04 PM Re: disinterest sjm 02/17/03 10:13 PM Re: disinterest Wordwind 02/17/03 10:21 PM Re: disinterest sjm 02/17/03 11:42 PM Re: disinterest Faldage 02/17/03 11:52 PM Re: disinterest Wordwind 02/18/03 12:32 AM Re: disinterest Wordwind 02/18/03 12:58 AM Re: disinterest wwh 02/18/03 01:32 AM Re: disinterest sjm 02/18/03 01:41 AM Re: disinterest wwh 02/18/03 01:48 AM Re: disinterest Faldage 02/17/03 10:25 PM
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