GRE Vocabulary — Set 43

Set 43 of GRE Vocabulary covers 5 words: attenuate, belie, burnish, confound, disabuse. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. attenuate · verb/əˈtɛn.ju.eɪt/

   to reduce the force effect or intensity of something

   The new regulations are designed to attenuate the impact of industrial pollution on local waterways.

   Synonyms: diminish, reduce, weaken

   Origin: from Latin 'attenuare', meaning 'to make thin', from 'ad-' (to) + 'tenuis' (thin)

2. belie · verb/bɪˈlaɪ/

   to contradict or show something to be false

   His calm demeanor belies the intense anxiety he feels inside.

   Synonyms: contradict, disprove, negate

   Origin: Middle English 'belyen', from Old English 'belīgan' which means 'to lie or to lie under'.

3. burnish · verb/ˈbɜrnɪʃ/

   to polish or make shiny by rubbing

   The jeweler used a soft cloth to burnish the gold ring until it gleamed brightly.

   Synonyms: polish, shine, buff

   Origin: Middle English 'burnischen,' from 'burnish' meaning to make bright, from Old French 'burnir,' from 'brun,' meaning brown or dark.

4. confound · verb/kənˈfaʊnd/

   to confuse or mix up

   The complex instructions tended to confound the new employees, making it difficult for them to complete their tasks.

   Synonyms: confuse, bewilder, perplex

   Origin: from Middle English 'confounden', from Old French 'confondre', from Latin 'confundere' meaning 'to pour together'.

5. disabuse · verb/ˌdɪs.əˈbjuːz/

   to free someone from a misconception or false belief

   He wanted to disabuse her of the notion that success only comes from luck.

   Synonyms: correct, enlighten, set straight

   Origin: The word 'disabuse' comes from the prefix 'dis-' meaning 'not' or 'opposite of,' combined with 'abuse' in the sense of 'misleading' or 'misusing.'