incriminate, coalesce, disparage, propagate, beget: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Advanced Plus set 40. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. incriminate · verb/ɪnˈkrɪməˌneɪt/

   to make someone appear guilty of a crime or wrongdoing

   The detective found new evidence that could incriminate the suspect in the robbery.

   Synonyms: accuse, implicate, charge

   Origin: from Latin 'incriminare', meaning 'to make a charge against'

2. coalesce · verb/koʊəˈlɛs/

   to come together to form one mass or whole

   The small streams coalesce to form a larger river.

   Synonyms: merge, unite, combine

   Origin: from Latin 'coalescere', meaning 'to grow together'

3. disparage · verb/dɪsˈpærɪdʒ/

   to regard or represent as being of little worth

   Many people disparage his ideas, but he believes they are important.

   Synonyms: belittle, denigrate, demean

   Origin: from Middle English, derived from Old French 'desparagier', meaning 'to match unequally'; from 'des-' (meaning 'not') + 'parager' (to match)

4. propagate · verb/ˈprɑː.pə.ɡeɪt/

   to cause something to spread or promote its growth

   Farmers use seeds to propagate new plants in their fields.

   Synonyms: spread, reproduce

   Origin: from Latin 'propagare', meaning to set forth or propagate

5. beget · verb/bɪˈɡɛt/

   produce offspring or cause something new to arise

   The farmer hopes that his new animals will beget many healthy babies.

   Synonyms: produce, generate, give rise to

   Origin: Middle English begeten, from Old English begietan, meaning to obtain, get; from be- (intensive prefix) + gietan (to get)