rue, exalt, decimate, disseminate, pillage: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Proficient set 82. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. rue · verb/ro͞o/

   bitterly regret (something one has done or allowed to happen) and wish it undone

   Ferguson will rue the day he turned down that offer.

   Synonyms: regret, be sorry about, feel apologetic about

2. exalt · verb/ɪɡˈzɔlt/

   to raise in rank, honor, or power

   The king decided to exalt the brave knight for his great courage in the battle.

   Synonyms: elevate, raise, promote

   Origin: from Latin 'exaltare', which means 'to raise high'.

3. decimate · verb/ˈdɛs.ɪ.meɪt/

   to destroy a large percentage of something

   The storm will decimate the crops in the fields, leaving farmers with little to harvest.

   Synonyms: destroy, devastate, ruin

   Origin: from Latin 'decimare', meaning 'to take a tenth', originally referring to the practice of killing one in every ten soldiers as a punishment

4. disseminate · verb/dɪˈsɛmɪneɪt/

   to spread or distribute information or knowledge widely

   The school organized a meeting to disseminate information about the new rules.

   Synonyms: spread, distribute, circulate

   Origin: from Latin 'disseminare', meaning 'to sow widely', comprised of 'dis-' (widely) and 'seminare' (to sow)

5. pillage · verb/ˈpɪl.ɪdʒ/

   to rob a place or area of goods by open violence

   The soldiers decided to pillage the village after the battle.

   Synonyms: plunder, loot, ransack

   Origin: Middle English, from the Old French 'piller', meaning to strip of goods