What is the difference in meaning between ‘disburse’ and ‘disperse’? (Janani, Chennai)
The stress in both words is on the second syllable; it rhymes with ‘curse’, ‘purse’ and ‘nurse’. ‘Disperse’ is normally used to mean to scatter or spread something over a wide area. It can also suggest that the thing being scattered is going in different directions. Things (clouds, seeds, and so on), as well as people, can be dispersed. ‘Disburse’, on the other hand, is mostly used in the context of money. When someone ‘disburses’ money, he is distributing it; he is paying someone. The word comes from the French ‘desbourser’ meaning to spend or ‘take money from the purse’. ‘Bourse’ means ‘purse’, and this perhaps explains why the treasurer of a college is usually called a ‘bursar’. He is the ‘bursarius’ or ‘purse bearer’ — someone who has access to the money.
The police managed to disperse the unruly mob of students in ten minutes.
The funds for the project will be disbursed sometime next week.
How is the word ‘fete’ pronounced? (Sharoon, Bengaluru)
Whether the word is used as a noun or a verb, most people pronounce it like the word ‘fate’. This is the standard pronunciation. In American English, however, some people make it rhyme with ‘set’, ‘pet’ and ‘get’. ‘Fete’ comes from the Old French ‘feste’ meaning ‘feast, celebration’. When used as a noun, it refers to an outdoor public event. These events are usually held to raise money for a charity. To ensure that the people who come to these events have a good time, the organisers have lots of food and refreshments on sale; they may also provide entertainment. In American English, any form of outdoor celebration is called ‘fete’. When used as a verb, ‘fete’ means to honour or praise someone publicly for their achievements.
The author was surprised when the members of the media decided to fete him.
The church fete is tomorrow. Will you be coming?
What is the meaning and origin of ‘beware of Greeks bearing gifts’? (R. Uma, Tiruchi)
This is a translation of a Latin expression that first appeared in Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’. When the invading Greeks find that they cannot conquer the city of Troy, they resort to trickery. They build a huge wooden horse and leave it near the city. The Trojans, believing that the horse is a peace offering, decide to drag it into the city of Troy. But a few among them caution the King that the Greeks are not to be trusted — that a wiser course of action would be to set the wooden horse on fire. Common sense does not prevail and the huge animal is dragged into the city of Troy amid wild celebrations. At night, the Greek soldiers hiding inside the horse slip out and open the gates; making it easy for the rest of the soldiers to enter Troy and capture the city. The expression, ‘beware of Greeks bearing gifts’ is mostly used to caution or warn someone that the enemy is not to be trusted. If the enemy is suddenly nice to you, do not trust him — you should become suspicious, instead. Like the Greeks, the enemy may have an ulterior motive.
When I told my brother that my rival has been extremely nice to me all of a sudden, he said, ‘Beware of Greeks bearing gifts’.
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Wine and children speak the truth. Greek Proverb
The author teaches at the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad. upendrankye@gmail.com
