In English its meanings have expanded to include, "do the opposite of" "deprive of" "exclude or expel from" the opposite or absence of" "not" and "completely". Ironically we have taken a concise Latin meaning and broken it apart.
Diffraction: 1. the bending or spreading of a beam of light. (applies to anything that travels in waves)
"fract" means "broken". So diffraction means broken apart.
Disseminate: to spread widely.
"seminare" means "to sow". Seminare in turn comes from the laten "semen" which means "seed". So Disseminate means to sow by spreading widely apart. Imagine a primitive farmer scattering seeds by tossing handfuls. I would suggest that our influence on the world can be extended in two ways: through the children we procreate and through the ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc. we disseminate. As I naturally think about the meaning of life; I see this is karma and/or metaphysically how we live after death. We were born of those who came before us; their flesh AND their ideas, and we will in turn pass something on to the future. So be careful of your words- they are like your children.
Dissention: disagreement in opinion. Do you agree or disagree with my words above. Disagreement would be Dissension. You dissent from either my description of the word or the meaning of life. It's o.k.
Distracted: having attention diverted.
"Tract" means "drag or draw." So distracted means drawn away or drawn in different directions.
I blame distraction for long periods of neglect of this blog; and also my inability to complete any of my various projects. I'm a good starter, not a good finisher- my many interests distract me- pull me in different directions.
Dissipate. 1. to cause to spread out to the point of vanishing. 2. to spend wastefully or foolishly; squander.
Dissipate suggests a gradual disintegration as if by crumbling or breaking apart into tiny pieces. Think of tiny excited molecules bumping into each other, spreading outward until there are so many bumps the excitement is reduced. This is heat. If you are in a cold environment you need to bundle in dense material to try to contain the heat; to try to get those molecules to stay in one place and keep bumping into each other. You don't want to allow your heat to dissipate completely or in other words, waste it. You, and your time are dissipating like the universe. You want to make the most of it- don't fritter it away- focus.
