disabuse
UK: ˌdɪsəˈbjuːz | US: ˌdɪsəˈbjuːz
vt. to free someone from a misconception or deception
vt. to correct a false belief or misunderstanding
disabuse = dis<remove> + abuse<misuse/deception>
- dis-: A prefix of Latin origin meaning "remove," "reverse," or "negate." Here, it implies undoing a state of deception.
- abuse: From Latin abūsus (misuse, deception), derived from abuti (to misuse). In this context, it refers to a false belief or misleading idea.
Etymology Origin:
The word "disabuse" emerged in the early 17th century, combining "dis-" (undoing) with "abuse" (misconception). It originally meant "to set free from misuse" but narrowed to its modern sense of correcting false beliefs. The logic is straightforward: "dis-" reverses the "abuse" (error) of the mind.
The teacher had to disabuse the students of the myth that bats are blind.
He quickly disabused her of the notion that success comes without effort.
The documentary aims to disabuse viewers of stereotypes about climate change.
She disabused him of his illusions about the company’s financial stability.
It took years to disabuse the public of the outdated medical theory.