Make Your Point > Archived Issues > DISINTEGRATE

Send Make Your Point issues straight to your inbox.

connect today's word to others: In Despicable Me, when Edith fires a laser beam at Agnes's unicorn doll, it collapses into a pile of black dust: Agnes: "My unicorn! You have to fix it!" Gru: "Fix it? Look, it has been disintegrated! By definition, it cannot be fixed." Yup: something that disintegrates is no longer whole: it has shattered into its parts. Etymologically speaking, disintegrated things are no longer whole or pure, or more literally, no longer "untouched." Back when Agnes's unicorn was all in one piece, it was whole, or integral; it had integrity. Integral, integrity, integrate, disintegrate and so on all trace back to the Latin word integer, meaning "not touched, or figuratively pure or whole." (Oh, hey! Suddenly it makes sense how we call whole numbers integers.) And integer breaks down into two pieces: in, "not," and tangere, "to touch." Tangere also gave us tons of other familiar words, like tact, contact, tactile, contagious, contaminate, and contingent, as well as tan__ble ("real and definite, able to be touched") and tan____ial ("touching only a little bit on what you're already talking about"). Can you recall both? (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "DISINTEGRATE" Even if you already know this word, it's worth taking a close look at so we can put it to good use, recalling it when needed and applying it with precision. To integrate is to bring things together into one complete whole. When something disintegrates, it breaks apart completely and is no longer whole. (And, to disintegrate something is to break it apart completely, making it no longer whole.) Pronunciation: dis IN tih grate Part of speech: Verb, usually the intransitive kind ("the cracker disintegrated," "the friendship will disintegrate"), but also the transitive kind ("anger disintegrated our society"). Other useful forms: disintegrated, disintegrating, disintegration, disintegrable, disintegrative How to use it: This word has a negative, dramatic tone. Use it to say that something has been destroyed in a way that leaves it broken up into its smallest possible fragments, unable to be put back together again. If any literal or figurative thing is supposed to be solid or supposed to have a certain firm shape or structure, yet that structure or solidity is falling apart, you can say it's disintegrating. So, all kinds of literal and figurative things disintegrate, like    papers and fabrics;    foods and other substances;    objects, like decorations, containers, and pieces of furniture;    rocks;    teeth (ouch);    roads;    signs, buildings, and other structures;    machinery and mechanisms;    hopes, beliefs, feelings, and memories;    trends and artistic movements;    friendships, marriages, and other relationships;    small groups, like families and bands;    larger groups, like clubs, nonprofits, companies, organizations, and nations;    religions and other systems of thought;    social movements and political parties;    and societies and social structures. You can also say that something disintegrates into its parts, or that one part of something disintegrates from the whole. examples: The tortilla disintegrated under a heap of salsa, queso, and sour cream. "But an eruption of bad press after the show at The Exchange caused the band to disintegrate."    — Jonah Engel Bromwich, New York Times, 16 November 2018 study it: Explain the meaning of "disintegrate" without saying "dissolve" or "lose cohesiveness." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(Under the influence of, under the pressure of, in the face of, by the power of, in the light of, etc.) _____, _____ disintegrated." Concrete example: "By the power of dish soap, hot water, and time, the lasagna remnants hugging the pan finally disintegrated." Abstract example: "In the rush and chaos of the pantry's daily use, the tidy system of organization we had imposed on it disintegrated." before you review, play: Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first. Controversial Catchphrases! This month, let's consider all kinds of important, ongoing controversies in our world. I'll give you a handful of key phrases that people use when they argue over a controversial question, and you try to pinpoint what that question is. I'll be drawing these issues and phrases from ProCon.org, a fantastic resource for understanding controversial issues (and for introducing those issues to your kids). From the previous issue: People who argue "yes" say things like "safety," "outdoor activities," and "extended evening hours." People who argue "no" say things like "waste of time," "decreased productivity," and "against circadian rhythms." What's the question? The question is, "Should we keep daylight savings time?" (Explore this issue at ProCon.org.) Try this one today: People who argue "yes" say things like "school pride," "student safety," and "focused on education." People who argue "no" say things like "conformity," "extra expense," and "freedom of expression." What's the question? review today's word: 1. The exact opposite of DISINTEGRATE is INTEGRATE. But a close opposite of DISINTEGRATE is A. UNIFY. B. ENROLL. C. COMPARE. 2. _____, disintegrating the young nation. A. States drew up their own laws B. Eleven southern states seceded C. Earlier documents had guaranteed individuals' rights Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. B