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Jackson6612 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

To spread thinly or wastefully

2 diffuse

1 c : to spread thinly or wastefully
[M-W's Col. Dic.]

"to spread thinly/wastefully" - It doesn't go well together. "thinly", in a thin layer, thin manner. "wastefully" has totally different meaning from that of "thinly". Do you get what I'm trying to say?

Which one is correct?
1 - It has a totally different meaning from that of the other word.
2 - It has a totally different meaning than that of the other word.
  

Top answer

Yes, that's right: they have given two meanings-- either spread thinly or spread wastefully. Your two other sentences are both in use.

— Mister Micawber

  • Yes, that's right: they have given two meanings-- either spread thinly or spread wastefully.
  • Your two other sentences are both in use.
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12 Answers
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Yes, that's right: they have given two meanings-- either spread thinly or spread wastefully.
Your two other sentences are both in use.
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Mister Micawberthey have given two meanings
But they shouldn't have combined two completely different meanings under one definition. Do you okay such a practice?
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I have great faith in our lexicographers. I just wish you did.
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It's just that you don't have that much faith in M-W!Emotion: smile
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The problem is that you don't understand as much English as you pretend to. I just explicitly said that I had faith in them in the post immediately before yours. It is you who are questioning the dictionary entries, not I.
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Mister MicawberThe problem is that you don't understand as much English as you pretend to.
Mr Micawber, I don't know why you think so about me. I have never pretended this. I'm a learner and when I request you to help me I simply acknoledge your higher authority. I was not questioning the dictionary's entries - it was something I was having difficulty with. A
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No. you continually suppose that the dictionary is incorrect: '"to spread thinly/wastefully" - It doesn't go well together', you wrote.

Have you ever considered why I never use emoticons? Because they can be just as deceptive as a smile or a promise.
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Mister Micawber Have you ever considered why I never use emoticons? Because they can be just as deceptive as a smile or a promise.
Somehow, I suspect you occasionally smile.
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2 diffuse

1 c : to spread thinly or wastefully
[M-W's Col. Dic.]

"to spread thinly/wastefully"

Please forgive the intrusion.

What I fi
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AvangiAre you suggesting that this is inconsistent with their common practice of listing contrasting meanings with separate numbers, as 1., 2., etc.?
Yes, this is what I was saying, or rather was trying to. Usually M-W lists cntrasting definitions or where meanings are quite dissimilar separately. I admit I shouldn't have edited the original entry to "/". Sorr
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