January 13, 2006, 20:30
KallehDispersing
I wrote the following limerick for OEDILF, considering the definition of
dispersing to be "disseminating knowledge;" in this case, it would be the knowledge of the program being approved. The online AHD does have that as a definition. The workshoppers disagreed, and I did change it. I realize that
disperse has a more common definition of "scattering in different directions." Was I using it wrong?
An approval at state boards of nursing
Consists of review and dispersing
The health of the school,
So passing is cool,
But probation? The dean will be cursing!
January 14, 2006, 00:01
aputDispersing means not just scattering, which would be appropriate for knowledge, but generally implies reduction in force also. You disperse a mob or a film/scum. I suspect your use here is influenced by the near-homophone (or probably homophone in normal speech) 'disburse' = pay out, which in this context fits equally well.
January 14, 2006, 19:29
KallehShu also suggested "disburse," though I think of that word as meaning to "pay out." This is a written approval, but it isn't related to money.
To me, "disperse" seems right, but I did change it to please the workshoppers. Lines 2 & 3 were changed to:
Consists of judicious conversing
On the health of a school,