disinterested, uninterested || Disinterested used to mean the same as uninterested, but has developed the separate meaning given as sense 1, -impartial-. The two words therefore relate to different senses of interest. The difference can be seen in the following examples: He claimed that he had been a disinterested spectator in the affair. (= not personally involved in it) He left most of his meal, and seemed uninterested in any of the conversation she attempted. (= not interested in it or concerned about it) || Disinterested is not usually followed by in, although uninterested often is. |