For the expression which has been underlined in each of the following sentences, choose the response (a), (b), (c) or (d) which most nearly expresses its meaning. Though he was arrogant, I could notdispense withhis services.
Terminate
Understanding the Meaning of "Dispense With"
The question asks us to find the meaning of the underlined phrase "dispense with" in the sentence: "Though he was arrogant, I could not dispense with his services."
To answer this vocabulary question, let's first understand the context of the sentence. The speaker acknowledges that the person is arrogant but states they "could not dispense with his services". This suggests that despite the negative quality (arrogance), the speaker still needed or relied on the services provided by this person.
The phrase "dispense with" means to get rid of, do without, or stop using something. It implies that something is no longer needed or required, and you are choosing to remove it or manage without it.
Let's examine the given options:
- Terminate: To terminate means to bring to an end or finish. If you cannot terminate someone's services, it means you cannot end using their services. This aligns well with the meaning of "dispense with" in the context of needing services.
- Align with: To align with means to agree with or support someone or something. This is the opposite of getting rid of services; it implies a positive relationship or agreement, which doesn't fit the context of needing services despite arrogance.
- Claim: To claim means to state or assert that something is true or that one has a right to something. This is unrelated to needing or getting rid of services.
- Disregard with: To disregard means to pay no attention to or ignore. While related to not needing something, "dispense with" is usually stronger, meaning to actively do without or get rid of, rather than just ignoring. In the context of services, "terminate" or "end the use of" is a closer meaning than merely ignoring the services.
Based on the analysis, the option that most nearly expresses the meaning of "dispense with" as used in the sentence, which implies the inability to get rid of or stop using the services, is "Terminate".
Detailed Option Analysis
| Option | Meaning | Fit in Sentence Context ("could not dispense with his services") |
|---|---|---|
| Terminate | To bring to an end; finish. | If you cannot terminate services, you cannot end using them. This fits. |
| Align with | To agree with; support. | If you cannot align with services, it means you cannot support them, which doesn't fit needing them despite arrogance. Does not fit. |
| Claim | To assert as true or a right. | Irrelevant to getting rid of or keeping services. Does not fit. |
| Disregard with | To ignore; pay no attention to. | While related to not needing, "dispense with" is stronger (get rid of/do without). Less precise than "terminate" for services. Does not fit as well as Terminate. |
Meaning of "Dispense With" Explained
The idiom \(\text{dispense with}\) means to stop using someone or something; to get rid of someone or something because you no longer need them.
In the given sentence:
"Though he was arrogant, I could not dispense with his services."
This means:
"Though he was arrogant, I could not stop using his services."
or
"Though he was arrogant, I could not get rid of his services."
The word "terminate" means to end something. So, "could not terminate his services" means "could not end his services" or "could not stop using his services". This is the meaning expressed by "dispense with" in this context.
Revision Table - Understanding Vocabulary
| Phrase/Word | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Dispense with | To stop using; get rid of. | We should dispense with outdated procedures. |
| Terminate (verb) | To bring to an end. | The company decided to terminate the contract. |
| Arrogant (adjective) | Having an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities. | His arrogant attitude made him unpopular. |
| Service (noun) | Work done for others as a business; assistance or benefit. | His professional services were invaluable. |
Additional Information - Idiomatic Phrases
"Dispense with" is an example of a phrasal verb or idiomatic expression. Phrasal verbs combine a verb with a preposition or adverb (or both) to create a new meaning that is often different from the literal meaning of the individual words. Understanding phrasal verbs is important for improving English comprehension and usage.
Some other phrasal verbs using "dispense":
- Dispense something to someone: To give or provide something to a number of people. Example: The machine dispenses tickets.
- Dispense with something/someone: (as discussed) To get rid of or stop using.
Always consider the full phrase and the context of the sentence when trying to determine the meaning of an idiomatic expression like "dispense with".
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