- disposal
- disposal, disposition are frequently used without clear distinction when they mean the act or the power of disposing of something.However, when the emphasis is upon what shall be done with money, property, or possessions, disposal tends to imply a getting rid of (as by selling, giving away, assigning to others, or destroying) and disposition, a proper or orderly distribution or utilization{
the disposal of her jewels seemed necessary to pay her debts
}{the disposition of the intestate's property has been agreed upon by the heirs
}{incinerators used for the disposal of garbage
}{I am happy that the speedy disposal of the pictures will enable you ... to settle this unpleasant affair— Mitford
}{the donors have stipulated for the future disposition ... of those funds— John Marshall
}When the idea of arrangement or ordering or of making arrangements is stressed, disposition, rather than disposal, is the more accurate term{while the disposition of the branches is unsymmetrical, balance is maintained— Binyon
}{a deserter had informed Octavian of the general plan . . . and he made his dispositions accordingly— Buchan
}The idiomatic phrases at one's disposal and at (or in) one's disposition differ in that, though both imply a placing under one's control, the former suggests use as one sees fit and the latter, subjection to one's direction, arrangement, or command{they put their summer home at the disposal of the bridal couple
}{had at his disposition no inconsiderable sums of money— Trench
}Analogous words: destroying or destruction, demolishing or demolition (see corresponding verbs at DESTROY)
New Dictionary of Synonyms. 2014.