divide
divide
Pronunciation
divide
/dɪˈvaɪd/
di-: /dɪ/ (d as in "dog," short i as in "sit")
-vide: /vaɪd/ (v as in "van," long i as in "kite," d as in "dog")
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: divide
Third-person singular present: divides
Present participle: dividing
Past simple: divided
Past participle: divided
Noun:
Singular: divide
Plural: divides
Adjective:
Divided (past participle used adjectivally)
Divisible (can be divided)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To separate into two or more parts; to break up or spread out.
Synonyms: separate, split, cleave, apportion, distribute, dissect
Antonyms: unite, join, combine, merge, consolidate
To share or distribute something among a group of people.
Synonyms: share, distribute, allocate, parcel out, dole out
Antonyms: hoard, keep, retain, monopolize
In mathematics, to perform the operation of division, finding how many times one number is contained in another.
Synonyms: halve (if by two), apportion (in a mathematical sense)
Antonyms: multiply
Noun
A significant difference or disagreement between two groups or things.
Synonyms: split, chasm, rift, schism, divergence, separation
Antonyms: bridge, link, connection, unity, accord
A ridge of land that separates two adjacent drainage basins; a watershed.
Synonyms: watershed, ridge, crest, boundary, demarcation
Antonyms: confluence, convergence (less direct antonyms, but refer to joining of water)
Examples of Use
Books:
"The author expertly explores the growing divide between urban and rural populations in modern society." (Fictitious example based on common literary themes)
"As the war raged, families were forced to divide, with some members joining the resistance and others remaining loyal to the regime." (Fictitious example reflecting historical narratives)
Newspapers:
"Political analysts are scrutinizing the latest polls, which reveal a stark divide among voters on the issue of climate change policy." (The New York Times)
"Efforts to divide the remaining humanitarian aid among the displaced refugees are underway, but logistical challenges persist." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Tech giants are increasingly investing in AI, a move that could further divide the digital haves and have-nots." (Wired.com)
"The article delves into the cultural divide between generations, examining how different age groups consume media." (Vox.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the movie Parasite, the escalating tension highlights the vast socio-economic divide between the two families. (Bong Joon-ho)
Television: "The contestants must divide their limited resources to build a shelter before nightfall." (From a survival reality show, e.g., Alone)
Music: "We stand on a great divide, looking back at what we've lost." (From a popular song lyric, artist unknown)
Video Games: "Players must strategically divide their forces to defend multiple objectives simultaneously." (From a real-time strategy game, e.g., StarCraft II, ongoing use)
General Public Discourse:
"There's a real divide in opinion on whether remote work is beneficial in the long term." (Heard in a casual conversation, May 2024)
"Can we please divide these tasks evenly so everyone contributes?" (Spoken during a group project discussion, July 2024)
"The recent debate has only served to divide our community further." (Comment from a local town hall meeting, June 2024)
10 Quotes Using Divide
"A house divided against itself cannot stand." (Abraham Lincoln)
"It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences." (Audre Lorde)
"Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with." (Mark Twain)
"Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs." (Henry Ford)
"It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious." (Oscar Wilde)
"One of the main tasks of theology is to find words that do not divide but unite, that do not create conflict but unity, that do not hurt but heal." (Henri Nouwen)
"Divide and rule, the politician cries; unite and lead, is watchword of the wise." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
"The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague." (Edgar Allan Poe)
"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." (J.K. Rowling)
"The Destiny of Man is to unite, not to divide. If you keep on dividing you end up as a collection of monkeys throwing nuts at each other out of separate trees." (T.H. White)
Etymology
The word "divide" comes from the Latin word "dividere," which means "to force apart," "to split," or "to separate." It's made up of two parts:
"dis-": This is a Latin prefix meaning "apart," "asunder," or "in different directions." You see it in words like "disperse" or "disconnect."
"videre": This Latin root means "to separate."
So, combining these parts, "dividere" literally meant to pull or force things apart.
The first known use of "divide" in English, with a similar meaning to what we use today, appeared in the late 14th century. At that time, it was used as a verb meaning "to separate into parts," "to break into pieces," or "to distribute." It also quickly developed the mathematical sense of splitting a number into equal parts.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Divide
Divide and conquer: A strategy of breaking a larger problem or group into smaller, more manageable parts to defeat them more easily.
To divide evenly: To distribute something in equal portions.
To divide by zero: (Often used metaphorically) To attempt something impossible or nonsensical, as mathematical division by zero is undefined.
To divide loyalties: To cause someone to feel conflicted between two different allegiances or groups.
To divide one's time: To allocate time between different activities or responsibilities.
The great divide: A significant and often unbridgeable difference or separation between two groups, ideas, or things.
To split the difference: To compromise by agreeing on a figure halfway between two extremes. (Uses a synonym, "split," for similar effect)
To cleave to nothing: To not be firmly attached or loyal to any particular thing or idea. (Uses a synonym, "cleave," which can also mean to split or adhere)
To break ranks: To abandon solidarity with one's group or organization. (Uses a synonym, "break," for a similar effect of separation)
To part ways: To separate from someone or something, often after a period of being together. (Uses a synonym, "part," for similar effect)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of divide from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
