Grice e Morseli

 

In Latin, the prefix 

dis- ("apart," "asunder") combines with the root -ponere ("to put," "to place") to create the verb disponere, meaning "to arrange" or "to set in order". The English noun disposition directly reflects this original Latin meaning. 

The Latin construction

The Latin components break down as follows:

• dis-: A prefix indicating separation, reversal, or negation.
• ponere: The verb root meaning "to put" or "to place".
• disponere: The resulting verb means to "place apart," or to arrange and set things in order for a particular purpose or outcome. 

Reflection in English

The English noun disposition derives from the Latin dispositionem, an action noun based on disponere, and maintains the core meaning of "arrangement". English has extended this core idea to several related but distinct concepts: 

• Arrangement or ordering: This is the most direct sense. For example, a battle plan might discuss the disposition of troops on the field.
• Temperament or inclination: This refers to the orderly or natural arrangement of a person's character, or their inherent tendencies. For instance, a person might have a cheerful disposition.
• Settlement or transfer: This legal and administrative sense refers to the final arrangement or settlement of a matter. A judge might decide on the disposition of a case, or a will might specify the disposition of property.
• State of mind: This sense indicates a person's current emotional state or mood, as in a person's "ill-disposed" nature. 

Other English derivatives

The verb disponere also gives English the verb dispose, which has retained the Latin sense of "to arrange" or "to set in order," though it often carries the modern nuance of "to get rid of". 

The meaning of a word that combines dis- and -ponere or -positum depends on the specific context and historical development:

• disposition: The natural arrangement of a person or things.
• disposed: Can mean "inclined to" (due to one's temperament) or "arranged".
• indisposed: Not feeling well; literally, "not arranged for" a task.