blue book #10

Question 1

deride

Answer 1

to laugh at in scorn or contempt; scoff or jeer at; mock.

Question 2

derivative

Answer 2

1.
derived; deduced; traced from another origin.

2.
not original; secondary.

Question 3

derogatory

Answer 3

tending to lessen the merit or reputation of a person or thing; disparaging; depreciatory:
a derogatory remark.

Question 4

desecrate

Answer 4

1.
to divest of sacred or hallowed character or office.

2.
to divert from a sacred to a profane use or purpose.

3.
to treat with sacrilege; profane.

Question 5

desiccate

Answer 5

1.
to dry thoroughly; dry up.

2.
to preserve food by removing moisture; dehydrate.

3.
to become thoroughly dried or dried up.

Question 6

desist

Answer 6

to cease, as from some action or proceeding; stop.

Question 7

despicable

Answer 7

deserving to be despised, or regarded with distaste, disgust, or disdain; contemptible:
He was a mean, despicable man, who treated his wife and children badly.

Question 8

despondent

Answer 8

feeling or showing profound hopelessness, dejection, discouragement, or gloom:
despondent about failing health.

Question 9

despot

Answer 9

1.
a king or other ruler with absolute, unlimited power; autocrat.

2.
any tyrant or oppressor.

Question 10

destitute

Answer 10

1.
without means of subsistence; lacking food, clothing, and shelter.

2.
deprived of, devoid of, or lacking:
destitute of children.

Question 11

detachment

Answer 11

1.
aloofness, as from worldly affairs or from the concerns of others.

2.
freedom from prejudice or partiality; objectivity.

Question 12

deter

Answer 12

1.
to discourage or restrain from acting or proceeding:
The large dog deterred trespassers.

2.
to prevent; check; arrest:
timber treated with creosote to deter rot.

Question 13

deteriorate

Answer 13

1.
to make or become worse or inferior in character, quality, value, etc.

2.
to disintegrate or wear away.

Question 14

determinate

Answer 14

1.
having defined limits; definite.

2.
settled; positive.

3.
conclusive; final.

4.
resolute.

Question 15

detract

Answer 15

1.
to take away a part, as from quality, value, or reputation.

2.
to draw away or divert; distract:
to detract another’s attention from more important issues.

Question 16

detrimental

Answer 16

causing detriment, as loss or injury; damaging; harmful.

Question 17

detritus

Answer 17

1.
rock in small particles or other material worn or broken away from a mass, as by the action of water or glacial ice.

2.
any disintegrated material; debris; rubble.

Question 18

deviate

Answer 18

1.
to turn aside, as from a route, way, course, etc.

2.
to depart or stray, as from a procedure, course of action, or acceptable norm.

3.
to digress, as from a line of thought or reasoning.

4.
to cause to swerve; turn aside.

Question 19

devoid

Answer 19

not possessing, untouched by, void, or destitute; utterly lacking.

Question 20

devolve

Answer 20

1.
to transfer or delegate (a duty, responsibility, etc.) to or upon another; pass on.

2.
to be transferred or passed on from one to another:
The responsibility devolved on me.

3.
to roll or flow downward.

Question 21

devout

Answer 21

1.
devoted to divine worship or service; pious; religious:
a devout Catholic.

2.
expressing devotion or piety:
devout prayer.

3.
earnest or sincere; hearty:
He had a devout allegiance to the political regime.

Question 22

dexterous

Answer 22

1.
skillful or adroit in the use of the hands or body.

2.
having mental adroitness or skill; clever.

3.
done with skill or adroitness.

4.
right-handed.

Question 23

diabolical

Answer 23

1.
having the qualities of a devil; devilish; fiendish; outrageously wicked:
a diabolic plot.

2.
pertaining to or actuated by a devil.

Question 24

diadem

Answer 24

1.
a crown.

2.
a cloth headband, sometimes adorned with jewels.

3.
royal dignity or authority.

Question 25

dialectic

Answer 25

1.
of, relating to, or of the nature of logical argumentation.

2.
the art or practice of logical discussion as employed in investigating the truth of a theory or opinion.

3.
logical argumentation; a logical exchange.

Question 26

diaphanous

Answer 26

1.
very sheer and light; almost completely transparent or translucent.

2.
delicately hazy.

Question 27

diatribe

Answer 27

a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism:
repeated diatribes against the senator.

Question 28

dichotomy

Answer 28

1.
division into two parts; subdivision into halves or pairs.

2.
division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups:
a dichotomy between thought and action.

Question 29

dictate

Answer 29

1.
to say or read aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record:
to dictate some letters to a secretary.

2.
to prescribe or lay down authoritatively or peremptorily; command unconditionally:
to dictate peace terms to a conquered enemy.

3.
to give orders.

Question 30

dictum

Answer 30

1.
an authoritative pronouncement or statement; judicial assertion.

2.
a saying; maxim.

Question 31

didactic

Answer 31

1.
intended for instruction; instructive:
didactic poetry.

2.
inclined to teach or lecture others too much:
a boring, didactic speaker.

3.
teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson.

Question 32

diffident

Answer 32

1.
lacking confidence in one’s own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy.

2.
restrained or reserved in manner, conduct, etc.

Question 33

diffract

Answer 33

to break up or bend waves, especially sound and light waves, around obstacles in their path.

Question 34

diffuse

Answer 34

1.
to pour out and spread, as a fluid.

2.
to spread or scatter widely or thinly; disseminate.

3.
characterized by great length or discursiveness in speech or writing; wordy.

4.
widely spread or scattered; dispersed.

Question 35

dignitary

Answer 35

a person who holds a high rank or office, as in the government or church.

Question 36

digress

Answer 36

to deviate or wander away from the main topic or purpose in speaking or writing; depart from the principal line of argument, plot, study, etc.

Question 37

dilapidated

Answer 37

reduced to or fallen into partial ruin or decay, as from age, wear, or neglect.

Question 38

dilate

Answer 38

1.
to make wider or larger; cause to expand.

2.
to spread out; expand.

3.
to speak or write at length; expatiate (often followed by on or upon).

Question 39

dilatory

Answer 39

1.
tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy.

2.
intended to cause delay, gain time, or defer decision:
a dilatory strategy.

Question 40

dilemma

Answer 40

1.
a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives.

2.
any difficult or perplexing situation or problem.

Question 41

dilettante

Answer 41

1.
a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, especially in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler.

2.
a lover of an art or science, especially of a fine art.

3.
of or relating to dilettantes.

Question 42

diligent

Answer 42

1.
constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything:
a diligent student.

2.
done or pursued with persevering attention; painstaking:
a diligent search of the files.

Question 43

diminutive

Answer 43

small; little; tiny:

a diminutive building for a model-train layout.

Question 44

din

Answer 44

1.
a loud, confused noise; a continued loud or tumultuous sound; noisy clamor.

2.
to assail with din.

3.
to sound or utter with clamor or persistent repetition.

Question 45

diplomacy

Answer 45

1.
the conduct by government officials of negotiations and other relations between nations.

2.
skill in managing negotiations, handling people, etc., so that there is little or no ill will:
Seating one’s dinner guests often calls for considerable diplomacy.

3. tact; discretion.

Question 46

directive

Answer 46

1.
serving to direct; directing:
a directive board.

2.
an authoritative instruction or direction; specific order:
a new directive by the president on foreign aid.

Question 47

dirge

Answer 47

1.
a funeral song or tune, or one expressing mourning in commemoration of the dead.

2.
any composition resembling such a song or tune in character, as a poem of lament for the dead or solemn, mournful music:
Tennyson’s dirge for the Duke of Wellington.

3.
a mournful sound resembling a dirge:
The autumn wind sang the dirge of summer.

Question 48

dirigible

Answer 48

1.
an airship; blimp.

2.
designed for or capable of being directed, controlled, or steered.

Question 49

disabuse

Answer 49

to free (a person) from deception or error.

Question 50

disaffected

Answer 50

discontented and disloyal, as toward the government or toward authority.

Question 51

disarray

Answer 51

1.
to put out of array or order; throw into disorder.

2.
to undress.

3.
disorder; confusion:
The army retreated in disarray.

4.
disorder of apparel.

Question 52

disavow

Answer 52

to deny knowledge of, connection with, or responsibility for; disown; repudiate:
He disavowed the remark that had been attributed to him.

Question 53

disband

Answer 53

1.
to break up or dissolve (an organization):
They disbanded the corporation.

2.
to disperse.

Question 54

disbar

Answer 54

to expel from the legal profession or from the bar of a particular court.

Question 55

disburse

Answer 55

1.
to pay out (money), especially for expenses; expend.

2.
to distribute or scatter:
Our troops were disbursed over a wide area. She disbursed the flowers to the children.

Question 56

discern

Answer 56

1.
to perceive by the sight or some other sense or by the intellect; see, recognize, or apprehend:
They discerned a sail on the horizon.

2.
to distinguish mentally; recognize as distinct or different; discriminate:
He is incapable of discerning right from wrong.

3.
to distinguish or discriminate.

Question 57

discipline

Answer 57

1.
training to act in accordance with rules; drill:
military discipline.

2.
activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training:
A daily stint at the typewriter is excellent discipline for a writer.

3.
punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.

4.
the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc.:
the harsh discipline of poverty.

5.
behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control:
good discipline in an army.

6.
a set or system of rules and regulations.

Question 58

disclaim

Answer 58

1.
to deny or repudiate interest in or connection with; disavow; disown:
disclaiming all participation.

2.
to reject the claims or authority of.

Question 59

disclose

Answer 59

1.
to make known; reveal or uncover:
to disclose a secret.

2.
to cause to appear; allow to be seen; lay open to view:
In spring the violets disclose their fragrant petals.

3.
to open up; unfold.

Question 60

disconcerting

Answer 60

1.
disturbing to one’s composure or self-possession; upsetting, discomfiting.

2.
confusing, usually in the face of something totally unexpected; perplexing.

Question 61

discordant

Answer 61

1.
not harmonious; being at variance; disagreeing; incongruous:
discordant opinions.

2.
disagreeable to the ear; dissonant; harsh.

Question 62

discount

Answer 62

1.
to deduct a certain amount from a bill, charge, etc.:
All bills that are paid promptly will be discounted at two percent.

2.
to offer for sale or sell at a reduced price:
The store discounted all clothing for the sale.

3.
to leave out of account; disregard:
Even if we discount the irrelevant material, the thesis remains mediocre.

6.
to allow for exaggeration in (a statement, opinion, etc.):
Knowing his political bias they discounted most of his story.

7.
to take into account in advance, often so as to diminish the effect of:
They had discounted the effect of a decline in the stock market.

Question 63

discourse

Answer 63

1.
communication of thought by words; talk; conversation:
earnest and intelligent discourse.

2.
a formal discussion of a subject in speech or writing, as a dissertation, treatise, sermon, etc.

3.
to communicate thoughts orally; talk; converse.

4.
to treat of a subject formally in speech or writing.

Question 64

discrepancy

Answer 64

1.
the state or quality of being discrepant or in disagreement, as by displaying an unexpected or unacceptable difference; inconsistency:
The discrepancy between the evidence and his account of what happened led to his arrest.

2.
an instance of difference or inconsistency:
There are certain discrepancies between the two versions of the story.

Question 65

discretionary

Answer 65

1.
subject or left to one’s own discretion; involving freedom of judgment or choice.

2.
for any use or purpose one chooses; not earmarked for a particular purpose:
discretionary income; a discretionary fund.

Question 66

discriminating

Answer 66

1.
differentiating; analytical.

2.
noting differences or distinctions with nicety; discerning; perspicacious:
a discriminating interpreter of events.

3.
having excellent taste or judgment:
a discriminating interior designer.

Question 67

discursive

Answer 67

1.
passing aimlessly from one subject to another; digressive; rambling.

2.
proceeding by reasoning or argument rather than intuition.

Question 68

disdain

Answer 68

1.
to look upon or treat with contempt; despise; scorn.

2.
to think unworthy of notice, response, etc.; consider beneath oneself:
to disdain replying to an insult.

3.
a feeling of contempt for anything regarded as unworthy; haughty contempt; scorn.

Question 69

disenfranchise

Answer 69

1.
to deprive (a person) of a right of citizenship, as of the right to vote.

2.
to deprive of a franchise, privilege, or right.

Question 70

disengage

Answer 70

1.
to release from attachment or connection; loosen; unfasten:
to disengage a clutch.

2.
to free oneself from an engagement, pledge, obligation, etc.:
He accepted the invitation, but was later forced to disengage himself.

3.
to break off action with an enemy.

Question 71

disequilibrium

Answer 71

lack of equilibrium; imbalance.

Question 72

disgorge

Answer 72

1.
to eject or throw out from the throat, mouth, or stomach; vomit forth.

2.
to surrender or yield something illicitly obtained.

3.
to discharge forcefully or as a result of force; to eject, yield.

Question 73

disgruntled

Answer 73

displeased and discontented; sulky; peevish:

Her disgruntled husband refused to join us.

Question 74

disheveled

Answer 74

1.
hanging loosely or in disorder; unkempt:
disheveled hair.

2.
untidy; disarranged:
a disheveled appearance.

Question 75

disillusion

Answer 75

to free from or deprive of illusion, belief, idealism, etc.; disenchant; disappoint.

Question 76

disinclined

Answer 76

lacking desire or willingness; unwilling; averse:

I’m disinclined to go to the movies tonight.

Question 77

disingenuous

Answer 77

lacking in frankness, candor, or sincerity; falsely or hypocritically ingenuous; insincere:
Her excuse was rather disingenuous.

Question 78

disintegrate

Answer 78

1.
to separate into parts or lose intactness or solidness; break up; deteriorate:
The old book is gradually disintegrating with age.

2.
to reduce to particles, fragments, or parts; break up or destroy the cohesion of:
Rocks are disintegrated by frost and rain.

Question 79

dismantle

Answer 79

1.
to deprive or strip of apparatus, furniture, equipment, defenses, etc.:
to dismantle a ship; to dismantle a fortress.

2.
to take apart; to disassemble or pull down:
They dismantled the machine and shipped it in pieces.

3.
to divest of dress, covering, etc.:
The wind dismantled the trees of their leaves.

Question 80

dismissive

Answer 80

1.
indicating dismissal or rejection; having the purpose or effect of dismissing, as from one’s presence or from consideration:
a curt, dismissive gesture.

2.
showing disregard; indicating lack of interest or approbation; scornful; disdainful.

Question 81

disparage

Answer 81

1.
to speak of or treat slightingly; depreciate; belittle:
Do not disparage good manners.

2.
to bring reproach or discredit upon; lower the estimation of:
Your behavior will disparage the whole family.

Question 82

disparate

Answer 82

distinct in kind; essentially different; dissimilar:

disparate ideas.

Question 83

dispassionate

Answer 83

free from or unaffected by passion; devoid of personal feeling or bias; impartial; calm:
a dispassionate critic.

Question 84

dispatch

Answer 84

1.
to send off or away with speed, as a messenger, letter, troops, etc.

2.
to dismiss a person, as after an audience.

3.
to put to death; kill; execute:
The spy was promptly dispatched.

4.
to transact or dispose of a matter promptly or speedily.

6.
expeditious performance; promptness or speed:
Proceed with all possible dispatch.

Question 85

dispel

Answer 85

1.
to drive off in various directions; disperse; dissipate:
to dispel the dense fog.

2.
to cause to vanish; alleviate:
to dispel her fears.