Chapter 7 Flashcards
cryptic
having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure: he found his boss’s utterances too cryptic.
culminate
[no object] reach a climax or point of highest development: the tensions and disorders which culminated in World War II.
culpable
deserving blame
cult
a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object: the cult of St. Olaf.
cunning
having or showing skill in achieving one’s ends by deceit or evasion: a cunning look came into his eyes.
• ingenious: plants have evolved cunning defenses.
dangle
hang or swing loosely: saucepans dangled from a rail | [with object] : they were dangling their legs over the water.
dank
disagreeably damp(潮湿的）, musty (moldy), and typically cold: huge dank caverns.
dart
move or run somewhere suddenly or rapidly: she darted across the street.
• [with object] cast (a look or one’s eyes) suddenly and rapidly in a particular direction: she darted a glance across the table.
dash
- run or travel somewhere in a great hurry: I dashed into the garden | I must dash, I’m late.
• cause (someone) to lose confidence: I won’t tell Stuart—I think he’d be dashed.
daunt
make someone feel intimidated or apprenhensive
dearth
lack
debase
reduce (something) in quality or value; degrade: the love episodes debase the dignity of the drama.
• lower the moral character of (someone): war debases people.
debilitate
make (someone) weak and infirm: a weakness that debilitates him despite his overwhelming physical might.
debut
a person’s first appearance or performance in a particular capacity or role: the film marked his debut as a director.
• the first public appearance of a new product or presentation of a theatrical show: the car makes its world debut.
declaim
utter or deliver words or a speech in a rhetorical or impassioned way, as if to an audience: [with object] : she declaimed her views | [no object] : a preacher declaiming from the pulpit | an opportunity to declaim against the evils of society.
decompress
relieve or reduce pressure on
decrepit
(of a person) elderly and infirm: a decrepit old drunk.
decry
publicly denounce: they decried human rights abuses.
deface
spoil the surface or apperance of something, for example by drawing or writing on it: he defaced library books.
deferment
the action or fact of putting something off to a later time; postponement: deferment of the decision.
defraud
illegally obtain money from (someone) by deception: he used a false identity to defraud the bank of thousands of dollars | [no object] : conspiracy to defraud.
defray
provide money to pay (a cost or expense): the proceeds from the raffle help to defray the expenses of the evening.
deft
neatly skillful and quick in one’s movements: a deft piece of footwork.
• demonstrating skill and cleverness: the script was both deft and literate.
defuse
• reduce the danger or tension in (a difficult situation): he had the ability to defuse tense moments with humor.
dejected
sad and depressed; dispirited
deleterious
causing harm or damage
delimit
determine the limits or boundaries of: agreements delimiting fishing zones.
delineate
describe or portray (something) precisely: the law should delineate and prohibit behavior that is socially abhorrent.
delude
impose a misleading belief upon (someone); deceive; fool: too many theorists have deluded the public.
deluge
- noun: a severe flood: this may be the worst deluge in living memory.
- vern [with object]: inundate with a great quantity of something: be deluged with something/be inundated with something
delusion
an idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument, typically a symptom of mental disorder: the delusion of being watched.
demarcate
set the boundaries or limits of: plots of land demarcated by barbed wire; delimit
• separate or distinguish from: art was being demarcated from the more objective science.
demeaning
causing someone to lose their dignity and the respect of others: the poster was not demeaning to women.
