D Flashcards
dabble
work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid
dally
trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time
dapper
neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men)
neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry
daunt
intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten
dauntless
bold; fearless
dawdle
loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing
deadpan
wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling;
with an expressionless face
dearth
scarcity
de ́baˆcle
sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster
debase
degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement
debauch
corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior (with sex and alcohol)
debilitate
weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble
debonair
(of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition
debunk
expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule
debutante
young woman making formal entrance into society
decadence
decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization, or art); ADJ. decadent
decant
pour off gently (wine or liquid)
decapitate
behead
decelerate
slow down
deciduous
falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth
decimate
kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a large part of
declivity
downward slope
decree
authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of law; V: order or judge by decree
decorum
propriety; orderliness and good taste in man- ners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct
decoy
lure or bait; V.
decrepitude
state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age
decry
express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films
deducible
derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning
deface
mar; disfigure
defection
desertion
defect
shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)
defer
give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous
deference
courteous regard for another’s wish; courteous yielding to another’s wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery
defiance
refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
defile
pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains
definitive
most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court
defoliate
destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant
decisive
that settles a dispute
A: indecisive
defray
provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay
deft
neat; skillful
defunct
dead; no longer in use or existence
degenerate
become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person
degradation
humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank
deify
turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity
deign
condescend; stoop
deleterious
harmful
deliberate
consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow
delineate
portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation
delirium
mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious
delude
deceive
deluge
flood; rush; V.
delusion
false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that
dainty
pretty, delicate (food), difficult to please
delusive
deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises
delve
dig; search deeply; investigate
demagogue
person who appeals to people’s prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery
demean
disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave
demeanor
behavior; bearing
demented
insane
demise
death
demographic
related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population
demoniac(demoniacal)
fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil
demotic
of or pertaining to the people
demur
- object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday
- (of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure
daft
silly, inane, idiotic, foolish
A: profound, wise, intelligent
denigrate
blacken; defame
denizen
(animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor
de ́nouement
final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained
denounce
condemn; criticize; N. denunciation
deplete
reduce; exhaust
deplore
regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad; Ex. deplore their violent behav- ior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disap- proval; Ex. deplorable living condition
deploy
spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically
depose
dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify
deposition
testimony under oath;deposing;dethroning
depravity
extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
deprecate
express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory
depreciate
lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value
depredation
plundering; destruction
deranged
insane
derelict
negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person
dereliction
neglect of duty; abandonment
deride
ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP.respect
derision
ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory
derivative
unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N.
dermatologist
one who studies the skin and its diseases
derogatory
expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V.derogate: detract; disparage
descry
catch sight of (something distant)
desecrate
profane; violate the sanctity of
desiccate
dry up
desolate
- (of a place) deserted; unpopulated; (of a person) lonely; forlorn; joyless
- make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert
desperado
reckless, desperate outlaw
desperate
having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent because of loss of hope or despair; undertaken as a last resort
despise
look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible
despoil
plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
despondent
without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection
despot
tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism
destitute
extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence;utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience
desultory
aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
determinate
having a fixed order of procedure; pre- cisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final
devious
roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route
devolve
deputize; pass or be passed to others (power,work, or property); Ex. devolve on/upon/to
devout
pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope
diabolical
diabolic; devilish; fiendish
diadem
crown
dialectical
relating to the art of debate; mutual or recip- rocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments
diaphanous
sheer; transparent
diatribe
bitter scolding or denunciation; invective;abuse
dichotomy
division into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones)
dictum
authoritative and weighty statement(made by a judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark (something said in passing)
didactic
(of speech or writing)intended to teach a moral lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism
diffidence
shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident
diffuse
wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out (like a gas); V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse
digression
wandering away from the subject; V. digress
dilapidated
falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation
dilate
expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on (a subject)
dilatory
delaying; tending to delay
dilettante
aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight
diligence
steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
diminution
lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
din
continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by
wearying repetition
dingy
(of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain
dint
means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
diorama
life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background
determinate
having a fixed order of procedure; pre- cisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final
devious
roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route
devolve
deputize; pass or be passed to others (power,work, or property); Ex. devolve on/upon/to
devout
pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope
diabolical
diabolic; devilish; fiendish
diadem
crown
dialectical
relating to the art of debate; mutual or recip- rocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments
diaphanous
sheer; transparent
diatribe
bitter scolding or denunciation; invective;abuse
dichotomy
division into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones)
dictum
authoritative and weighty statement(made by a judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark (something said in passing)
didactic
(of speech or writing)intended to teach a moral lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism
diffidence
shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident
diffuse
wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out (like a gas); V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse
digression
wandering away from the subject; V. digress
dilapidated
falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation
dilate
expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on (a subject)
dilatory
delaying; tending to delay
dilettante
aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight
diligence
steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
diminution
lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
din
continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by
wearying repetition
dingy
(of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain
dint
means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
diorama
life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background
dire
warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction /need of food
dirge
funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)
disabuse
correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief
disaffected
disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
disapprobation
disapproval; condemnation
disarray
state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state;
Ex. with her clothes in disarray
disavowal
denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim
disband
dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
disburse
payout(asfromafund);N.disbursement;CF. purse
discernible
distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement
discerning
mentally quick and observant; having in- sight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
discombobulated
discomposed; confused
discomfit
frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
disconsolate
hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
discord
conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when musical notes are played)
discount
disregard; regard (a story or news) as unim- portant; deduct from a cost
discourse
serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either written or spoken); conversation;
discrepancy
lack of consistency or agreement as be- tween facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions
discrete
separate; unconnected
discretion
prudence; ability to adjust actions to circum- stances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary
discriminating
able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination
discursive
(of a person or writing) digressing; rambling
without any clear plan
disdain
treat with scorn or contempt
disembark
debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark
disenfranchise
disfranchise;depriveofacivilright;OP. enfranchise
disgorge
surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge
disgruntle
make discontented
dire
warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction /need of food
dirge
funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)
disabuse
correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief
disaffected
disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
disapprobation
disapproval; condemnation
disarray
state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state;
Ex. with her clothes in disarray
disavowal
denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim
disband
dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
disburse
payout(asfromafund);N.disbursement;CF. purse
discernible
distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement
discerning
mentally quick and observant; having in- sight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
discombobulated
discomposed; confused
discomfit
frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
disconsolate
hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
discord
conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when musical notes are played)
discount
disregard; regard (a story or news) as unim- portant; deduct from a cost
discourse
serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either written or spoken); conversation;
discrepancy
lack of consistency or agreement as be- tween facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions
discrete
separate; unconnected
discretion
prudence; ability to adjust actions to circum- stances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary
discriminating
able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination
discursive
(of a person or writing) digressing; rambling
without any clear plan
disdain
treat with scorn or contempt
disembark
debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark
disenfranchise
disfranchise;depriveofacivilright;OP. enfranchise
disgorge
surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge
disgruntle
make discontented
dire
warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction /need of food
dirge
funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)
disabuse
correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief
disaffected
disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
disapprobation
disapproval; condemnation
disarray
state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state;
Ex. with her clothes in disarray
disavowal
denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim
disband
dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
disburse
payout(asfromafund);N.disbursement;CF. purse
discernible
distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement
discerning
mentally quick and observant; having in- sight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
discombobulated
discomposed; confused
discomfit
frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
disconsolate
hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
discord
conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when musical notes are played)
discount
disregard; regard (a story or news) as unim- portant; deduct from a cost
discourse
serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either written or spoken); conversation;
discrepancy
lack of consistency or agreement as be- tween facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions
discrete
separate; unconnected
discretion
prudence; ability to adjust actions to circum- stances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary
discriminating
able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination
discursive
(of a person or writing) digressing; rambling
without any clear plan
disdain
treat with scorn or contempt
disembark
debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark
disenfranchise
disfranchise;depriveofacivilright;OP. enfranchise
disgorge
surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge
disgruntle
make discontented
dire
warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction /need of food
dirge
funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)
disabuse
correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief
disaffected
disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
disapprobation
disapproval; condemnation
disarray
state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state;
Ex. with her clothes in disarray
disavowal
denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim
disband
dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
disburse
payout(asfromafund);N.disbursement;CF. purse
discernible
distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement
discerning
mentally quick and observant; having in- sight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
discombobulated
discomposed; confused
discomfit
frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
disconsolate
hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
discord
conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when musical notes are played)
discount
disregard; regard (a story or news) as unim- portant; deduct from a cost
discourse
serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either written or spoken); conversation;
discrepancy
lack of consistency or agreement as be- tween facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions
discrete
separate; unconnected
discretion
prudence; ability to adjust actions to circum- stances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary
discriminating
able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination
discursive
(of a person or writing) digressing; rambling
without any clear plan
disdain
treat with scorn or contempt
disembark
debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark
disenfranchise
disfranchise;depriveofacivilright;OP. enfranchise
disgorge
surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge
disgruntle
make discontented
disheveled
untidy (of hair or clothing); V. dishevel
disinter
dig up; unearth; OP. inter
disjunction
act or state of separation; disunity; CF. dis- junctive: expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive
dislodge
remove (forcibly); force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge
disparage
belittle
disparate
basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated
disparity
difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity
dispassionate
calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings
dispatch
speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill
dispel
scatter; drive away; cause to vanish
disport
amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert
disputatious
argumentative; fond of argument
disquietude
uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious
disquisition
formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report
dissemble
disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend
disseminate
distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)
dissent
disagree
dissertation
formal essay; treatise
dissident
dissenting (with an opinion, a group, or a government); rebellious; N.
dissimulate
pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble
dissipate
squander; waste foolishly; scatter
dissolution
disintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life
dissuade
persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion
dissonance
discord
distend
expand; swell out
distinction
honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction
distort
twist out of shape; give a false account of; mis- represent; N. distortion
distrait
absentminded; distracted
distraught
upset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and troubled almost to the point of madness; Ex. distraught with grief/worry
diverge
vary; go in different directions from the same point; ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating
diverse
differing in some characteristics (from each other); various; N. diversity: variety; dissimilitude; lack of resemblance
divest
strip(asofclothes);deprive(asofrights);dispos- sess; N. divestiture(divestment)
divine
perceive intuitively(by or as if by magic);foresee the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination
dowse
use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals
divulge
reveal, make known (private or sensitive information) N: divulgence, divulgation
docile
obedient; easily managed; submissive
N : docility
Adv: docilely
docket
program as for trial;book where such entries are made; list of things to be done; agenda; label fixed to a package listing contents or directions; V: describe in a docket
doctrinaire
unable to compromise about points of doc- trine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties
doctrine
teachings in general; particular principle (reli- gious, legal, etc.) taught; dogma; tenet; ADJ. doctrinal
doddering
shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder
dogged
determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering; tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert’s dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean
dogmatic
opinionated; holding stubbornly to one’s opinion; arbitrary; doctrinal ADV:dogmatically
doldrums
blues; listlessness(lack of spirit or energy); slack(inactive) period; period of stagnation; ocean area near the equator where ships cannot move because there is no wind; Ex. in the doldrums
dolorous
sorrowful; N. dolor
dolt
slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull
domineer
rule over tyrannically
don
put on; OP. doff
dormant
sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent
dossier
file of documents on a subject or person; file;CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back
dotage
senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one’s dotage
dote
be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline
dour
sullen; gloomy; stubborn
douse
plunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse; drench; wet throughly; extinguish; throw water over; dowse
dowdy
untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman
downcast
disheartened; dejected; sad; directed down- ward
drab
dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life
draconian
extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment ; CF. Draco: Athenian politician
drivel
nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense
dribble
flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from the mouth; move a ball; N.
droll
queer and amusing
drone
- make continues slow humming sound
- speak tediously in dull monotonous tone
- idle person who lives on other people’s work; male bee
dross
waste matter; worthless impurities
drudgery
hard unpleasant work; menial work
> drudge : do drudgery; N: person who drudges
dubious
questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of someone) filled with doubt; N. dubiety
dulcet
sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious
dumbfound(dumfound)
astonish (making dumb);
ADJ. dumbfounded, dumfounded, dumbstruck
dupe
someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive
duplicity
double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous
duress
forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coer- cion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress
dwindle
shrink; reduce gradually
dyspeptic
suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: in- digestion; difficulty in digesting food
dyslexia
word blindness; learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to read
debauchery (N)
- excessive indulgence in sexual pleasure
2. intemperance
