D-G Flashcards
Demagogue
noun
deh-muh-gagh
He began his career as a demagogue, giving fiery speeches at political rallies
A leader or rable-rouser, usually one appealling to emotion or predijudi
Emulate
verb
ehm-yuh-layt
The graduate student sought to emulate his profressor in every way, copying not only how she taught but also how she conducted herself out of class.
To copy, to try to equal or excel
Dupe
verb
doop
The scammer attempted to dupe people into believing his e-mails were from official sources, but the numerous spelling errors made the deception obvious.
To deceive
Gestation
noun
jeh-stay-shuhn
The longer the gestation period of an organism, the more developed the baby is at birth.
The growth process from conception to birth
Dictum
noun
dihk-tum
“You have time to lean, you have time to clean,” was the dictum our boss made us live by.
An authorative statement
Forestall
verb
fohr-stahl
The landlord forestalled T.J’s attempt to avoid paying rent by waiting for him outside his door.
To prevent or delay; to anticipate
Enervate
verb
ehn-uhr-vayt
The guerillas hoped that a series of surprises attacks would enervate the regular army.
To reduce in strength
Dissonance
Noun
dihs-uh-nuhns
Cognitive dissonance is the inner conflict produced when long standing belief are contraindicated by new evidence.
A harsh and disagreeable combination, especially of sounds.
Euphemism
noun
yoo-fum-ih-zuhm
The funeral director preferred to use the euphemism “sleeping” instead of the word “dead”
Use of an inoffesive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one.
Fractious
adj
fraak-shuhs
The general had a hard time maintaining discipline among his fractious troop.
Unruly; rebellious
Dogmatic
adj
dahg=maat-tic
The dictator was dogmatic claiming he, and only he, was right.
Dictatorial in one’s opinion.
Exponent
noun
ehk-spon-nuhnt
The vice president was an enthusiatic exponent of computer technology.
On who who champtions or advocate
Gregarious
adj
greh-gayr-ee-uhs
She was so gregarious that when she found herself alone she felt quite sad.
outgoing; sociable
Dyspeptic
adj
dihs-pehp-tihk
The dyspeptic young man cast a gloom over the party the minute he walked in.
Suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable
Ford
verb
fohrd
Because of the recent torrential rains, the cowboys were unable to ford the swollen river.
To cross a body of water by wading/
Doctrinaire
adj
dahk-truh-nayr
The profressor’s manner of teaching was considered doctrinaire.
Rigidly devoted to the ones without regards for praticality; dogmatic
Edify
verb
eh-duh-fie
The guru was paid to edify the actress in ways of buddism.
To instruct morally and spiritually
Elegy
noun
eh-luh-gee
Through the beautiful elegy is about death and loss, it urges its reader to endure this life, and to trust it.
A sorrowful poem or speech
Epicure
noun
eh-pih-kyuhr
Niren is an epicure who always throws the most splendid dinner parties.
A person with refined taste in food and wine.
Dogma
noun
dahg-muh
The philosopher’s cental dogma was that people should treat other’s in the way themselves wished to be treated.
A firmly held opinion especially a religious belief
Exigent
adj
ehk-suh-juhnt
The patient was losing blood so rapidly that is was exigent to stop the bleeding.
Urgent; requiring immediate attention.
Exacerbate
verb
ihg-zaus-uhr-bayt
It is unwise to take aspirin to try to relieve heartburn since, instead of providing relief, it will only exacerbate the problem.
to make worse
Deface
verb
dih-fays
After the wall was torn down, the students began to deface the statues of Communist leaders of the former Eastern Bloc.
To mar the appearance pff; to vandalize
Deleterious
adj
dehl-ih-teer-eer-uhs
If only we had known the clocks were defective before putting them on the market, it wouldn’t have been quite so deleterious to our repetition.
Subtly or unexpected harmful
Effrontery
noun
eh-fruhnt-uhr-ee
The receptionist had the effrontery to laugh out loud when the CEO tripped over a computer wire and fell flat on his face.
Imprudent boldness; audacity
Furtive
adj
fuhr-tihv
Glenn was furtive when he peered out of the corner of his eye at the stunningly beautiful model.
Secret; stealthy
Discern
verb
dihs-uhrn
It is easy to discern the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping.
To perceive or recognize
Fatuous
adj
fuh-choo-uhs
Ted’s fatuous comments always embarrashed his keen-witted wife at parties.
Stupid; foolishy self-satisfied
Diaphanous
adj
die-aaf-uh-nuhs
These diaphanous curtains do nothing to block out the sunlight.
Allowing light to show through; delicate
Droll
adj
drohl
Although the play couldn’t be described as the funniest theatrical performance the city had ever seen, it was certainly droll.
Amusing in a wry, suble way
Engender
verb
ehn-gehn-duhr
His fear and hatred of clowns was engendered when he witnessed a bank robbery carried by five men with clown suits and make up.
To produce, cause, or bring about.
Effigy
noun
eh-fuh-jee
Protesters burned effiges of the unpopular leader.
A stuffed doll; a likeness of a person
Enumarate
verb
ih-noo-muhr-ayt
Before his making his decision, Jacob asked the waiter to enumarate the different varieties of the ice cream the restaurant carried.
To count, list, or itemize
Exculpate
verb
ehk-skuhl-payt
The legal system is intended to convict those who are guilty and exculpate those who are innocent.
to clear from blame; to prove innocent
Eloquent
verb
ehl uh kwunt
The Gettysburg Address is moving not only because of its lofty sentiments but because of its eloquent words.
persuasive and moving, especially in speech
Grovel
verb
grah vuhl
Thor groveled to his ex-girlfriend, hoping she would take him back.
to humble oneself in a demeaning way
Divine
verb
The fortune-teller divined from the pattern of the tea leaves that her customer would marry five times.
to foretell or know by inspiration
Efficacy
noun
The efficacy of penicillin was unsurpassed when it was first introduced; the drug completely eliminated almost all bacterial infections.
effectiveness
Gradation
noun
a degree or stage in a process; a variation The paint store offers so many different gradations of red that it’s impossible to choose among them.
a degree or stage in a process; a variation in color
Flag
verb
The marathon runner slowed down as his strength flagged.
to decline in vigor, strength, or interest
Glib
adj
The slimy politician managed to continue gaining supporters because he was a glib speaker.
fluent in an insincere manner; offhand; casual
Explicit
adj
The journalist wrote an explicit description of the gruesome murder.
clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression
Decorous
adj
The countess trained her daughters in the finer points of decorous behavior, hoping they would make a good impression when she presented them at Court.
proper; tasteful; socially correct
Diurnal
adj
die uhr nuhl
Diurnal creatures tend to become inactive during the night.
active or occurring during the day
Garrulous
adj
The garrulous parakeet distracted its owner with its continuous talking.
tending to talk a lot
Encomium
noun
ehn koh me uhm
She wrote an encomium in praise of the outgoing president.
warm praise
Fanatical
adj
Teenage fans were fanatical in their devotion to the pop star, readily spending hundreds of dollars on concert tickets and merchandise.
acting excessively enthusiastic; filled with extreme, unquestioned devot
Eulogy
noun
yoo luh jee
His best friend gave the eulogy, outlining his many achievements and talents.
a speech in praise of someone
Disabuse
verb
Galileo’s observations disabused scholars of the notion that the sun revolved around the Earth.
to set right; to free from error
Distaff
noun
Emmeline Pankhurst was one of the most important figures of the suffragette movement; her actions helped win the right to vote for the distaff portion of the British population.
the female branch of a family
Deference
noun
The respectful young law clerk treated the Supreme Court justice with the utmost deference.
respect; courtesy
Frenetic
adj
The employee’s frenetic schedule left her little time to socialize.
frantic; frenzied
Fetid
adj
The fetid stench from the outhouse caused Francesca to wrinkle her nose in disgust.
foul-smelling; putrid
Expurgate
verb
Government propagandists expurgated all negative references to the dictator from the film.
to censor
Declivity
noun
Because the village was situated on the declivity of a hill, it never flooded.
a downward slope
