D's & E's Flashcards
Decorum
appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
deference
respect, courtesy
deride
to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
dessicate
to dry out thoroughly
desultory
jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
diatribe
an abusive; condemnatory speech
diffident
lacking self-confidence
dilate
to make larger; to expand
dilatory
intended to delay
dilettante
someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
dirge
a funeral hymn or mournful speech
disabuse
to set right; to free from error
discern
to perceive; to recognize
discern
to perceive; to recognize
disparate
fundamentally different; entirely unlike
dissemble
to present a false appearance; to disguise one’s real intentions or character
dissonance
a harsh and disagreeable combination; often of sounds
dogma
a firmly held opinion; often a religious belief
dogmatic
dictatorial in one’s opinions
dupe
to deceive; a person who is easily deceived
eclectic
selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
efficacy
effectiveness
elegy
a sorrowful poem or speech
eloquent
persuasive and moving, especially in speech
emulate
to copy; to try to equal or excel
enervate
to reduce in strength
engender
to product, to cause or bring about
enigma
a puzzle; a mystery
enumerate
to count, list or itemize
ephemeral
lasting a short time
equivocate
to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
erratic
wandering and unpredictable
erudite
learned, scholarly, bookish
esoteric
known or understood by only a few
estimable
admirable
eulogy
speech in praise of someone
euphemism
use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
exacerabate
to make worse
exculpate
to clear from blame; to prove innocent
exigent
urgent; requiring immediate action
exonerate
to clear of blame
explicit
clearly stated or shown; forthright in expression
