Units 21-25

Question 1

deride, v.

Answer 1

to mock

Question 2

• derivative, n.

* derive, v.

Answer 2

n. something derived; unoriginal

v. obtained from another source

Question 3

*desiccate, v.

Answer 3

to dry completely

Question 4

desuetude, n.

Answer 4

state of disuse

Question 5

*desultory, adj.

Answer 5

random; disconnected; rambling

Question 6

deterrent, n.

Answer 6

something that discourages or hinders

Question 7

detraction, n.

Answer 7

the act of taking away; derogatory comment on a person’s character

Question 8

diaphanous, adj.

Answer 8

transparent; fine-textured; insubstantial; vague

Question 9

*diatribe, n.

Answer 9

bitter verbal attack

Question 10

*dichotomy, n.

Answer 10

division into two usually contradictory parts

Question 11

*diffidence, n.

Answer 11

shyness; lack of confidence

Question 12

*diffuse, v.

Answer 12

to spread out

Question 13

digression, n.

Answer 13

act of straying from the main point

Question 14

dirge, n.

Answer 14

funeral hymn

Question 15

*disabuse, v.

Answer 15

to free from a misconception

Question 16

discerning, adj.

Answer 16

perceptive; exhibiting keen insight and good judgment

Question 17

discomfit, v.

Answer 17

to make uneasy; disconcert

Question 18

*discordant, adj.

Answer 18

not in tune

Question 19

discredit, v.

Answer 19

to dishonor; disgrace; cause to be doubted

Question 20

*discrepancy, n.

Answer 20

difference between

Question 21

*discrete, adj.

Answer 21

constituting a separate thing; distinct

Question 22

discretion, n.

Answer 22

quality of showing self-restraint in speech or actions; circumspection; freedom to act on one’s own

Question 23

*disingenuous, adj.

Answer 23

not candid; crafty

Question 24

*disinterested, adj.

Answer 24

unprejudiced; objective

Question 25

disjointed, adj.

Answer 25

lacking order or coherence; dislocated

Question 26

*dismiss, v.

Answer 26

put away from consideration; reject

Question 27

*disparage, v.

Answer 27

to belittle

Question 28

*disparate, adj.

Answer 28

dissimilar

Question 29

*dissemble, v.

Answer 29

to pretend; disguise one’s motives

Question 30

*disseminate, v.

Answer 30

to spread; scatter; disperse

Question 31

dissident, n.

Answer 31

person who disagrees about beliefs, etc.

Question 32

*dissolution, n.

Answer 32

disintegration; debauchery

Question 33

*dissonance, n.

Answer 33

discord; lack of harmony

Question 34

distend, v.

Answer 34

to expand; swell out

Question 35

distill, v.

Answer 35

extract the essential elements

Question 36

distrait, adj.

Answer 36

inattentive; preoccupied

Question 37

diverge, v.

Answer 37

to vary; go in different directions from the same point

Question 38

divest, v.

Answer 38

to strip; deprive; rid

Question 39

divulge, v.

Answer 39

to make known something that is secret

Question 40

*doctrinaire, adj.

Answer 40

relating to a person who cannot compromise about points of a theory or doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding

Question 41

document, v.

Answer 41

to provide with written evidence to support

Question 42

doggrel, n.

Answer 42

poor verse

Question 43

*dogmatic, adj.

Answer 43

stating opinions without proof

Question 44

dormant, adj.

Answer 44

inactive

Question 45

dross, n.

Answer 45

waste; worthless matter; trivial matter

Question 46

dupe, v.

Answer 46

to deceive; trick

Question 47

*ebullient, adj.

Answer 47

exhilarated; enthusiastic

Question 48

*eclectic, adj.

Answer 48

selecting from various sources

Question 49

effervescence, n.

effervescent, adj.

Answer 49

n. state of high spirits or liveliness; the process of bubbling as gas escapes
adj. ex. A person who believes himself to be physically unattractive might develop an effervescent personality as a compensation for his perceived deficiency.

Question 50

*effete, adj.

Answer 50

depleted of vitality; overrefined; decadent