Vocab 4 Flashcards
excess
plethora
Assuming that more was better, the defendant offered the judge a plethora of excuses.
crude or coarse; characteristic of commoners
plebeian
After five weeks of rigorous studying, the graduate settled in for a weekend of plebeian socializing and television watching.
able to be molded, altered, or bent
plastic
The new material was very plastic and could be formed into products of vastly different shape.
to soothe or pacify
placate
The burglar tried to placate the snarling dog by referring to it as a “nice doggy” and offering it a treat.
an abusive, condemnatory speech
diatribe
The trucker bellowed a diatribe at the driver who had cut him off.
allowing light to show through; delicate
diaphanous
These diaphanous curtains do nothing to block out the sunlight.
jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
desultory
Athena had a desultory academic record; she had changed majors 12 times in 3 years.
to dry out thoroughly
desiccate
After a few weeks lying on the desert’s baking sand, the cow’s carcass became completely desiccated.
to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
deride
The awkward child was often derided by his “cooler” peers.
to express doubts or objections
demur
When scientific authorities claimed that all the planets revolved around the Earth, Galileo, with his superior understanding of the situation, was forced to demur.
a leader or rabble-rouser, usually one appealing to emotion or prejudice
demagogue
He began his career as a demagogue, giving fiery speeches at political rallies.
subtly or unexpectedly harmful
deleterious
If only we have known the clocks were defective before putting them on the market, it wouldn’t have been quite so deleterious to our reputation.
respect; courtesty
deference
The respectful young law clerk treated the Supreme Court justice with the utmost deference.
to mar the appearance of; to vandalize
deface
After the wall was torn down, the students began to deface the statues of Communist leaders of the formed Eastern Bloc.
appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
decorum
The countless complained that the vulgar peasants lacked the decorum appropriate for a visit to the palace.
proper; tasteful; socially correct
decorous
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.
a downward slope
declivity
Because the village was situated on the declivity of a hill, it never flooded.
to penetrate
permeate
This miraculous new cleaning fluid is able to permeate stains and dissolve them in minutes!
to perceive or recognize
discern
It is easy to discern the difference between butter and butter-flavored topping.
to set right; to free from error
disabused
Galileo’s observations disabused scholars of the notion that the sun revolved around the Earth.
a funeral hymn or mournful speech
dirge
Melville wrote a dirge for the funeral of James McPherson, a Union general who was killed in 1864.
someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
dilettante
Jerry’s friends were such dilettantes they seemed to have new jobs and hobbies every week.
intended to delay
dilatory
The congressman used dilatory measures to delay the passage of the bill.
to make larger; to expand
dilate
