vocabulary d-f Flashcards
daunt
to discourage, intimidate
dearth
lack, scarcity, insufficiency
debase
to degrade or lower in quality or stature
debauch
to corrupt, seduce from virtue or duty; indulge
debilitate
to weaken, enfeeble
debunk
to discredit, disprove
debutante
young woman making debut in high society
decapitate
to behead
decathlon
athletic contest with ten events
deciduous
losing leaves in the fall; short-lived, temporary
declivity
downward slope
decorous
proper, tasteful, socially correct
decorum
proper behavior, etiquette
decry
to belittle, openly condemn
deface
to mar the appearance of, vandalize
defamatory
slanderous, injurious to the reputation
defendant
person required to answer a legal action or suit
deferential
respectful and polite in a submissive way
defile
to dirty, spoil; to disgrace, dishonor
definitive
clear-cut, explicit or decisive
deflation
decrease, depreciation
deform
to disfigure, distort
deft
skillful, dexterous
defunct
no longer existing, dead, extinct
delectable
appetizing, delicious
delegate (v)
to give powers to another
deleterious
harmful, destructive, detrimental
delineation
depiction, representation
delta
tidal depositat the mouth of a river
deluge (n)
flood
deluge (v)
to submerge, overwhelm
demagogue
leader, rabble-rouser, usually using appeals to emotion or prejudice
demarcation
borderline; act of defining or marking a boundary or distinction
demean
to degrade, humiliate, humble
demographics
data relating to study of human population
demote
to reduce to a lower grade or rank
demotion
lowering in rank or grade
demur
to express doubts or objections
demystify
to remove mystery from, clarify
denigrate
to slur or blacken someone’s reputation
denounce
to accuse, blame
denude
to make bare, uncover, undress
denunciation
public condemnation
depict
to describe, represent
deplete
to use up, exhaust
deplore
to express or feel disapproval of; regret strongly
deploy
to spread out strategically over an area
depose
to remove from a high position, as from a throne
depravity
sinfulness, moral corruption
deprecate
to belittle, disparage
depreciate
to lose value gradually
deride
to mock, ridicule, make fun of
derivative
copied or adapted; not original
derive
to originate; take from a certain source
derogate
to belittle, disparage
desecrate
to abuse something sacred
desiccate
to dry completely, dehydrate
desist
to stop doing something
despondent
feeling discouraged and dejected
despot
tyrannical ruler
destitute
very poor, poverty-stricken
desultory
at random, rambling, unmethodical
deter
to discourage; prevent from happening
determinate
having defined limits; conclusive
detrimental
causing harm or injury
deviate
to stray, wander
deviation
departure, exception, anomaly
devoid
totally lacking
devout
deeply religious
dexterous
skilled physically or mentally
diabolical
fiendish; wicked
dialect
regional style of speaking
diaphanous
allowing light to show through; delicate
diatribe
bitter verbal attack
dichotomy
division into two parts
dictum
authoritative statement; popular saying
didactic
excessively instructive
differentiate
to distinguish between two items
diffidence
shyness, lack of confidence
diffract
to cause to separate into parts, esp. light
diffuse
widely spread out
digress
to turn aside; to stray from the main point
dilapidated
in disrepair, run down, neglected
dilate
to enlarge, swell, extend
dilatory
slow, tending to delay
diluvial
relating to a flood
diminutive
small
diplomacy
discretion, tact
dirge
funeral hymn
disaffected
discontented and disloyal
disarray
clutter, disorder
disband
to break up
disbar
to expel from legal profession
disburse
to pay out
discern
to percieve something obscure
disclaim
to deny, disavow
disclose
to confess, divulge
disconcerting
bewildering, perplexing, slightly disturbing
discordant
harsh-sounding, badly out of tune
discredit
to dishonor or disgrace
discredited
disbelieved, discounted; disgraced, dishonored
discrepancy
difference between
discretionary
subject to one’s own judgment
discursive
wandering from topic to topic
disdain
to regard with scorn and contempt
disdainful
contemptuous, scornful
disengaged
disconnected, disassociated
disgorge
to vomit, discharge violently
disheveled
untidy, disarranged, unkempt
disinclined
averse, unwiling, lacking desire
disparage
to belittle, speak disrespectfully about
disparate
dissimilar, different in kind
disparity
contrast, dissimilarity
dispassionate
free from emotion; impartial, unbiased
dispel
to drive out or scatter
dispense
to distribute, administer
dispense with
to suspend the operation of, do without
disperse
to break up, scatter
dispirit
to dishearten, make dejected
disrepute
disgrace, dishonor
dissemble
to pretend, disguise one’s motives
disseminate
to spread far and wide
dissension
difference of opinion
dissipate
to scatter; to pursue pleasure to excess
dissociate
to separate; remove from an association
dissonant
harsh and unpleasant sounding
dissuade
to persuade someone to alter original intentions
distend
to swell, inflate, bloat
distraught
very worried and distressed
distrust (n)
disbelief and suspicion
dither (v)
to move or act confusedly or without clear purpose
diurnal
daily
divine (v)
to foretell or known by inspiration
divisive
creating disunity or conflict
docile
tame, willing to be taught
doctrinaire
rigidly devoted to theories
dogged (adj)
persistent, stubborn
dogmatic
rigidly fixed in opinion, opinionated
doleful
sad, mournful
dolt
idiot, dimwit, foolish person
domineer
to rule over something in a tyrannical way
donor
benefactor, contributor
dormant
at rest, inactive, in suspended animation
dotard
senile old person
doting
excessively fond, loving to excess
dour
sullen and gloomy; stern and severe
dowry
money or property given by a bride to her husband
draft (v)
to plan, outline; to recruit, conscript
drivel
stupid talk; slobber
droll
amusing in a wry, subtle way
dross
waste produced during metal smelting; garbage
dulcet
pleasant sounding, soothing to the ear
dupe (v)
to deceive, trick
dupe (n)
fool, pawn
duplicity
deception, dishonesty, double-dealing
durability
strength, sturdiness
duration
period of time that something lasts
duress
threat of force or intimidation; imprisonment
dyseptic
suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable
ebb (v)
to fade away, recede
ebullient
exhilarated, full of enthusiasm and high spirits
eclectic
selecting from various sources
ecstatic
joyful
eddy
air or wind current
edict
law, command, official public order
edifice
building
edify
to instruct morally and spiritually
editorialize
to express an opinion on an issue
efface
to erase or make illegible
effervescent
bubbly, lively
efficacious
effective, efficient
effigy
stuffed doll; likeness of a person
effluvia
outpouring of gases or vapors
effrontery
impudent boldness; audacity
effulgent
brilliantly shining
effusive
expressing emotion without restraint
egocentric
acting as if things are centered around oneself
egregious
conspicuously bad
egress
exit
elation
exhilaration, joy
elegy
mournful poem, usually about the dead
elicit
to draw out, provoke
eloquence
fluent and effective speech
elucidate
to explain, clarify
emaciated
skinny, scrawny, gaunt, esp. from hunger
emancipate
to set free, liberate
embellish
to ornament, make attractive with decoration or details; add details to a statement
embezzle
to steal money in violation of a trust
embroil
to involve in; cause to fall into disorder
emend
to correct a text
eminent
celebrated, distinguished; outstanding, towering
emollient
having soothing qualities, especially for skin
emotive
appealing to or expressing emotion
empathy
identification with another’s feelings
emulate
to copy, imitate
encipher
to translate a message into code
encore
additional performance, often demanded by audience
encumber
to hinder, burden, restrict motion
endemic
belonging to a particular area, inherent
endurance
ability to withstand hardships
enervate
to weaken, sap strength from
engender
to produce, cause, bring about
enigmatic
puzzling, inexplicable
enjoin
to urge, order, command; forbid or prohibit, as by judicial order
enmity
hostility, antagonism, ill-will
ennui
boredom, lack of interest and energy
enormity
state of being gigantic or terrible
ensconce
to settle comfortably into a place
enshroud
to cover, enclose with a dark cover
entail
to involve as a necessary result, necessitate
enthrall
to captivate, enchant, enslave
entity
something with its own existence or form
entomologist
scientist who studies insects
entreat
to plead, beg
enumerate
to count, list, itemize
enunciate
to pronounce clearly
ephemeral
momentary, transient, fleeting
epicure
person with refined taste in food and wine
epigram
short, witty saying or poem
epigraph
quotation at the beginning of a literary work
epilogue
concluding section of a literary work
epitome
representative of an entire group; summary
epochal
very significant or influential; defining an epoch or time-period
equanimity
calmness, composure
equestrian (n)
one who rides on horseback
equine
relating to horses
equivocal
ambiguous, open to two interpretations
equivocate
to use vague or ambiguous language intentionally
eradicate
to erase or wipe out
errant
straying, mistaken, roving
erudite
learned, scholarly
eschew
to abstain from, avoid
esoteric
understood only by a learned few
espouse
to support or advocate; to marry
estrange
to alienate, keep at a distance
ethereal
not earthly, spiritual, delicate
ethos
beliefs or character of a group
etymology
origin and history of a word; study of words
eulogy
high praise, often in a public speech
euphemism
use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
euphony
pleasant, harmonious sound
euphoria
feeling of well-being or happiness
eurythmics
art of harmonious bodily movement
euthanasia
mercy-killing; intentional, easy and painless death
evade
to avoid, dodge
evanescent
momentary, transitory, short-lived
evict
to put out or force out
evince
to show clearly, display, signify
evoke
to inspire memories; to produce a reaction
exacerbate
to aggravate, intensify the bad qualities of
exasperation
irritation
excerpt (n)
selection from a book or play
excommunicate
to bar from membership in the church
excruciating
agonizing, intensely painful
exculpate
to clear of blame or fault
execrable
utterly detestable
exhilaration
state of being energetic or filled with happiness
exhort
to urge or incite by strong appeals
exhume
to remove from a grave; uncover a secret
exigent
urgent; excessively demanding
exonerate
to clear of blame
exorbitant
extravagant, greater than reasonable
exorcise
to expel evil spirits
exotic
foreign; romatic, excitingly strange
expansive
sweeping, comprehensive; tending to expand
expatriate (n)
one who lives outside one’s native land
expatriate (v)
to drive someone from his/her native land
expedient (adj)
convenient, efficient, practical
expiate
to atone for, make amends for
expire
to come to an end; dire; breathe out
explicable
capable of being explained
explicit
clearly defined, specific; forthright in expression
explode
to debunk, disprove; blow up, burst
exponent
one who champions or advocates
expound
to elaborate; to expand or increase
expunge
to erase, eliminate completely
expurgate
to censor
extemporaneous
unrehearsed, on the spur of the moment
extenuate
to lessen the seriousness, strength or effect of
extinction
end of a living thing or species
extol
to praise
extort
to obtain something by threats
extraneous
irrelevant, unrelated, unncessary
extremity
outermost or farthest point
extricate
to free from, disentangle, free
extrinsic
not inherent or essential, coming from without
exuberant
lively, happy, and full of good spirits
exude
to give off, ooze
exult
to rejoice
fabricate
to make or devise; construct
fabricated
constructed, invented; faked, falsified
facade
face, front; mask, superficial appearance
facile
very easy
facilitate
to aid, assist
facility
aptitude, ease in doing something
fallacious
wrong, unsound, illogical
fallow
uncultivated, unused
fanaticism
extreme devotion to a cause
farcical
absurd, ludicrous
fastidious
careful with details
fathom (v)
to measure the depth of, gauge
fatuous
stupid; foolishly self-satisfied
fault
break in a rock formation; mistake or error
fawn (v)
to flatter excessively, seek the favor of
faze
to bother, upset, or disconcert
feasible
possible, capable of being done
feckless
ineffective, careless, irresponsible
fecund
fertile, fruitful, productive
federation
union of organizations; union of several states, each of which retains local power
feign
to pretend, give a false impression; to invent falsely
feisty
excitable, easily drawn into quarrels
felicitous
suitable, appropriate; well-spoken
fell (v)
to chop, cut down
fervid
passionate, intense zealous
fetid
foul-smelling, putrid
fetter
to bind, chain, confine
fiasco
disaster, utter failure
fictive
fictional, imaginary
fidelity
loyalty
filch
to steal
filibuster
use of obstructive tactics in a legislative assembly to prevent adoption of a measure
finicky
fussy, difficult to please
fission
process of splitting into two parts
fitful
intermittent, irregular
flaccid
limp, flabby, weak
flagrant
outrageous, shameless
flamboyant
flashy, garish; exciting, dazzling
flammable
combustible, being easily burned
flaunt
to show off
fledgling
young bird just learning to fly; beginner, novice
flora
plants
florid
gaudy, extremely ornate; ruddy, flushed
flounder
to falter, waver; to muddle, struggle
flout
to treat contemptuously, scorn
fluctuate
to alternate, waver
fodder
raw materials; feed for animals
foible
minor weakness or character flaw
foil (v)
to defeat, frustrate
foliate
to grow, sprout leaves
foment
to arouse or incite
forbearance
patience, restraint, leniency
ford (v)
to cross a body of water at a shallow place
foreboding
dark sense of evil to come
foreclose
to rule out; to seize debtor’s property for lack of payments
forensic
relating to legal proceedings; relating to debates
forensics
study of argumentation and debate
forestall
to prevent, delay; anticipate
forethought
anticipation, foresight
forgo
to go without, refrain from
forlorn
dreary, deserted; unhappy; hopeless, despairing
formulate
to conceive, devise; to draft, plan; to express, state
forsake
to abandon, withdraw from
forswear
to repudiate, renounce, disclaim, reject
forte (n)
strong point, something a person does well
fortuitous
happening by luck, fortunate
foster (v)
to nourish, cultivate, promote
foundation
groundwork, support; institution established by donation to aid a certain cause
founder (v)
fo fall helplessly; sink
fracas
noisy dispute
fractious
unruly, rebellious
fragmentation
division, separation into parts, disorganization
frank
honest and straightforward
fraud
deception, hoax
fraudulent
deceitful, dishonest, unethical
fraught
full of, accompanied by
frenetic
wildly frantic, frenzied, hectic
frenzied
feverishly fast, hectic, and confused
frivolous
petty, trivial; flippant, silly
frond
leaf
frugal
thrifty; cheap
fulsome
excessive, overdone, sickeningly abundant
funereal
mournfull, appropriate to a funeral
furtive
secret, stealthy
fusion
process of merging things into one
