Word List 15 Flashcards
Disputatious (adj)
argumentative; fond of arguing
Convinced he knew more than his lawyers, Tony was a disputatious client, ready to argue about the best way to conduct the case
Disquietude (n)
uneasiness; anxiety
When Holmes had been gone for a day, Watson felt only a slight sense of disquietude
Disquisition (n)
a formal systematic inquiry
In his disquisition, he outlined the steps he had taken in reaching his conclusions
Dissident (adj)
dissenting; rebellious
Dissimulate (v)
pretend; conceal by feigning
Although the governor tried to dissimulate his feelings about the opposing candidate, we all knew he despised his rival
Dissonance (n)
discord; opposite of harmony
Composer Charles Ives often used dissonance - clashing or unresolved chords - for special effects in his musical works
(dissonant adj)
Distend (v)
expand; swell out
I can tell when he is under stress in the way the veins on his forehead distend
Diurnal (adj)
daily
A farmer cannot neglect his diurnal tasks at any time; cows, for example, must be milked regularly
Divulge (v)
reveal
No lover of gossip, Charlotte would never divulge anything that a friend told her in confidence
Doctrinaire (adj)
unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding
Weng had hoped that the student-led democracy movement might bring about change in China, but the repressive response of the doctrinaire hard-liners crushed his dreams of democracy
Doctrinaire (adj)
unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding
Weng had hoped that the student-led democracy movement might bring about change in China, but the repressive response of the doctrinaire hard-liners crushed his dreams of democracy
Dogmatic (adj)
opinionated; arbitrary; doctrinal
We tried to discourage Doug from being so dogmatic; but never could convince him that his opinions might be wrong
Doleful (adj)
mournful; causing sadness
Eyesore, the lugubrious donkey immortalised by A.A Milne, looked at his cheerful friend Tigger and sighed out a doleful sigh
Domicile (n)
home
Although his legal domicile was in NYC, his work kept him away from home for many years
Domineer (v)
rule over tyrannically
Students prefer teachers who guide, not ones who domineer