| Term | Definition |
|---|
| derogatory | adj. expressing a low opinion |
| descant | v. discuss fully |
| descry | v. catch sight of |
| desecrate | v. profane; violate the sanctity of |
| disiccate | v. dry up |
| desolate | adj. unpopulated |
| desolate | v. rob of joy; lay waste to; forsake |
| despise | v. look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful |
| despoil | v. plunder |
| despondent | adj. depressed; gloomy |
| despot | n. tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler |
| destitute | adj. extremely poor |
| desultory | adj. aimless; haphazard; digressing at random |
| detached | adj. emotionally removed; calm and objective; physically unconnected |
| detergent | n. cleansing agent |
| determination | n. resolve; measurement or calculation; decision |
| deterrent | n. something that discourages; hindrance. |
| detonation | n. explosion |
| detraction | n. slandering |
| detrimental | adj. harmful; damaging |
| deviate | v. turn away from; depart; diverge |
| devious | adj. roundabout; erratic; not straightforward |
| devise | v. think up; invent; plan |
| devoid | adj. lacking |
| devotee | n. enthusiastic follower |
| dovout | adj. pious |
| dexterous | adj. skillful |
| diabolical | adj. devillish |
| diagnosis | n. art of identifying a disease |
| dialectical | adj. relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal |
| diaphanous | adj. sheer; transparent |
| diatribe | n. bitter scolding; invective |
| dichotomy | n. split; branching into two parts |
| dictum | n. authoritative and weighty statement; saying; maxim |
| didactic | adj. teaching; instructional |
| differentiate | v. distinguish; perceive a difference between. |
| diffidence | n. shyness |
| diffuse | adj. wordy; rambling; spread out |
| digression | n. wandering away from the subject |
| dilapidated | adj. ruined because of neglect |
| dilate | v. expand |
| dilatory | adj. delaying |
| dilemma | n. problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives |
| dilettante | n. aimless follower of the arts; amateur; dabbler |
| diligence | n. steadiness of effort; persistent hard work |
| dilute | v. make less concentrated; reduce in strength |
| diminution | n. lessening; reduction in size |
| din | n. continued loud noise |
| dinghy | n. small ship's boat |
| dingy | adj. dull; not fresh; cheerless |
| dint | n. means; effort |
| diorama | n. life-size three dimensional scene from nature or history |
| dire | adj. disastrous |
| dirge | n. lament with music |
| disabuse | v. correct a false impression |
| disaffected | adj. disloyal |
| disapprobation | n. disapproval; condemnation |
| disarray | n. a disorderly or untidy state |
| disavowal | n. denial; disclaiming |
| disband | v. dissolve; disperse |
| disburse | v. pay out |
| discernible | adj. distinguishable; perceivable |
| discerning | adj. mentally quick and observant; having insight |
| disclaim | v. disown; renounce claim to |
| disclose | v. reveal |
| discombobulated | adj. confused; discomposed |
| discomfit | v. put to rout; defeat; disconcert |
| discompusure | n. agitation; loss of poise |
| disconcert | v. confuse; upset; embarrass |
| disconsolate | adj. sad |
| discord | n. conflict; lack of harmony |
| discordant | adj. not harmonious; conflicting |
| discount | v. disregard; dismiss |
| discourse | n. formal discussion; conversation |
| discredit | v. defame; destroy confidence in ;disbelieve |
| discrepancy | n. lack of consistency; difference |
| discrete | adj. separate; unconnected |
| discretion | n. prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances |
| discriminiating | adj. able to see differences; prejudiced |
| discursive | adj. digressing; rambling |
| disdain | v. view with scorn or contempt |
| disembark | v. go ashore; unload cargo from a ship |
| disenfranchise | v. deprive of a civil right |
| disengage | v. uncouple; separate; disconnect |
| disfigure | v. mar in beauty; spoil |
| disgorge | v. surrender something; eject; vomit |
| disgruntle | v. make discontented |
Combine with other sets
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace