← Barron's Essential Words for the GRE Units 21 - 30 Export Options Alphabetize Word-Def Delimiter Tab Comma Custom Def-Word Delimiter New Line Semicolon Custom Data Copy and paste the text below. It is read-only. Select All Deride v. to mock Derivative n. something derived; unoriginal Derive - v. obtained from another source Desiccate v. to dry completely Desuetude n. state of disuse Desultory adj. random; disconnected; rambling Deterrent n. something that discourages or hinders Detraction n. the act of taking away; derogatory comment on a person's character Diaphanous adj. transparent; fine-textured; insubstantial; vague Diatribe n. bitter verbal attack Dichotomy n. division into two usually contradictory parts Diffidence n. shyness; lack of confidence Diffuse v. to spread out Digression n. act of straying from the main point Dirge n. funeral hymn Disabuse v. to free from a misconception Discerning adj. perceptive; exhibiting keen insight and good judgement Discern - v. to perceive something obscure Discomfit v. to make uneasy or embarrassed; disconcert Discordant adj. not in tune Discredit v. to dishonor; disgrace; cause to be doubted Discrepancy n. difference between Discrete adj. constituting a separate thing; distinct Discretion n. quality of showing self-restraint in speech or actions; circumspection; freedom to act on one's own Disingenuous adj. not candid; crafty Disinterested adj. unprejudiced; objective Disjointed adj. lacking order or coherence; dislocated Dismiss v. put away from consideration; reject Disparage v. to belittle Disparate adj. dissimilar Disparity - n. the condition of being unequal or unlike Dissemble v. to pretend; disguise one's motives Disseminate v. to spread; scatter; disperse Dissident n. person who disagrees about beliefs Dissolution n. disintegration; debauchery Dissonance n. discord; lack of harmony Distend v. to expand; swell out Distill (The one where nobody's ready) v. extract the essential elements Distrait adj. inattentive; preoccupied Diverge v. to vary; go in different directions from the same point Divest v. to strip; deprive; rid Divulge v. to make known something that is secret Doctrinaire adj. relating to a person who cannot compromise about points of a theory or doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding Document v. to provide with written evidence to support Doggerel n. poor verse Dogmatic adj. stating opinions without proof Dogma- n. a belief asserted on authority without evidence Dormant adj. inactive Dross n. waste; worthless matter; trivial matter Dupe v. to deceive; trick Ebullient adj. exhilarated; enthusiastic Eclectic adj. selecting from various sources Effervescence n. state of high spirits or liveliness; the process of bubbling as gas escapes Effete adj. depleted of vitality; overrefined; decadent Efficacy n. efficiency, effectiveness Effrontery n. shameless boldness; presumptuousness Egoism n. the tendency to see things in relation to oneself; self-centeredness Egotistical adj. excessively self-centered; conceited Elegy n. poem or song expressing lamentation Elicit v. to provoke; draw out Elixir n. a substance believed to have the power to cure ills Elysian adj. blissful; delightful Emaciated adj. thin and wasted Embellish v. to adorn; decorate; enhance; make more attractive by adding details Emollient adj. soothing; mollifying Empirical adj. derived from observation or experiment Empiricism- n. the view that experience is the only source of knowledge. Emulate v. to imitate; copy Encomium n. a formal expression of praise Endemic adj. inherent; belonging to an area Enervate v. to weaken Engender v. to cause; produce Enhance v. to increase; improve Entomology n. the scientific study of insects Enunciate v. to pronounce clearly Ephemeral adj. short-lived; fleeting Epistemology n. branch of philosophy that examines the nature of knowledge Equable adj. steady; unvarying; serene Equanimity n. composure; calmness Equivocate v. to intentionally use vague language Errant adj. mistaken; straying from the proper course Erudite adj. learned; scholarly Esoteric adj. hard to understand; known only to a few Essay v. to make an attempt; subject to a test Estimable adj. admirable; possible to estimate Ethnocentric adj. based on the attitude that one's group is superior Etiology n. causes or origins Etymology n. origin and history of a word Eugenics n. study of factors that influence the hereditary qualities of the human race and ways to improve these qualities Eulogy n. high praise, especially of a person who has recently died Euphemism n. use of agreeable or inoffensive language in place of unpleasant or offensive language Euphoria n. a feeling of extreme happiness Euthanasia n. mercy killing Evince v. to show plainly; be an indication of Evocative adj. tending to call to mind or produce a reaction Evoke - v. to produce a reaction Exacerbate v. to aggravate; make worse Exact v. to force the payment of; demand and obtain by authority Exculpate v. to clear of blame; vindicate Execrable adj. detestable; abhorrent Exhort v. to urge by strong appeals Exigency n. crisis; urgent requirements Existential adj. having to do with existence; based on experience; having to do with the philosophy of existentialism Exorcise v. to expel evil spirits; free from bad influences Expatiate v. to speak or write at length Expatriate v. to send into exile n. a person living outside his or her own land