 | Term | Definition |
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dyspeptic |
suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food |
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dynamic |
energetic; vigorously active |
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dwindle |
shrink; reduce gradually |
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dutiful |
respectful; obedient |
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duress |
forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress |
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duration |
length of time something lasts |
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duplicity |
double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous |
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dupe |
someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive |
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dumbfound |
astonish ; ADJ. dumbfounded, dumfounded, dumbstruck |
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dulcet |
sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious |
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ductile |
malleable; pliable; easily pulled into shape; flexible; easily influenced or controlled |
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dubious |
questionable; causing doubt; filled with doubt; N. dubiety |
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drudgery |
hard unpleasant work; menial work |
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dross |
waste matter; worthless impurities |
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drone |
idle person who lives on other people"s work; male bee |
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drone |
talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N. |
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droll |
queer and amusing |
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drivel |
nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense |
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dregs |
sediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue |
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draconian |
extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician |
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drab |
dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life |
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downcast |
disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward |
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dowdy |
untidy ; slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman |
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douse |
plunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse; drench; wet thoroughly; extinguish; throw water over; dowse |
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dour |
sullen; gloomy; stubborn |
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dote |
be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline |
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dotage |
senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one's dotage |
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dossier |
file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back |
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dorsal |
relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin |
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dormer |
window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room |
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dormant |
sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent |
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don |
put on; OP. doff |
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domineer |
rule over tyrannically |
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domicile |
home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one's domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain. |
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dolt |
slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull |
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dolorous |
sorrowful; N. dolor |
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doldrums |
blues; listlessness; slack period; period of stagnation; ocean area near the equator where ships cannot move because there is no wind; Ex. in the doldrums |
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dogmatic |
opinionated; holding stubbornly to one's opinion; arbitrary; doctrinal |
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doggerel |
poor verse |
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dogged |
determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering; tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert"s dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean |
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doff |
take off; OP. don |
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doddering |
shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder |
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document |
provide written evidence ; record with documents; N. |
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doctrine |
teachings in general; particular principle taught; dogma; tenet; ADJ. doctrinal |
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doctrinaire |
unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties |
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docket |
program as for trial; book where such entries are made; list of things to be done; agenda; label fixed to a package listing contents or directions; V: describe in a docket |
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docile |
obedient; easily managed; submissive |
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divulge |
reveal |
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divine |
perceive intuitively ; foresee the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination |
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divest |
strip ; deprive ; dispossess; N. divestiture |
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diversion |
act of turning aside; pastime; V. divert: turn aside from a course; distract; amuse |
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diverse |
differing in some characteristics ; various; N. diversity: |
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diverge |
vary; go in different directions from the same point; ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating |
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diva |
operatic singer; prima donna |
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diurnal |
daily; occurring during the daytime |
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distraught |
upset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and troubled almost to the point of madness; Ex. distraught with grief/worry |
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distrait |
absentminded; distracted |
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distort |
twist out of shape; give a false account of; misrepresent; N. distortion |
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distinction |
honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction |
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distill |
refine ; concentrate; separate the most important parts from; Ex. distill fresh water from sea water; CF. brew |
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distend |
expand; swell out |
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distant |
reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly |
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dissuade |
persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion |
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dissolution |
disintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life |
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dissipate |
squander; waste foolishly; scatter |
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dissimulate |
pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble |
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dissident |
dissenting ; rebellious; N. |
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dissertation |
formal essay; treatise |
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dissent |
disagree |
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disseminate |
distribute; spread; scatter |
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dissemble |
disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend |
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dissection |
analysis; cutting apart in order to examine |
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disquisition |
formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report |
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disquietude |
uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious |
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disputatious |
argumentative; fond of argument |
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disport |
amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert |
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dispirited |
lacking in spirit |
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disperse |
scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd |
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dispel |
scatter; drive away; cause to vanish |
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dispatch |
speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill |
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dispassionate |
calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings |
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disparity |
difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity |
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disparate |
basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated |
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disparage |
belittle |
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dismiss |
eliminate from consideration; no longer consider; put out of court without further hearing; reject; discharge from employment; direct to leave; ADJ. dismissive; N. dismissal |
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dismember |
cut into small parts; cut apart limb from limb |
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dismantle |
take apart; disassemble |
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dislodge |
remove ; force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge |
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disjunction |
act or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive: expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive |
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disjointed |
disconnected; lacking coherence; V. disjoint: disconnect; disjoin |
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disinterested |
unprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest; objective |
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disinter |
dig up; unearth; OP. inter |
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disingenuous |
not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous |
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disinclination |
unwillingness |
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disheveled |
untidy ; V. dishevel |
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dishearten |
discourage |
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disgruntle |
make discontented |
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disgorge |
surrender something ; eject; vomit; OP. gorge |
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disfigure |
mar the appearance of; spoil |
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disengage |
uncouple; separate; disconnect; stop fighting; OP. engage |
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disenfranchise |
disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise |
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disembark |
debark; go ashore ; unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark |
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disdain |
treat with scorn or contempt |
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discursive |
digressing; rambling |
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discriminating |
able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination |
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discretion |
prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary |
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discrete |
separate; unconnected |
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discrepancy |
lack of consistency or agreement as between facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions |
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discredit |
defame; disgrace; destroy confidence in; disbelieve; N. CF. discreditable: causing discredit; shameful |
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discourse |
serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion ; conversation; V. |
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discount |
disregard; regard as unimportant; deduct from a cost |
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discordant |
not harmonious; conflicting |
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discord |
conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance |
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disconsolate |
hopelessly sad |
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disconcert |
confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb |
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discomfit |
frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb |
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discombobulated |
discomposed; confused |
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disclose |
reveal; N. disclosure |
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disclaim |
disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer |
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discerning |
mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive |
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discernible |
distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement |
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disburse |
pay out ; N. disbursement; CF. purse |
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disband |
dissolve; disperse; break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded. |
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disavowal |
denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim |
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disarray |
state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex. with her clothes in disarray |
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disapprobation |
disapproval; condemnation |
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disaffected |
disloyal; lacking loyalty; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty |
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disabuse |
correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief |
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dirge |
funeral song; slow mournful piece of music |
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dire |
warning of disaster; disastrous; very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food |
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diorama |
life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background |
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dint |
means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work |
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dingy |
dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain |
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dinghy |
small boat |
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din |
continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition |
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diminution |
lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish |
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dilute |
make less concentrated; reduce in strength; Ex. dilute the influence of the president |
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diligence |
steadiness of effort; persistent hard work |
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dilettante |
aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge ; amateur; dabbler; CF. delight |
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dilemma |
situation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives |
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dilatory |
delaying; tending to delay |
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dilate |
expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on |
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dilapidated |
falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation |
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digression |
wandering away from the subject; V. digress |
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diffuse |
wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out ; V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse |
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diffidence |
shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident |
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die |
metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice |
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didactic |
intended to teach a moral lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism |
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dictum |
authoritative and weighty statement ; saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark |
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dichotomy |
division into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts |
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diatribe |
bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse |
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diaphanous |
sheer; transparent |
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dialectical |
relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments |
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diadem |
crown |
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diabolical |
diabolic; devilish; fiendish |
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dexterous |
skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity |
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devout |
pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope |
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devotee |
enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach |
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devolve |
deputize; pass or be passed to others ; Ex. devolve on/upon/to |
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devoid |
empty; lacking |
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devise |
think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest |
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devious |
roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route |
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deviate |
turn away from ; move away from an accepted standard; swerve; depart; diverge; N. deviation; Ex. deviation of the path of light by a prism |
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detrimental |
harmful; damaging; N. detriment |
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detraction |
slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor |
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detonation |
explosion |
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deterrent |
something that discourages or deters |
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determination |
resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision |
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determinate |
having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final |
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detached |
emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment |
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desultory |
aimless; haphazard; digressing at random |
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destitute |
extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience |
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despot |
tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism |
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despondent |
without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection |
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despoil |
plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village |
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despise |
look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible |
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desperado |
reckless, desperate outlaw |
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desolate |
deserted; unpopulated; lonely; forlorn; joyless |
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desolate |
make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert |
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desiccate |
dry up |
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desecrate |
profane; violate the sanctity of |
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descry |
catch sight of |
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derogatory |
expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage |
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dermatologist |
one who studies the skin and its diseases |
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derivative |
unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N. |
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derision |
ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory |
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deride |
ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect |
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derelict |
negligent; neglectful of duty; deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person |
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deranged |
insane |
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depredation |
plundering; destruction |
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depreciate |
lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value |
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deprecate |
express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory |
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depravity |
extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave |
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deposition |
testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning |
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depose |
dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify |
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deploy |
spread out in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute systematically or strategically |
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deplore |
regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad; Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living condition |
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deplete |
reduce; exhaust |
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depict |
portray |
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denounce |
condemn; criticize; N. denunciation |
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denouement |
final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained |
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denotation |
meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation |
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denizen |
inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor |
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denigrate |
blacken; defame |
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demure |
grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure |
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demur |
object ; raise an objection ; hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday |
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demotic |
of or pertaining to the people |
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demoniac |
fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil |
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demolition |
destruction; V. demolish |
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demographic |
related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population |
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demise |
death |
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demented |
insane |
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demeanor |
behavior; bearing |
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demean |
disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave |
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demagogue |
person who appeals to people"s prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery |
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delve |
dig; search deeply; investigate |
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delusive |
deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises |
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delusion |
false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that |
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deluge |
flood; rush; V. |
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delude |
deceive |
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delta |
flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river |
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delirium |
mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious |
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delineate |
portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation |
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deliberate |
consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow |
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deleterious |
harmful |
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delete |
erase; strike out |
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deign |
condescend; stoop |
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deify |
turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity |
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dehydrate |
remove water from; dry out |
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degradation |
humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce in worth; demote ; reduce in rank |
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degenerate |
become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person |
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defunct |
dead; no longer in use or existence |
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deft |
neat; skillful |
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defrock |
strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock |
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defray |
provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay |
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defoliate |
destroy leaves; deprive of leaves ; N. defoliant |
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deflect |
turn aside; turn away from a straight course |
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definitive |
most reliable; authoritative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court |
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defile |
pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains |
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defiance |
refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant |
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deference |
courteous regard for another"s wish; courteous yielding to another"s wish or opinion ; ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery |
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defer |
give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous |
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defection |
desertion |
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defeatist |
resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism |
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default |
failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V. |
| |
defame |
harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory |
| |
deface |
mar; disfigure |
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deducible |
derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning |
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decry |
express strong disapproval of; condemn openly ; disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films |
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decrepitude |
state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age |
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decoy |
lure or bait; V. |
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decorum |
propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct |
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decomposition |
decay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts |
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decollete |
having a low-cut neckline; CF. decolletage: low neckline |
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declivity |
downward slope |
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decipher |
decode; CF. indecipherable |
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decimate |
kill ; destroy or kill a large part of |
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deciduous |
falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth |
| |
decelerate |
slow down |
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decapitate |
behead |
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decant |
pour off gently |
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decadence |
decay; fall to a lower level ; ADJ. decadent |
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debutante |
young woman making formal entrance into society |
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debunk |
expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule |
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debris |
rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed |
| |
debonair |
friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition |
| |
debilitate |
weaken ; enfeeble |
| |
debauch |
corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior |
| |
debase |
degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement |
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debacle |
sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster |
| |
dearth |
scarcity |
| |
deadpan |
wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face |
| |
deadlock |
standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate |
| |
dawdle |
loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing |
| |
dauntless |
bold; fearless |
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daunt |
intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten |
| |
daub |
smear ; cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one's clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint |
| |
dappled |
spotted |
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dapper |
neat and trim ; neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry |
| |
dank |
damp; unpleasantly wet |
| |
dally |
trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time |
| |
dais |
raised platform for speakers or other important people |
| |
dabble |
work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid |
