barrons wordlist D

Start Studying!

Terms

undefined, object

copy deck

denotation: meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation
n dissolution: disintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life
denigrate: blacken; defame
diversion: act of turning aside; pastime; V. divert: turn aside from a course; distract; amuse
default: failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.
deface: mar; disfigure
dissection: analysis; cutting apart in order to examine
daunt: intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten
s dyslexia: word blindness; learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to read
dilute: make (a liquid) less concentrated; reduce in strength; Ex. dilute the influence of the president
dishearten: discourage
d\'eb\^acle: sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster
decadence: decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization, or art); ADJ. decadent
s dull: (of colors or surfaces) not bright; cloudy; overcast; boring; (of edge or sound) not sharp; not rapid; sluggish; slow in thinking and understanding; stupid; V.
detrimental: harmful; damaging; N. detriment
n disport: amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert
s trickle: flow in drops or in a thin stream; N.
dauntless: bold; fearless
n distinction: honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction
s fiend: evil spirit; devil
n dire: warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food
discernible: distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement
n dint: means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
deadlock: standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate
devotee: enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach
discrete: separate; unconnected
n debutante: young woman making formal entrance into society
s stoop: bend forward and down; lower or debase oneself; fall to a lower standard of behavior by doing something; condescend; Ex. stoop to lying
discretion: prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary
s acne: skin disease (on the face)
dispassionate: calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings
n dutiful(duteous): (of people or their behavior) respectful; obedient (filled with a sense of duty)
dawdle: loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing
n draconian: extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician
s derivation: deriving; origin or source of something; Ex. the derivation of the word
d\'ebris: rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed
diverge: vary; go in different directions from the same point; ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating
discomfit: frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
n deign: condescend; stoop
n dictum: authoritative and weighty statement (made by a judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark (something said in passing)
n defeatist: resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism
n dowdy: untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman
n decomposition: decay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts
disseminate: distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)
s institutionalize: make into an institution; put or confine in an institution
demagogue: person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery
n dote: be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline
disdain: treat with scorn or contempt
delete: erase; strike out
divine: perceive intuitively (by or as if by magic); foresee the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination
debase: degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement
s distinct: clearly different; clearly noticed
n diadem: crown
dynamic: energetic; vigorously active
s mantle: loose sleeveless outer garment; cloak; something that covers or envelops; the layer of the earth between the crust and the core
n discombobulated: discomposed; confused
n dumbfound(dumfound): astonish (making dumb); ADJ. dumbfounded, dumfounded, dumbstruck
n d\'ecollet\'e: (of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d\'ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)
discord: conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when musical notes are played)
n drone: idle person who lives on other people's work; male bee
derogatory: expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage
deify: turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity
demeanor: behavior; bearing
s impoverish: make poor; deprive of natural strength or something important; Ex. impoverished soil
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
s dynamo: generator for producing electricity; energetic person
s smear: spread or cover with a sticky substance; N: mark made by smearing
deterrent: something that discourages or deters
n douse: plunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse; drench; wet throughly; extinguish; throw water over; dowse
decelerate: slow down
n diorama: life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background
n debonair: (of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition
n dormer: window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room
disabuse: correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief
n descry: catch sight of (something distant)
n dehydrate: remove water from; dry out
s dispense: distribute; prepare and give out (medicines); N. dispensation: dispensing; religious system; official exemption from an obligation or a rule
n drivel: nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense
depravity: extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
n desperado: reckless, desperate outlaw
devise: think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest
s expos\'e: public revelation of something discreditable
n disembark: debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark
debilitate: weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble
n dolt: slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull
n disarray: state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex. with her clothes in disarray
diva: operatic singer; prima donna
dilemma: situation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives
deliberate: consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow
dissuade: persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion
n dyspeptic: suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food
diligence: steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
s dereliction: neglect of duty; abandonment
n don: put on; OP. doff
diffidence: shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident
s dominant: exercising the most influence; high and easily seen; stronger than the other part of a system; not recessive
deplete: reduce; exhaust
despondent: without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection
n dilettante: aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight
decapitate: behead
n deadpan: wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face
n devolve: deputize; pass or be passed to others (power, work, or property); Ex. devolve on/upon/to
divulge: reveal
s decrepit: weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man
s drudge: do drudgery; N: person who drudges
n detached: emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment
deprecate: express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory
n defoliate: destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant
derision: ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory
n dogged: determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering; tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert's dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean
disjointed: disconnected; lacking coherence; V. disjoint: disconnect; disjoin
denounce: condemn; criticize; N. denunciation
s reduce: diminish; bring to a weaker or more difficult condition; demote; lower in rank; separate into components by analysis; Ex. reduced to the ranks; Ex. reduce the house to rubble; N. reduction
detraction: slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor
n distrait: absentminded; distracted
dismember: cut into small parts; cut (a body) apart limb from limb
n drab: dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life
s mar: spoil the appearance of
docile: obedient; easily managed; submissive
n dislodge: remove (forcibly); force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge
n dregs: sediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue
despoil: plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
s dominate: control; rule; enjoy a commanding position in; overlook from a height; ³»·Á´Ùº¸´Ù
n disband: dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
n delve: dig; search deeply; investigate
despise: look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible
disenfranchise: disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise
disparity: difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity
drudgery: hard unpleasant work; menial work
n dinghy: small boat (often ship's boat)
distill: refine (a liquid by evaporating and subsequent condensation); concentrate; separate the most important parts from; Ex. distill fresh water from sea water; CF. brew
deploy: spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically
discredit: defame; disgrace; destroy confidence in; disbelieve; N. CF. discreditable: causing discredit; shameful
s brood: sit on in order to hatch; think deeply or worry anxiously; N: the young of certain animals; group of young birds hatched at one time
dexterous: skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity
s indoctrinate: cause to accept a doctrine without questioning it; Ex. indoctrinated with mindless anti-communism
defection: desertion
n doctrinaire: unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties
n ductile: malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled
n defrock: strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock
duration: length of time something lasts
delude: deceive
n disinter: dig up; unearth; OP. inter
deducible: derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning
derivative: unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N.
n domicile: home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one's domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain.
din: continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition
defame: harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory
dogmatic: opinionated; holding stubbornly to one's opinion; arbitrary; doctrinal
dispatch: speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill
discourse: serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either written or spoken); conversation; V.
s violate: break (a law); defile; desecrate; assault sexually; Ex. violate graves
n 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
s distinctive: clearly different from others of the same kind
disparage: belittle
s dishonor: disgrace; N. ADJ. dishonorable
defunct: dead; no longer in use or existence
s blues: state of depression or melancholy; style of slow, mournful music (evolved from southern Black American songs)
degradation: humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank
s deputize: work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person who has the power to take charge when the leading person is away
n decry: express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films
n domineer: rule over tyrannically
s discriminate: distinguish; make distinctions on the basis of preference
denizen: (animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor
n disengage: uncouple; separate; disconnect; stop fighting; OP. engage
n dubious: questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of someone) filled with doubt; N. dubiety
demise: death
n dispirited: lacking in spirit
defiance: refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
disputatious: argumentative; fond of argument
s murmur: low, indistinct, continuous sound; V. CF. mumble
n dour: sullen; gloomy; stubborn
s drip: fall or let fall in drops; shed drops; N: action or sound of falling in drops; liquid that falls in drops
n debauch: corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior (with sex and alcohol)
n duplicity: double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous
dissertation: formal essay; treatise
discerning: mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
n dulcet: sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious
n dwindle: shrink; reduce gradually
n dais: raised platform for speakers or other important people
n disquisition: formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report
dormant: sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent
disquietude: uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious
s dysentery: inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract
deranged: insane
disperse: scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd
s battalion: army unit made up of four or more companies
s queer: strange; eccentric; deviating from the normal
s decorous: proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)
n dotage: senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one's dotage
desiccate: dry up
s ferocious: fierce; violent; N. ferocity
s institute: organization for a special purpose; V: establish
decant: pour off gently (wine or liquid)
disclose: reveal; N. disclosure
n defray: provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay
digression: wandering away from the subject; V. digress
decoy: lure or bait; V.
diminution: lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
decorum: propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct
delusion: false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that
disconsolate: hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
n dissemble: disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend
dissident: dissenting (with an opinion, a group, or a government); rebellious; N.
n dross: waste matter; worthless impurities
s bout: match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of drinking/flu
distort: twist out of shape; give a false account of; misrepresent; N. distortion
definitive: most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court
deflect: turn aside; turn away from a straight course
n duress: forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress
n discursive: (of a person or writing) digressing; rambling (without any clear plan)
n disaffected: disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
desultory: aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
depredation: plundering; destruction
deposition: testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning
divest: strip (as of clothes); deprive (as of rights); dispossess; N. divestiture(divestment)
n disgorge: surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge
s seduce: lead away from proper conduct; entice; ADJ. seductive
desolate: (of a place) deserted; unpopulated; (of a person) lonely; forlorn; joyless
s distract: take (one's attention) off something; upset emotionally; make anxious; ADJ. distracted
delirium: mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious
s persevere: continue steadily in spite of difficulties
n demoniac(demoniacal): fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil
s merit: deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or praise
disinterested: unprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest; objective
n dirge: funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)
n demotic: of or pertaining to the people
n doff: take off; OP. don
n deleterious: harmful
s dissonance: discord
n demure: (of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure
n determination: resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision
n dapper: neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry
n dingy: (of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain
s maroon: leave helpless on a deserted island or coast; ADJ. red brown
n devious: roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route
delusive: deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises
s brisk: quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor
devout: pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope
n disgruntle: make discontented
n die: metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice
depose: dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify
depict: portray
diurnal: daily; occurring during the daytime
n debunk: expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule
degenerate: become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person
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
decipher: decode; CF. indecipherable
disfigure: mar the appearance of; spoil
n didactic: (of speech or writing) intended to teach a moral lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism
deluge: flood; rush; V.
s smudge: dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing; V.
s institution: instituting; (building for the) organization; established custom, practice, or relationship in a society; mental hospital; Ex. institution of marriage
n dappled: spotted
discrepancy: lack of consistency or agreement as between facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions
despot: tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism
defile: pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains
dissent: disagree
destitute: extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience
s sullen: silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark; gloomy
decimate: kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a large part of
n demur: object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday
n disingenuous: not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous
n discount: disregard; regard (a story or news) as unimportant; deduct from a cost
dorsal: relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin
decrepitude: state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age
s decree: authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of law; V: order or judge by decree
s nonsense: speech or writing with no meaning; foolish behavior or language; Ex. make (a) nonsense of: spoil; cause to fail
n disconcert: confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb
n disavowal: denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim
doctrine: teachings in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc.) taught; dogma; tenet; ADJ. doctrinal
deft: neat; skillful
s kneel: go down on one's knee(s)
s debut: d\'ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation of a young woman to society
disinclination: unwillingness
dispel: scatter; drive away; cause to vanish
n diatribe: bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse
discordant: not harmonious; conflicting
defer: give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous
n dupe: someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive
disjunction: act or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive: expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive
deviate: turn away from (a principle, norm); move away from an accepted standard; swerve; depart; diverge; N. deviation; Ex. deviation of the path of light by a prism
n 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
n doddering: shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder
diaphanous: sheer; transparent
n distant: reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly
dissipate: squander; waste foolishly; scatter
dearth: scarcity
n dally: trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time
s frock: long loose garment (worn by monks)
demolition: destruction; V. demolish
s detain: keep waiting; prevent from leaving or going; N. detention
s discompose: disturb the composure of; confuse
maneuver(manoeuver): strategic military or naval movement (done for training purposes); carefully planned process; stratagem; V: carry out a military maneuver; use maneuvers in gaining an end
n diffuse: wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out (like a gas); V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse
n disburse: pay out (as from a fund); N. disbursement; CF. purse
derelict: negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person
demented: insane
dilate: expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on (a subject)
n doldrums: blues; listlessness(lack of spirit or energy); slack(inactive) period; period of stagnation; ocean area near the equator where ships cannot move because there is no wind; Ex. in the doldrums
n document: provide written evidence (for a claim); record with documents; N.
n dank: damp; unpleasantly wet
n daub: smear (as with paint); cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one's clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint
s outfit: clothing or equipment for a special purpose; Ex. cowboy outfit
dermatologist: one who studies the skin and its diseases
n dossier: file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back
detonation: explosion
deference: courteous regard for another's wish; courteous yielding to another's wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery
n disheveled: untidy (of hair or clothing); V. dishevel
depreciate: lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value
desecrate: profane; violate the sanctity of
n disclaim: disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer
n dissimulate: pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble
n dabble: work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid
devoid: empty; lacking
n droll: queer and amusing
n drone: talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N.
n distraught: upset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and troubled almost to the point of madness; Ex. distraught with grief/worry
diabolical: diabolic; devilish; fiendish
s desperate: having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent because of loss of hope or despair; undertaken as a last resort
n deciduous: falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth
distend: expand; swell out
delta: flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river
s defect: shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)
n downcast: disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward
disparate: basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated
s dribble: flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from the mouth; move a ball; N.
diverse: differing in some characteristics (from each other); various; N. diversity: variety; dissimilitude; lack of resemblance
s weary: tired after long work; V.
delineate: portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation
dolorous: sorrowful; N. dolor
n declivity: downward slope
s dys-: abnormal; impaired
s standstill: condition of no movement or activity; stop
desolate: make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert
n demographic: related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population
discriminating: able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination
n dismantle: take apart; disassemble
deride: ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect
s dowse: use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals
n doggerel: poor verse
dichotomy: division into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones)
n d\'enouement: final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained
disapprobation: disapproval; condemnation
demean: disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave
s crust: hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)
dilapidated: falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation
dilatory: delaying; tending to delay
n determinate: having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final

Start Studying!

Deck Info

Number of cards 349