D and E
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- d\'eb\^acle
- sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster
- dissuade
- persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion
- dissection
- analysis; cutting apart in order to examine
- n evenhanded
- impartial; fair
- enjoin
- command; order; forbid
- ensue
- follow (as a result)
- effete
- having lost one's original power; barren; worn out; exhausted
- desolate
- make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert
- n endearment
- fond word or act; expression of affection
- n downcast
- disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward
- n dross
- waste matter; worthless impurities
- s chapel
- small church (in a prison, college, or hospital)
- dichotomy
- division into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones)
- decelerate
- slow down
- s fleet
- fast; rapid; N. ADJ. fleeting: passing quickly; ephemeral
- epicure
- connoisseur of food and drink; gourmet; ADJ. epicurean; CF. Epicurus
- s deputize
- work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person who has the power to take charge when the leading person is away
- s expeditious
- done with speed; quick; N. expedition
- s blues
- state of depression or melancholy; style of slow, mournful music (evolved from southern Black American songs)
- dissipate
- squander; waste foolishly; scatter
- decant
- pour off gently (wine or liquid)
- disconsolate
- hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
- demented
- insane
- effusion
- pouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of feeling; V. effuse: pour out; ADJ. effusive: pouring forth; gushing
- disclose
- reveal; N. disclosure
- n defoliate
- destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant
- s weary
- tired after long work; V.
- n dictum
- authoritative and weighty statement (made by a judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark (something said in passing)
- epoch
- period of time
- delusion
- false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that
- s battalion
- army unit made up of four or more companies
- dissertation
- formal essay; treatise
- diva
- operatic singer; prima donna
- n distraught
- upset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and troubled almost to the point of madness; Ex. distraught with grief/worry
- s murmur
- low, indistinct, continuous sound; V. CF. mumble
- n emetic
- substance causing vomiting; ADJ.
- n dissemble
- disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend
- n expatiate
- talk at length; speak or write in detail
- n extol
- praise very highly; glorify
- s intrigue
- make secret plans; plot; arouse the curiosity of; N: secret scheme; plot; secret love affair
- n epistemologist
- philosopher who studies the nature of knowledge; N. epistemology
- n dally
- trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time
- embark
- commence; go on board a boat; begin a journey
- n enterprising
- full of initiative; showing enterprise
- doctrine
- teachings in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc.) taught; dogma; tenet; ADJ. doctrinal
- n execrable
- very bad; detestable
- n equipoise
- balance; balancing force; equilibrium
- n equine
- resembling a horse; Ex. equine face
- n debutante
- young woman making formal entrance into society
- enigma
- puzzle; mystery; ADJ. enigmatic: obscure; puzzling
- devoid
- empty; lacking
- disdain
- treat with scorn or contempt
- n debonair
- (of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition
- discourse
- serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either written or spoken); conversation; V.
- ecclesiastic
- ecclesiastical; pertaining to the church; N: minister; priest; cleric; clergyman
- n d\'ecollet\'e
- (of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d\'ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)
- enclave
- territory enclosed within an alien land
- engaging
- charming; attractive
- n exchequer
- treasury; Ex. Chancellor of the exchequer
- encomiastic
- praising; eulogistic; N. encomium: very high praise; eulogy
- discomfit
- frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
- embroil
- throw into confusion; involve in strife, dispute, or quarrel; entangle; CF. imbroglio
- embryonic
- undeveloped; rudimentary; N. embryo: organism in the early stage of development
- n dint
- means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
- enduring
- lasting; surviving; V. endure: bear (pain or suffering) for a long time; remain alive (in spite of difficulties); last; survive
- deify
- turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity
- defame
- harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory
- n doctrinaire
- unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties
- expedite
- hasten; make go faster
- s decree
- authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of law; V: order or judge by decree
- n disgorge
- surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge
- embellish
- adorn; ornament; enhance as a story (by adding fictitious details)
- delete
- erase; strike out
- s mar
- spoil the appearance of
- 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
- euphony
- sweet sound; ADJ. euphonious
- defer
- give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous
- 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
- duration
- length of time something lasts
- n deadpan
- wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face
- s rapture
- great joy and delight; ecstasy; ADJ. rapturous
- s edifice
- building (of imposing size)
- s mingle
- mix together in close association
- n dowdy
- untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman
- edict
- decree (especially one issued by a sovereign); official command
- denotation
- meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation
- n dregs
- sediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue
- diminution
- lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
- n existential
- pertaining to existence; pertaining to the philosophy of existentialism
- s distract
- take (one's attention) off something; upset emotionally; make anxious; ADJ. distracted
- s outgoing
- sociable; eager to mix socially with others
- s embitter
- make bitter; fill with painful or bitter feelings; make sad and angry; Ex. He was embittered by many disappointments.
- n epitaph
- inscription in memory of a dead person (as on a tombstone)
- n dissimulate
- pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble
- n expansive
- (of a person) outgoing and sociable; broad and extensive; able to increase in size
- deranged
- insane
- n dotage
- senility; feeblemindedness of old age; Ex. In one's dotage
- 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
- deducible
- derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning
- n erratic
- odd; irregular in movement or behavior; unpredictable
- s detain
- keep waiting; prevent from leaving or going; N. detention
- s urge
- drive or force forward (by causing impulses); drive to take action; impel; entreat earnestly; Ex. urge horses; N: impulse that prompts action
- exploit
- brave and successful act; deed or action, particularly a brave deed; CF. crossing the Atlantic ocean
- diligence
- steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
- deposition
- testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning
- n exuberance
- overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; flamboyance; lavishness; ADJ. exuberant: high-spirited and lively; growing abundantly and strongly
- s urgent
- compelling immediate action; pressing; persistent; importunate; Ex. urgent in his demands
- n didactic
- (of speech or writing) intended to teach a moral lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism
- exploit
- make use of, sometimes unjustly; N. exploitation
- s dowse
- use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals
- n entree(entr\'ee)
- entrance; a way in; right to enter; main dish of a meal; Ex. entree into the exclusive circle
- s gush
- (of liquid) pour out in large quantities from a hole; make an excessive display of feeling (without true feeling); Ex. Blood gushed from the wound.
- n episodic
- (of a story or play) loosely connected; made up of separate and loosely connected parts; N. episode: incident in the course of an experience
- s fringe
- decorative edge of hanging threads; edge
- s discompose
- disturb the composure of; confuse
- 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
- n elysian
- relating to paradise; blissful
- s encircle
- surround
- n dinghy
- small boat (often ship's boat)
- n engage
- attract; employ; hire; pledge oneself; confront; fight; enter into confliction; interlock; lock together; participate; N. engagement: agreement to marry; arrangement to meet someone or to do something; battle
- diversion
- act of turning aside; pastime; V. divert: turn aside from a course; distract; amuse
- n dissolution
- disintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life
- deflect
- turn aside; turn away from a straight course
- n doddering
- shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder
- n debunk
- expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule
- emanate
- issue forth; come out
- extort
- wring from; get money by threats, etc.; obtain by force or threats; CF. extortionate: exorbitant
- n disavowal
- denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim
- s padre
- chaplain (in the armed forces)
- diabolical
- diabolic; devilish; fiendish
- s drip
- fall or let fall in drops; shed drops; N: action or sound of falling in drops; liquid that falls in drops
- n ennui
- boredom; listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest; CF. annoy
- elusive
- evasive; not frank; baffling; hard to grasp, catch, or understand; V. elude: escape from; escape the understanding or grasp of; Ex. elude the hunter; Ex. His name eludes me.
- exacting
- extremely demanding; Ex. exacting standard of safety
- n disinter
- dig up; unearth; OP. inter
- exclaim
- cry out suddenly; N. exclamation; ADJ. exclamatory
- n exegesis
- explanation, especially of biblical(of the bible) passages
- decoy
- lure or bait; V.
- disapprobation
- disapproval; condemnation
- detraction
- slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor
- s merit
- deserve; ADJ. meritorious: deserving reward or praise
- diaphanous
- sheer; transparent
- n extenuate
- weaken; mitigate; lessen the seriousness of (bad behavior)
- n dislodge
- remove (forcibly); force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge
- decorum
- propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct
- diffidence
- shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident
- n disconcert
- confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb
- emollient
- soothing or softening remedy (for the skin); ADJ.
- evanescent
- fleeting; vanishing; soon disappearing; V. evanesce
- n demur
- object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday
- digression
- wandering away from the subject; V. digress
- n emboss
- produce a design in raised relief; decorate with a raised design
- demeanor
- behavior; bearing
- effectual
- able to produce a desired effect; valid
- s flighty
- (esp. of a woman's behavior) capricious; often changing, esp. from one lover to another; impulsive
- embezzlement
- taking for one's own use in violation of trust; stealing (of money placed in one's care)
- desiccate
- dry up
- 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 disband
- dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
- s discriminate
- distinguish; make distinctions on the basis of preference
- evocative
- tending to call up (emotions, memories)
- enormity
- hugeness (in a bad sense); excessive wickedness; Ex. enormity of the crime; ADJ. enormous
- disparage
- belittle
- s ferocious
- fierce; violent; N. ferocity
- disenfranchise
- disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise
- n egress
- exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP. ingress
- discordant
- not harmonious; conflicting
- elicit
- draw out fact or information (by discussion or from someone)
- ellipsis
- omission of words from a text; mark used to indicate an omission (when the meaning can be understood without them); PL. ellipses
- encroachment
- gradual intrusion; Ex. I resent all these encroachments on my valuable time; V. encroach: take another's possessions or right gradually or stealthily; intrude; Ex. encroach on/upon
- n devolve
- deputize; pass or be passed to others (power, work, or property); Ex. devolve on/upon/to
- s dishonor
- disgrace; N. ADJ. dishonorable
- n empathy
- ability to identify with another's feelings, ideas, etc.; identification with and understanding of another's feelings; V. empathize; CF. sympathy
- demolition
- destruction; V. demolish
- n dutiful(duteous)
- (of people or their behavior) respectful; obedient (filled with a sense of duty)
- equinox
- period of equal days and nights; the beginning of spring and autumn; Ex. vernal/autumnal equinox; ADJ. equinoctial
- empirical
- based on experience
- n dismantle
- take apart; disassemble
- exemplary
- serving as a model; outstanding; Ex. exemplary punishment/behavior; N. exemplar: typical example; model
- s Elysium
- place or condition of bliss
- expatriate
- exile; someone who has withdrawn from his native land; V: exile; banish; leave one's country
- defection
- desertion
- n dehydrate
- remove water from; dry out
- effrontery
- rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness; presumptousness; nerve; cheek
- derogatory
- expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage
- s indoctrinate
- cause to accept a doctrine without questioning it; Ex. indoctrinated with mindless anti-communism
- despoil
- plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
- n ejaculation
- exclamation; abrupt ejection (to discharge sperm); V. ejaculate
- n demographic
- related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population
- n die
- metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice
- denigrate
- blacken; defame
- n decomposition
- decay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts
- enervate
- weaken; take away energy from
- dilate
- expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on (a subject)
- s sovereignty
- complete independence and self-government (of a country); supremacy of authority; power to govern
- n epigram
- witty thought or saying, usually short
- deadlock
- standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate
- daunt
- intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten
- exalt
- raise in rank or dignity; praise highly; inspire; Ex. exalt the imagination; ADJ. exalted; N. exaltation
- effigy
- dummy; likeness of a person made of wood, paper, or stone; Ex. burn an effigy of the President
- n ethos
- underlying character of a culture, group, etc.; character or ideas peculiar to a specific person, group, or culture; Ex. the company ethos
- decapitate
- behead
- exacerbate
- worsen; aggravate; embitter
- s brisk
- quick and active; marked by liveliness and vigor
- efficacy
- power to produce desired effect; ADJ. efficacious: effectual
- detonation
- explosion
- debase
- degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement
- emend
- correct (usually a text); N. emendation: correction of errors; improvement
- disinterested
- unprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest; objective
- s interjection
- exclamation; Ex. ``Ouch''
- n dappled
- spotted
- n doff
- take off; OP. don
- s castrate
- remove the sex organs (of a male animal or person)
- devise
- think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest
- s institutionalize
- make into an institution; put or confine in an institution
- deft
- neat; skillful
- environ
- enclose; surround; N. environs: surrounding area (as of a city)
- n dote
- be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline
- desolate
- (of a place) deserted; unpopulated; (of a person) lonely; forlorn; joyless
- n dulcet
- sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious
- s compassion
- sympathy for the suffering of others; ADJ. compassionate
- n disburse
- pay out (as from a fund); N. disbursement; CF. purse
- s emasculate
- weaken; castrate
- n extraneous
- not essential; irrelevant; superfluous; external; coming from the outside; Ex. extraneous details/noise/to the subject
- dilute
- make (a liquid) less concentrated; reduce in strength; Ex. dilute the influence of the president
- dormant
- sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent
- delude
- deceive
- n dormer
- window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room
- diurnal
- daily; occurring during the daytime
- s emblazon
- ornament richly (a shield or flag); N. emblazonment
- desecrate
- profane; violate the sanctity of
- dilapidated
- falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation
- discrepancy
- lack of consistency or agreement as between facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions
- n ensconce
- settle comfortably; place comfortably (in a secure place)
- n dolt
- slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull
- decadence
- decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization, or art); ADJ. decadent
- n diorama
- life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background
- extricate
- free from an entanglement or difficulty; disentangle
- excise
- cut away; cut out; N: government tax on good produced and used inside a country; N. excision
- emolument
- salary; payment for an office; compensation
- n descry
- catch sight of (something distant)
- n ethnic
- relating to races
- n entrance
- put under a spell(condition caused by magical power); carry away(fill with strong feeling) with emotion; put into a trance; fill with delight
- diverse
- differing in some characteristics (from each other); various; N. diversity: variety; dissimilitude; lack of resemblance
- despot
- tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism
- s smear
- spread or cover with a sticky substance; N: mark made by smearing
- discernible
- distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement
- epilogue
- short speech at conclusion of dramatic work
- depict
- portray
- discriminating
- able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination
- eccentric
- irregular; odd; unconventional; whimsical; bizarre; not concentric
- ecologist
- person concerned with the interrelationship between living organisms and their environment; person concerned with the detrimental effects of human civilization on the environment; CF. ecology
- s embody
- give a bodily form to; incorporate; include
- despondent
- without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection
- s dereliction
- neglect of duty; abandonment
- n drivel
- nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense
- s exhale
- breathe out; OP. inhale
- disfigure
- mar the appearance of; spoil
- exorbitant
- (of costs or demands) excessive; exceeding reasonable bounds
- degradation
- humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank
- disparity
- difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity
- s chaplain
- clergyman attached to a chapel
- encumber
- burden; N. encumbrance
- 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
- s puzzle
- baffle or confuse by a difficult problem; ponder over a problem in an effort to solve; clarify or solve by reasoning; Ex. puzzle out the answer; N.
- n distant
- reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly
- exorcise
- drive out evil spirits
- n dingy
- (of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain
- n debauch
- corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior (with sex and alcohol)
- efface
- rub out; remove the surface of
- eclectic
- selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources; selecting individual elements from a variety of sources; N. eclecticism
- 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
- n demoniac(demoniacal)
- fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil
- n extrude
- force or push out; thrust out; shape (plastic or metal) by forcing through a die
- demise
- death
- 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
- n doggerel
- poor verse
- d\'ebris
- rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed
- definitive
- most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court
- dilemma
- situation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives
- s engaged
- employed; busy; betrothed; involved in conflict
- s earthly
- of this earth; terrestrial; worldly; not divine; possible; Ex. no earthly reason
- exigency
- urgent situation; ADJ. exigent
- s institution
- instituting; (building for the) organization; established custom, practice, or relationship in a society; mental hospital; Ex. institution of marriage
- n eschew
- avoid habitually; Ex. eschew alcoholic drinks
- s standstill
- condition of no movement or activity; stop
- exotic
- not native; from another part of the world; strange; intriguingly unusual; Ex. exotic flower/dress
- n dirge
- funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)
- eerie
- weird; causing fear because strange
- endorse
- approve; support; write one's signature on the back of; N. endorsement; CF. dorsal
- s enterprise
- willingness to take new ventures; initiative; business organization; plan (that is difficult or daring); Ex. their latest enterprise to sail round the world in a small boat
- enmity
- ill will; hatred; hostility
- depredation
- plundering; destruction
- entomology
- study of insects
- n dapper
- neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry
- engross
- occupy fully; absorb
- n eon(aeon)
- long period of time; an age; longest division of geologic time containing two or more eras
- s persevere
- continue steadily in spite of difficulties
- n ethereal
- like a spirit or fairy; unearthly light; heavenly; unusually refined; Ex. She has an ethereal beauty; CF. ether: upper air
- disquietude
- uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious
- emissary
- agent (sent on a mission to represent another); messenger
- s airy
- of air; high in the air; lofty; immaterial; unreal
- depreciate
- lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value
- n dogged
- determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering; tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert's dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean
- n eminent
- rising above others; high; lofty; distinguished; Ex. eminent position
- s acne
- skin disease (on the face)
- despise
- look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible
- equable
- tranquil; of even calm temper; (of temperature) steady; uniform
- n dispirited
- lacking in spirit
- docile
- obedient; easily managed; submissive
- diverge
- vary; go in different directions from the same point; ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating
- erudite
- (of a person or book) learned; full of learning; scholarly; N. erudition
- dorsal
- relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin
- n droll
- queer and amusing
- deplete
- reduce; exhaust
- s derivation
- deriving; origin or source of something; Ex. the derivation of the word
- extrinsic
- external; not essential or inherent; extraneous; OP. intrinsic
- entity
- real being
- disperse
- scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd
- elated
- filled with excited joy and pride; overjoyed; in high spirits; joyful and proud; Ex. elated crowd; V. elate; N. elation
- n document
- provide written evidence (for a claim); record with documents; N.
- exhilarating
- invigorating and refreshing; cheering; V. exhilarate: make cheerful and excited; Ex. exhilarated by the ride in the sports car
- deliberate
- consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow
- s dribble
- flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from the mouth; move a ball; N.
- encipher
- encode; convert a message into code; put into cipher
- discrete
- separate; unconnected
- n exceptionable
- objectionable; likely to cause dislike; offensive; CF. unexceptionable: entirely acceptable
- disparate
- basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated
- embrace
- hug; clasp with the arms; adopt or espouse; accept readily; encircle; include; Ex. embrace the cause/socialism; Ex. all-embracing; CF. brace; CF. bracelet
- s distinctive
- clearly different from others of the same kind
- s exact
- demand and obtain by force; Ex. exact a promise from him; N. exaction
- explicate
- explain in detail; interpret; clarify; CF. explicable
- dismember
- cut into small parts; cut (a body) apart limb from limb
- euthanasia
- mercy killing
- n dossier
- file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back
- n discombobulated
- discomposed; confused
- delineate
- portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation
- defile
- pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains
- n drone
- idle person who lives on other people's work; male bee
- erode
- eat away; wear away gradually by abrasion; Ex. The sea erodes the rocks.
- s maroon
- leave helpless on a deserted island or coast; ADJ. red brown
- n defray
- provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay
- distend
- expand; swell out
- s except
- exclude; N. exception: objection; exclusion; ADJ. exceptional: unusual; of unusually high quality
- emaciated
- thin and wasted (from hunger or illness)
- effeminate
- having womanly traits
- n diatribe
- bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse
- s impoverish
- make poor; deprive of natural strength or something important; Ex. impoverished soil
- dispel
- scatter; drive away; cause to vanish
- deterrent
- something that discourages or deters
- 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
- depravity
- extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
- n decry
- express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films
- n disengage
- uncouple; separate; disconnect; stop fighting; OP. engage
- dogmatic
- opinionated; holding stubbornly to one's opinion; arbitrary; doctrinal
- n domineer
- rule over tyrannically
- s dummy
- imitation of a real object used as a substitute; effigy
- 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
- derision
- ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory
- dispatch
- speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill
- n don
- put on; OP. doff
- s ooze
- (of a thick liquid) pass or flow slowly; N: mud or thick liquid as at the bottom of a river
- extirpate
- root up; uproot; destroy completely
- n enunciate
- announce; proclaim; utter or speak, especially distinctly; pronounce clearly; articulate; Ex. This theory was first enunciated by him.
- s crust
- hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)
- dermatologist
- one who studies the skin and its diseases
- s effulgent
- shining brightly; brilliant
- discretion
- prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary
- exhume
- dig out of the ground; remove from a grave
- n ductile
- malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled
- s effectuate
- effect; produce; achieve; Ex. effectuate a reconciliation
- n devious
- roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route
- entrepreneur
- businessperson (who assumes the risk of a business venture); contractor; ADJ. entrepreneurial
- dolorous
- sorrowful; N. dolor
- n dupe
- someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive
- s bout
- match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of drinking/flu
- egoism
- excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others; selfishness; ADJ. egoistic, egoistical
- divulge
- reveal
- n dubious
- questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of someone) filled with doubt; N. dubiety
- n effluvium
- noxious(harmful) smell
- n deleterious
- harmful
- s oath
- solemn promise; blasphemous use of sacred words to express strong feelings; swear-word; Ex. ``For Christ's sake''
- energize
- invigorate; give energy to; make forceful and active
- s fiend
- evil spirit; devil
- extrovert
- person interested mostly in external objects and actions
- entreat
- plead; ask earnestly
- etymology
- study of word parts; study of the origins of words
- n dyspeptic
- suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food
- n disaffected
- disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
- s dominate
- control; rule; enjoy a commanding position in; overlook from a height; ³»·Á´Ùº¸´Ù
- evoke
- call forth (memory or feeling); Ex. That old film evoked memories of my childhood; N. evocation
- s violate
- break (a law); defile; desecrate; assault sexually; Ex. violate graves
- dissent
- disagree
- s decrepit
- weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man
- distort
- twist out of shape; give a false account of; misrepresent; N. distortion
- decimate
- kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a large part of
- explicit
- totally clear; definite; outspoken
- defiance
- refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
- emancipate
- set free; liberate
- n errant
- wandering (esp. in search of adventure); straying from proper moral standards; Ex. knight-errant
- exertion
- effort; expenditure of much physical work; V. exert oneself: make a great effort
- dilatory
- delaying; tending to delay
- n dais
- raised platform for speakers or other important people
- embargo
- ban on commerce or other activity
- demagogue
- person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery
- din
- continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition
- s frock
- long loose garment (worn by monks)
- n discount
- disregard; regard (a story or news) as unimportant; deduct from a cost
- expertise
- specialized knowledge (in a particular field); expert skill
- s executive
- person having administrative authority; one branch of government executing laws; ADJ: relating to executing
- denizen
- (animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor
- decrepitude
- state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age
- depose
- dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify
- delusive
- deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises
- n effervescence
- inner excitement or exuberance; showing high spirits; emitting bubbles forming inside; bubbling from fermentation or carbonation; ADJ. effervescent; V. effervesce
- s legislature
- legislating branch of government; CF. legislate: make laws
- s ram
- male sheep; V. strike or drive against with a heavy impact
- enfranchise
- admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote); CF. franchise
- endemic
- prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country; peculiar to a particular region or people; CF. pandemic
- exempt
- not subject to a duty or obligation; free from a duty; V.
- dexterous
- skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity
- s prank
- mischievous trick
- s glow
- shine brightly without a flame (as of eyes or metals); show redness and heat (in the face) after hard work or because of strong feelings; N: light produced by a heated body; brilliance of a color
- n excoriate
- scold with biting harshness; censure strongly; strip the skin off
- n disembark
- debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark
- s drudge
- do drudgery; N: person who drudges
- enumerate
- list; mention one by one
- execrate
- curse; express abhorrence for; detest
- n enamored
- in love; Ex. enamored of his own beauty; V. enamor: inspire with love
- s trickle
- flow in drops or in a thin stream; N.
- defunct
- dead; no longer in use or existence
- expiate
- make amends for (a sin)
- n determinate
- having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final
- default
- failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.
- n disclaim
- disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer
- n defeatist
- resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism
- egotistical
- egotistic; excessively self-centered(egocentric); self-important; conceited
- exculpate
- clear from blame or guilt
- n draconian
- extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician
- desultory
- aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
- drudgery
- hard unpleasant work; menial work
- s seduce
- lead away from proper conduct; entice; ADJ. seductive
- decipher
- decode; CF. indecipherable
- equanimity
- calmness of temperament; composure
- s wring
- twist (to extract liquid); extract by twisting; wrench painfully (necks or hands)
- disputatious
- argumentative; fond of argument
- n earthy
- unrefined; coarse; of earth; Ex. earthy remarks; OP. ethereal
- exposure
- risk, particularly of being exposed to disease or to the elements; unmasking; act of laying something open; Ex. exposure of governmental corruption
- n desperado
- reckless, desperate outlaw
- s ego
- one's opinion of oneself; self-esteem
- entice
- lure; persuade to do (something wrong); attract; tempt
- exemplify
- show by example; furnish an example; serve as an example of; Ex. His pictures exemplify that sort of painting.
- disabuse
- correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief
- disjointed
- disconnected; lacking coherence; V. disjoint: disconnect; disjoin
- disseminate
- distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)
- ephemeral
- short-lived; fleeting
- derivative
- unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N.
- s executor
- person designated to execute the terms of a will; ¿¹¼ú ÀÛÇ°ÀÇ Á¦ÀÛÀÚ
- dispassionate
- calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings
- n enrapture
- please intensely; fill with rapture and delight
- exiguous
- small in amount; minute
- n discursive
- (of a person or writing) digressing; rambling (without any clear plan)
- devout
- pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope
- n edify
- instruct; correct morally
- n dabble
- work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid
- deprecate
- express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory
- s judiciary
- judicial branch of government
- n dour
- sullen; gloomy; stubborn
- elucidate
- explain; make clear; clarify; enlighten; CF. lucid
- engender
- cause; produce; give rise to
- n defrock
- strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock
- n epithet
- word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing; descriptive phrase to characterize a person (often contemptous)
- ebullient
- showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm; boiling; N. ebullience; N. ebullition: state of boiling
- s sovereign
- ruler in a monarchy; ADJ: (of a country) independent and self-governing; having supreme power; supreme; excellent
- denounce
- condemn; criticize; N. denunciation
- n evasive
- not frank; trying to hide the truth; eluding; evading; V. evade: avoid (a duty or responsibility) or escape from by deceit
- encompass
- surround; include; Ex. His activities encompass publishing and computers.
- s queer
- strange; eccentric; deviating from the normal
- n epaulet(epaulette)
- ornament worn on the shoulder (of a uniform, etc.)
- delta
- flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river
- n extrapolation
- projection; conjecture; V. extrapolate: infer (unknown information) from known information
- extant
- (of something written or painted) still in existence
- expurgate
- clean; remove offensive parts of a book
- divine
- perceive intuitively (by or as if by magic); foresee the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination
- s nonsense
- speech or writing with no meaning; foolish behavior or language; Ex. make (a) nonsense of: spoil; cause to fail
- eugenic
- pertaining to the improvement of race; N. eugenics: study of hereditary improvement of the human race
- euphemism
- mild expression in place of an unpleasant one; ADJ. euphemistic
- n distinction
- honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction
- s institute
- organization for a special purpose; V: establish
- exonerate
- acquit; exculpate; free from blame or guilt
- debilitate
- weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble
- n duress
- forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress
- enthrall
- capture; enslave; captivate; hold the complete attention of (as if magic); hold spellbound
- 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
- disinclination
- unwillingness
- n exhort
- urge (by strong argument or advice); Ex. The general exhorted his men to fight bravely; N. exhortation
- s swear-word
- word considered offensive; Ex. ``bloody''
- s Epicurean
- believing that pleasure is good and suffering is bad and should be avoided; N.
- n disquisition
- formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report
- disjunction
- act or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive: expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive
- 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
- s desperate
- having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent because of loss of hope or despair; undertaken as a last resort
- s dynamo
- generator for producing electricity; energetic person
- n equivocate
- use equivocal language to deceive people; lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth; N. equivocation
- eccentricity
- oddity; idiosyncrasy
- s debut
- d\'ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation of a young woman to society
- n elixir
- cure-all; panacea; something invigorating
- s executioner
- person administering capital punishment
- n disingenuous
- not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous
- derelict
- negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person
- s expos\'e
- public revelation of something discreditable
- n equestrian
- rider on horseback; ADJ.
- n detached
- emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment
- s dissonance
- discord
- s egotism
- tendency to speak or write of oneself excessively; conceit; self-importance
- s smudge
- dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing; V.
- epitome
- perfect example or embodiment; brief summary; Ex. epitome of good manners; V. epitomize: make an epitome of; be an epitome of; embody
- n deign
- condescend; stoop
- deface
- mar; disfigure
- enhance
- increase; make greater (as in value, reputation, or usefulness); improve
- estranged
- separated; alienated; V. estrange: alienate (people in a family); N. estrangement
- n diadem
- crown
- s sullen
- silently showing ill humor or resentment; dark; gloomy
- s distinct
- clearly different; clearly noticed
- n elaboration
- addition of details; intricacy
- n distrait
- absentminded; distracted
- discerning
- mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
- n excerpt
- selected passage (written or musical) taken from a longer work; V.
- s defect
- shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)
- delirium
- mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious
- n demure
- (of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure
- n duplicity
- double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous
- n delve
- dig; search deeply; investigate
- s treasure
- keep as precious; cherish
- deploy
- spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically
- evince
- show clearly
- n disgruntle
- make discontented
- dynamic
- energetic; vigorously active
- s outfit
- clothing or equipment for a special purpose; Ex. cowboy outfit
- execute
- put into effect; carry out; kill as a lawful punishment; N. execution
- erotic
- pertaining to passionate love or sexual love
- entail
- make necessary; require; necessitate; involve; limit the inheritance of (property) to a specified succession of heirs; Ex. entail A on/upon B
- ecstasy
- rapture; very strong feeling of joy and happiness; any overpowering emotion; ADJ. ecstatic: causing or experiencing ecstasy
- dissident
- dissenting (with an opinion, a group, or a government); rebellious; N.
- embroider
- decorate with needlework; ornament (a story) with fancy or fictitious details; embellish
- n equivocal
- (of words or statements) ambiguous; intentionally misleading; (of behavior) questionable; OP. unequivocal
- deride
- ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect
- epic
- long heroic poem, novel, or similar work of art (celebrating the feats of a hero); ADJ: (of stories or events) resembling an epic; grand
- s trance
- hypnotic state; ecstatic state; detachment from one's physical surrounding (as in contemplation or daydreaming); CF. transition
- expound
- explain
- n eulogy
- expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death; V. eulogize
- s chancellor
- legal official of high rank; CF. chancellery(chancellory): position of a chancellor
- n dank
- damp; unpleasantly wet
- detrimental
- harmful; damaging; N. detriment
- s endear
- make beloved; Ex. endear her to everyone; ADJ. dear: loved; cherished; high-priced
- s dysentery
- inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract
- s dyslexia
- word blindness; learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to read
- s dominant
- exercising the most influence; high and easily seen; stronger than the other part of a system; not recessive
- expedient
- suitable (for a particular purpose although not necessarily morally correct); practical; politic(prudent); N: something expedient
- discord
- conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when musical notes are played)
- embed(imbed)
- enclose; place in something; fix firmly in a surrounding mass
- n declivity
- downward slope
- n disarray
- state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex. with her clothes in disarray
- eloquence
- expressiveness; persuasive speech; ADJ. eloquent: movingly expressive; expressing ideas well so that the hearers can be influeneced
- n dumbfound(dumfound)
- astonish (making dumb); ADJ. dumbfounded, dumfounded, dumbstruck
- deluge
- flood; rush; V.
- s swear
- vow; promise; use profane oaths; use offensive words
- n expropriate
- take possession of (often for public use and without payment)
- espionage
- spying
- s dys-
- abnormal; impaired
- devotee
- enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach
- n dire
- warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food
- s ecliptic
- path of the sun and the planets
- n ewe
- female sheep
- exult
- rejoice
- expository
- explanatory; serving to explain; N. exposition: explaining; exhibition
- n espouse
- adopt; support (an idea or aim); marry; N. espousal
- s mantle
- loose sleeveless outer garment; cloak; something that covers or envelops; the layer of the earth between the crust and the core
- n euphoria
- feeling of exaggerated or unfounded(ungrounded; baseless) well-being; feeling of great happiness or well-being (when unreasonable); ADJ. euphoriaric
- divest
- strip (as of clothes); deprive (as of rights); dispossess; N. divestiture(divestment)
- endue
- provide with some quality; endow
- economy
- efficiency or conciseness in using something; thrifty management of resources
- equilibrium
- balance of opposing forces; balance of the mind; equanimity
- n esoteric
- hard to understand; known only to the chosen few, esp. initiates; N. esoterica
- n douse
- plunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse; drench; wet throughly; extinguish; throw water over; dowse
- deference
- courteous regard for another's wish; courteous yielding to another's wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery
- escapade
- prank; flighty conduct; reckless adventure that disobeys rules
- n dilettante
- aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight
- n dwindle
- shrink; reduce gradually
- n drab
- dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life
- n extradition
- surrender of prisoner by one state to another; Ex. extradition treaty; V. extradite
- n ethnology
- study of humankind; study of the different races of human beings; CF. anthropology
- n exude
- flow out slowly; discharge (gradually); give forth; N. exudation
- expenditure
- payment or expense; expending; something expended; output; Ex. receipt for the expenditure; Ex. expenditure of all the energy
- demean
- disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave
- dearth
- scarcity
- exodus
- departure (of a large number of people)
- n drone
- talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N.
- n expunge
- cancel; remove a word or name (from a book or list); erase
- esteem
- respect; value; judge; N.
- n disheveled
- untidy (of hair or clothing); V. dishevel
- s decorous
- proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)
- dishearten
- discourage
- n expostulation
- protest; remonstrance; reasoning with someone to correct or dissuade; V. expostulate
- dawdle
- loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing
- n demotic
- of or pertaining to the people
- erroneous
- mistaken; wrong; incorrect
- eclipse
- darken; extinguish; outshine; surpass; cause an eclipse
- n diffuse
- wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out (like a gas); V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse
- 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.
- eulogistic
- praising; full of eulogy
- n determination
- resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision
- elliptical
- elliptic; oval; of an ellipse; containing an ellipsis; ambiguous either purposely or because key words have been left out
- n disport
- amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert
- s elaborate
- work out carefully; add more detail or information; ADJ.
- extemporaneous
- not planned; impromptu; extempore
- degenerate
- become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person
- equity
- fairness; justice; OP. inequity
- 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
- s ecosystem
- ecological community together with its environment
- s hypnosis
- induced sleeping state; ADJ. hypnotic; V. hypnotize
- s mischief
- behavior (of children) causing trouble with no serious harm; damage; harm; Ex. mischief to the crops; ADJ. mischievous: causing mischief; playfully troublesome
- dauntless
- bold; fearless
- n eddy
- swirling current of water, air, etc.; V.
- n exasperate
- vex; annoy or make angry (by testing the patience)
- ebb
- (of the tide) recede; lessen; diminish; N. OP. flow: rise of tide
- egregious
- notorious; conspicuously bad or shocking
- discredit
- defame; disgrace; destroy confidence in; disbelieve; N. CF. discreditable: causing discredit; shameful
- destitute
- extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience
- s kneel
- go down on one's knee(s)
- n elegy
- poem or song expressing lamentation (for the dead); ADJ. elegiacal, elegiac
- n domicile
- home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one's domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain.
- s effective
- effectual; producing a strong response; striking; in operation; in effect; Ex. effective speech/photograph
- equitable
- fair; impartial; OP. inequitable
- s dispense
- distribute; prepare and give out (medicines); N. dispensation: dispensing; religious system; official exemption from an obligation or a rule
- n deciduous
- falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth
- n expletive
- meaningless word; interjection; profane oath; swear-word
- n emulate
- imitate; rival; try to equal or excel (through imitation)