===================================================
VOCAB
LIST - 2
( C
- D )
===================================================
{C}
===================================================
** cabal
(n.)
a group of persons joined by a secret
*
The very idea that there could be a cabal cast suspicion on the whole
operation.
===================================
** cache
(n.)
stockpile; store; heap; hiding place for goods
*
The cache for his jewelry was hidden under the bed.
===================================
** cacophonous
(adj.)
sounding jarring
*The
cacophonous sound from the bending metal sent shivers up our spines.
===================================
** cacophony
(n.)
a harsh, inharmonious collection of sounds; dissonance
* The amateur band created more cacophony than beautiful sound.
* The amateur band created more cacophony than beautiful sound.
===================================
** cajole
(v.)
to coax with insincere talk
*
To cajole the disgruntled employee, the manager coaxed him with lies and sweet
talk.
===================================
** calamity
(n.)
disaster
The
fire in the apartment building was a great calamity.
===================================
** caliber
(n.)
quality
*
The caliber of talent at the show was excellent.
===================================
** callow
(adj.)
being young or immature
*
With the callow remark the young man demonstrated his age.
===================================
** calumny
(n.)
slander, a malicious statement
* I
felt it necessary to speak against the calumny of the man’s good reputation.
===================================
** canard
(n.)
a false statement or rumor
*
The canard was reported in a scandalous tabloid.
===================================
** candid
(adj.)
honest; truthful; sincere
*
People trust her because she’s so candid.
===================================
** cant
(n.)
insincere or hypocritical statements of high ideals; the jargon of a particular
group or occupations
*
The theater majors had difficulty understanding the cant of the computer
scientists.
*
The remarks by the doctor were cant and meant only for his associates.
===================================
** caprice
(n.)
a sudden, unpredictable or whimsical change
* The caprice with which the couple approached the change of plans was evidence to their young age.
* The caprice with which the couple approached the change of plans was evidence to their young age.
===================================
** capricious
(adj.)
changeable; fickle
*
The capricious bride-to-be has a different church in mind for her wedding every
few days.
====================================
** captious
(adj.)
disposed to find fault
* A
captious attitude often causes difficulties in a relationship.
====================================
** carte blanche
(n.)
unlimited authority
*
The designer was given carte blanche to create a new line for the fall.
====================================
** cascade
(n.)
waterfall;
(v.)
pour; rush; fall
*
(n.) The hikers stopped along the path to take in the beauty of the rushing
cascade.
*
(v.)The water cascaded down the rocks into the pool.
====================================
====================================
** castigate
(v.)
to punish through public criticism
*
The mayor castigated the police chief for the rash of robberies.
=====================================
** cataclysm
(n.)
an extreme natural force
*
The earthquake has been the first cataclysm in five years.
=====================================
** catalyst
(n.)
anything which creates a situation in which change
can occur
can occur
*
The low pressure system was the catalyst for the nor’easter.
=====================================
** catharsis
(n.)
a purging or relieving of the body or soul
*
He experienced a total catharsis after the priest absolved his sins.
====================================
** caustic
(adj.)
eating away at; sarcastic words
*
The girl harmed her mother with her caustic remarks.
====================================
** cavil
(v.)
to bicker
*
The children are constantly caviling.
====================================
** censor
(v.)
to examine and delete objectionable material
*
The children were allowed to watch the adult movie only after it had been
censored.
====================================
** censure
(n.)
a disapproval; an expression of disapproval
(v.)
to criticize or disapprove of
*
(n.) His remarks drew the censure of his employers.
*
(v.) Her parents censured her idea of dropping out of school.
====================================
** ceremonious
(adj.)
very formal or proper
*
The black-tie dinner was highly ceremonious.
====================================
** cessation
(n.)ceasing;
a stopping
*
The cessation of a bad habit is often difficult to sustain.
====================================
** chafe
(v.)
to annoy, to irritate; to wear away or make sore by rubbing
*
He doesn’t wear pure wool sweaters because they usually chafe his skin.
====================================
** chaffing
(n.)
banter; teasing
*
The king was used to his jesters good-natured chaffing.
====================================
* chagrin
(n.)
a feeling of embarrassment due to failure or disappointment
*
She turned red-faced with chagrin when she learned that her son had been caught
shoplifting.
====================================
** charisma
(n.)
appeal; magnetism; presence
*
She has such charisma that everyone likes her the first time they meet her.
===================================
** charlatan
(n.)
a person who pretends to have knowledge; an impostor; fake
*
It was finally discovered that the charlatan sitting on the throne was not the
real king.
===================================
** chary
(adj.)
cautious; being sparing in giving
*
Be chary when driving at night.
====================================
** chaste
(adj.)
virtuous; morally pure in conduct; virginal.
*
Because the woman believed in being chaste, she would not let her boyfriend
into the house.
*
It is important for nuns to be chaste.
===================================
** chastise
(v.)
to punish; discipline; admonish
*
The dean chastised the first-year student for cheating on the exam.
===================================
** cherish
(v.)
to feel love for
*
The bride vowed to cherish the groom for life.
===================================
** chicanery
(n.)
trickery or deception, dishonest practice, the use of tricks to deceive someone
(usually to extract money)
*
The swindler (cheater) was trained in chicanery.
===================================
** chimera
(n.)
an impossible fancy
*
Perhaps he saw a flying saucer, but perhaps it was only a chimera.
===================================
** choleric
(adj.)
cranky; cantankerous; easily moved to feeling displeasure
*
Rolly becomes choleric when his views are challenged.
===================================
** chortle
(v.)
to make a gleeful, chuckling sound
The
chortles emanating from the audience indicated it wouldn’t be as tough a crowd
as the stand-up comic had expected.
===================================
** churlishness
(n.)
crude or surly behavior; behavior of a peasant
*
The churlishness of the teenager caused his employer to lose faith in
him.
===================================
** circumlocution
** circumlocution
(n.)
a roundabout or indirect way of speaking; not to the point
*
The man’s speech contained so much circumlocution that I was unsure of the
point he was trying to make.
===================================
** circumlocutory
** circumlocutory
(adj.)
being too long, as in a description or expression; a roundabout, indirect, or
ungainly way of expressing something
*
It was a circumlocutory documentary that could have been cut to half its
running time to say twice as much.
===================================
** circumspect
(adj.)
considering all circumstances
* A
circumspect decision must be made when so many people are involved.
===================================
** citadel
(n.)
a fortress set up high to defend a city
* A
citadel sat on the hill to protect the city below.
====================================
** clandestine
(adj.)
secret
*
The clandestine plan must be kept between the two of us
====================================
** clemency
(n.)
mercy toward an offender; mildness
*
The governor granted the prisoner clemency.
====================================
** cloture
(n.)
a parliamentary procedure to end debate and begin to vote
*
Cloture was declared as the parliamentarians readied to
register their votes.
register their votes.
=====================================
** cloying (adj.)
too
sugary; too sentimental or flattering
*
After years of marriage the husband still gave cloying gifts to his wife.
=====================================
** coagulate
** coagulate
(v.)
to become a semisolid, soft mass; to clot
*
The liquid will coagulate and close the tube if left standing.
=====================================
** coalesce
(v.)
to grow together
*
The bride and groom coalesced their funds to increase their collateral.
=====================================
** coda
(n.)
in music, a concluding passage
*
By the end of the coda, I was ready to burst with excitement over the thrilling
performance.
====================================
** coddle
(v.)
to treat with tenderness
* A
baby needs to be coddled.
====================================
** codify
(v.)
to organize laws or rules into a systematic collection
*
The intern codified all the city’s laws into a computerized filing system.
====================================
** coffer
(n.)
a chest where money or valuables are kept
*
The coffer that contained the jewels was stolen.
====================================
** cogent
(adj.)
to the point; clear; convincing in its clarity and presentation
* He made a short, cogent speech which his audience easily understood.
* He made a short, cogent speech which his audience easily understood.
====================================
** cogitate
(v.)
to think hard; ponder; meditate
*
It is necessary to cogitate on decisions which affect life goals.
*
The room was quiet while every student cogitated during the calculus
exam.
====================================
** cognate
(adj.)
having the same family;
(n.)
a person related through ancestry
*
(adj.) English and German are cognate languages.
*
(n.) The woman was a cognate to the royal family.
====================================
** cognitive
(adj.)
possessing the power to think or meditate; meditative; capable of perception
*
Cognitive thought makes humans adaptable to a quickly changing environment.
*
Once the toddler was able to solve puzzles, it was obvious that her cognitive
abilities were developing.
====================================
** cognizant
(adj.)
aware of; perceptive
*
She became alarmed when she was cognizant of the man following her.
*
It was critical to establish whether the defendant was cognizant of his rights.
====================================
** coherent
(adj.)
sticking together; connected; logical; consistent
*
The course was a success due to its coherent information.
*
If he couldn’t make a coherent speech, how could he run for office?
====================================
** cohesion
(n.)
the act of holding together
*
The cohesion of the group increased as friendships were formed.
*
The cohesion of different molecules forms different substances.
====================================
** cohort
(n.)
a group; band
*
The cohort of teens gathered at the athletic field.
===================================
** collaborate
(v.)
to work together; cooperate
*
The two builders collaborated to get the house finished.
===================================
** colloquial
(adj.)
having to do with conversation; informal speech
*
The colloquial reference indicated the free spirit of the group.
*
When you listen to the difference between spoken colloquial
conversation and written work, you realize how good an ear a novelist must have to write authentic dialogue.
conversation and written work, you realize how good an ear a novelist must have to write authentic dialogue.
====================================
** collusion
(n.)
secret agreement for an illegal purpose
*
The authority discovered a collusion between the director and treasurer.
====================================
** comeliness
(n.)
beauty; attractiveness in appearance or behavior
*
The comeliness of the woman attracted everyone’s attention.
====================================
** commiserate
(v.)
to show sympathy for
*
The hurricane victims commiserated about the loss of their homes.
====================================
** commodious
(adj.)
spacious and convenient; roomy
*
The new home was so commodious that many new pieces of furniture needed to be
purchased.
====================================
** communal
(adj.)
shared or common ownership
*
The communal nature of the project made everyone pitch in to help.
===================================
** compatible
(adj.)
in agreement with; harmonious
*
When repairing an automobile, it is necessary to use parts compatible with that
make and model.
===================================
** complacent
(adj.)
content; self-satisfied; smug
*
The CEO worries regularly that his firm’s winning ways will make it complacent.
*
The candidate was so complacent with his poll numbers that he virtually stopped
campaigning.
===================================
** complaisance
(n.)
the quality of being agreeable or eager to please
*
The complaisance of the new assistant made it easy for the managers to
give him a lot of work without worrying that he may complain.
give him a lot of work without worrying that he may complain.
===================================
* compliant
(adj.)
complying; obeying; yielding
*
Compliant actions should be reinforced.
*
The slave was compliant with every order to avoid being whipped.
===================================
** comport
(v.)
fitting in
*
It was easy to comport to the new group of employees.
====================================
** comprehensive
(adj.)
all-inclusive; complete; thorough
*
It’s the only health facility around to offer comprehensive care.
====================================
** compromise
(v.)
to settle by mutual adjustment
*
Labor leaders and the automakers compromised by agreeing to a starting wage of
$16 an hour in exchange for concessions on health-care premiums.
====================================
** concede
(v.)
to acknowledge; admit; to surrender; to abandon one’s position
*
Satisfied with the recount, the mayor conceded graciously.
====================================
** conceit
(n.)
an exaggerated personal opinion
*
The man’s belief that he was the best player on the team was pure conceit.
===================================
** conciliation
(n.)
an attempt to make friendly or placate
*
Tanya used her womanly charm to conciliate an angry competitor.
===================================
** conciliatory
(adj.)
to reconcile
*
The diplomat sought to take a conciliatory approach to keep the talks going.
==================================
==================================
** concise
(adj.)
in few words; brief; condensed
*
The concise instructions were printed on two pages rather than the customary
five.
==================================
** conclave
(n.)
any private meeting or closed assembly
*
The conclave was to meet in the executive suite.
==================================
** condescend
(v.)
to come down from one’s position ordignity
*
The arrogant, rich man was usually condescending towards his servants.
==================================
** condone
(v.)
to overlook; to forgive
*
The loving and forgiving mother condoned her son’s life of crime.
==================================
** confluence
(n.)
a thing which is joined together
*
Great cities often lie at the confluence of great rivers.
==================================
** confound
(v.)
to lump together, causing confusion; to damn
*
The problem confounded our ability to solve it.
==================================
** conglomeration
(n.)
a collection or mixture of various things
*
The soup was a conglomeration of meats and vegetables.
==================================
** conjoin
(v.)
to combine
*
The classes will conjoin to do the play.
==================================
** conjure
(v.)
to call upon or appeal to; to cause to be, appear, come
*
The smell of the dinner conjured images of childhood.
==================================
** connivance
(n.)
secret cooperation in wrongdoing
*
With the guard’s connivance, the convict was able to make his escape.
==================================
** connoisseur
(n.)
expert; authority (usually refers to a wine or food expert)
*
They allowed her to choose the wine for dinner since she was the connoisseur.
==================================
** connotative
(adj.)
containing associated meanings in addition to the primary one
*
Along with the primary meaning of the word, there were two connotative
meanings.
==================================
** consecrate
(v.)
to declare sacred; to dedicate
*
The park was consecrated to the memory of the missing soldier.
==================================
** consequential
(adj.)
following as an effect; important
*
His long illness and consequential absence set him behind in his homework.
==================================
** consort
(n.)
a companion, spouse;
(v.)
to associate
*
(n.) An elderly woman was seeking a consort.
*
(v.) They waited until dark to consort under the moonlight.
==================================
** conspicuous
(adj.)
easy to see; noticeable
*
The diligent and hardworking editor thought the obvious mistake was
conspicuous.
==================================
** consternation
(n.)
amazement or terror that causes confusion
*
The look of consternation on the child’s face caused her father to panic.
===================================
** constrain
(v.)
to force, compel; to restrain
*
The student was constrained to remain in her seat until the teacher gave her
permission to leave.
======================================
** consummation
(n.)
the completion; finish
*
Following the consummation of final exams, most of the students graduated.
=====================================
=====================================
** contemporary
(adj.)
living or happening at the same time; modern
*
Contemporary furniture will clash with your traditional sectional.
=====================================
** contempt
(n.)
scorn; disrespect
*
The greedy, selfish banker was often discussed with great contempt.
=====================================
** contentious
(adj.)
quarrelsome
*
The contentious student was asked to leave the classroom.
====================================
** contest
(v.)
to attempt to disprove or invalidate
* I
will attempt to contest the criminal charges against me.
=====================================
** contiguous
(adj.)
touching; or adjoining and close, but not touching
*
There are many contiguous buildings in the city because there is no excess land
to allow space between them.
=====================================
** contravene
(v.)
to act contrary to; to oppose or contradict
*
The story of the accused contravened the story of the witness.
======================================
** contrite
(adj.)
regretful;sorrowful; having repentance
*
Regretting his decision not to attend college, the contrite man did not lead a
very happy life.
==================================
** contumacious
(adj.)
resisting authority
*
The man was put in jail for contumacious actions.
==================================
** contusion
(n.)
a bruise; an injury where the skin is not broken
*
The man was fortunate to receive only contusions from the crash.
======================================
** conundrum
(n.)
a puzzle or riddle
* I
spent two hours trying to figure out the conundrum.
======================================
** conventional
(adj.)
traditional; common; routine
*
The bride wanted a conventional wedding ceremony, complete with white dresses,
many flowers, and a grand reception party.
=====================================
=====================================
** converge
(v.)
to move toward one point
*
It was obvious that an accident was going to occur as the onlookers watched the
two cars converge.
=====================================
** conviviality
(n.)
a fondness for festiveness or joviality
*
His conviviality makes him a welcome guest at any social gathering.
=====================================
** convoke
(v.)
a call to assemble
*
The teacher convoked her students in the auditorium to help prepare them for
the play.
=====================================
** copious
(adj.)
abundant; in great quantities
*
Her copious notes touched on every subject presented in the lecture.
======================================
** corpulence
(n.)
obesity
*
The corpulence of the man kept him from fitting into the seat.
======================================
** correlate
(v.)
to bring into mutual relation
*
The service man was asked to correlate the two computer demonstration
pamphlets.
======================================
** corroborate
(v.)
to confirm the validity
*
The witness must corroborate the prisoner’s story if she is to be set
free.
======================================
** coterie
(n.)
a clique; a group who meet frequently, usually socially
*
Every day after school she joins her coterie on the playground and they go out
for a soda.
======================================
** covenant
(n.)
a binding and solemn agreement
*
With the exchange of vows, the covenant was complete.
=======================================
** covetous
(adj.)
greedy; very desirous
*
Lonnie, covetous of education, went to almost every lecture at the university.
=======================================
** cower
(v.)
to huddle and tremble
*
The tellers cowered in the corner as the bandit ransacked the bank.
=======================================
** coy
(adj.)
modest; bashful; pretending shyness to attract
*
He’s not really that shy, he’s just being coy.
=======================================
** crass
(adj.)
stupid or dull; insensitive; materialistic
*
My respect for the man was lowered when he made the crass remark.
=======================================
** craven
(n.)
coward; abject person;
(adj.)cowardly
*
(n.) While many fought for their rights, the craven sat shaking, off in a
corner somewhere.
*
(adj.) Craven men will not stand up for what they believe in.
=======================================
** culpable
(adj.)
deserving blame; guilty
*
The convicted criminal still denies that he is culpable for the robbery.
=======================================
** curb
(n.)
a restraint or framework
* A
curb was put up along the street to help drainage.
=======================================
** curmudgeon
(n.)
an ill-tempered person
*
The curmudgeon asked the children not to play near the house.
=======================================
** cursory
(adj.)
hasty; slight
*
The detective’s cursory examination of the crime scene caused him to overlook
the lesser clues.
=======================================
** cynic
(n.)
one who believes that others are motivated entirely by selfishness.
*
The cynic felt that the hero saved the man to become famous.
===========================================================
{D}
===========================================================
** dais
(n.)
a raised platform at one end of a room
*
The dais was lowered to make the speaker look taller.
========================================
** dally
(v.)
to loiter; to waste time
*
Please do not dally or we will miss our appointment.
========================================
** dank
(adj.)
damp and chilly
*
The cellar became very dank during the winter time.
=======================================
** dauntless
(adj.)
fearless; not discouraged
*
The dauntless ranger scaled the mountain to complete the rescue.
=======================================
** dearth
(n.)
scarcity; shortage
* A
series of coincidental resignations left the firm with a dearth of talent.
========================================
** debacle
(n.)
disaster; collapse; a rout
*
The Securities and Exchange Commission and the stock exchanges implemented
numerous safeguards to head off another debacle on Wall Street.
=========================================
** debase
(v.)
to make lower in quality
*
The French are concerned that “Franglais,” a blending of English and French,
will debase their language.
=========================================
** debauchery
(n.)
indulgence in one’s appetites
*
The preacher decried debauchery and urged charity.
=========================================
** debilitate
(v.) to enfeeble; to wear out
(v.) to enfeeble; to wear out
*
The illness will debilitate the muscles in his legs.
=========================================
** debonair
(adj.)
having an affable manner; carefree; genial
Opening
the door for another is a debonair action.
=========================================
** decadence
(n.)
a decline in morals or art
*
Some believe the decadence of Nero’s rule led to the fall of the empire.
=========================================
** deciduous
(adj.)
shedding; temporary
*
When the leaves began to fall from the tree we learned that it was deciduous.
========================================
** decisiveness
(n.)
an act of being firm or determined
*
Decisiveness is one of the key qualities of a successful executive.
========================================
** decorous
(adj.)
showing decorum; propriety, good taste
*
The decorous suit was made of fine material.
========================================
** decry
(v.)
to denounce or condemn openly
*
The pastor decried all forms of discrimination against any minority group.
========================================
** defamation
** defamation
(n.)
to harm a name or reputation; to slander
*
The carpenter felt that the notoriousness of his former partner brought
defamation to his construction business.
========================================
** deference
(n.)
a yielding of opinion; courteous respect for
*
To avoid a confrontation, the man showed deference to his friend.
=========================================
** deferential
(adj.)
yielding to the opinion of another
*
After debating students living in the Sixth Ward for months, the mayor’s
deferential statements indicated that he had come to some understanding with
them.
=========================================
** defunct
(adj.)
no longer living or existing
*
The man lost a large sum of money when the company went defunct.
=========================================
** deign
(v.)
condescend; stoop
*
He said he wouldn’t deign to dignify her statement with a response.
===========================================
** deleterious
(adj.)
harmful; hurtful; noxious
*
Deleterious fumes escaped from the overturned truck.
===========================================
** deliberate
(v.);
to consider carefully; weigh in the mind;
(adj.)
intentional
*
(v.) The jury deliberated for three days before reaching a verdict.
*
(adj.) The brother’s deliberate attempt to get his sibling blamed for his
mistake was obvious to all.
==========================================
** delineate
(v.)
to outline; to describe
*
She delineated her plan so that everyone would have a basic understanding of
it.
=========================================
** deliquesce
(v.)
to dissolve
*
The snow deliquesced when the temperature rose.
=========================================
** delusion
(n.)
a false belief or opinion
*
The historian suffered from the delusion that he was Napoleon.
========================================
** demise
(n.)
ceasing to exist as in death
*
The demise of Gimbels followed years of decline.
========================================
** demur
(v.);
to object;
(n.)
objection; misgiving
*
(v.) She hated animals, so when the subject of buying a cat came up, she
demurred.
*
(n.) She said yes, but he detected a demur in her voice.
=========================================
** denigrate
(v.)
to defame, to blacken or sully; to belittle
*
Her attempt to denigrate the man’s name was not
successful.
successful.
========================================
** denounce
(v.)
to speak out against; condemn
* A
student rally was called to denounce the use of drugs on campus.
========================================
** depict
(v.)
to portray; describe
*
The mural depicts the life of a typical urban dweller.
========================================
** deplete
(v.)
to reduce; to empty, exhaust
*
Having to pay the entire bill will deplete the family’s savings.
========================================
** deposition
(n.)
a removal from office or power; a testimony
*
Failing to act lawfully could result in his deposition. She met with her
lawyer this morning to review her deposition.
========================================
** depravity
(n.)
moral corruption; badness
*
Drugs and money caused depravity throughout the once decorous community.
========================================
** deprecate
(v.)
to express disapproval of; to protest against
*
The organization will deprecate the opening of the sewage plant.
=========================================
** depredation
(n.)
a plundering or laying waste
*
The pharaoh’s once rich tomb was empty after centuries of depredation from
grave robbers.
=========================================
** deride
(v.)
to laugh at with contempt; to mock
*
No matter what he said, he was derided.
=========================================
** derision
(n.)
the act of mocking; ridicule, mockery
*
Constant derision from classmates made him quit school.
=========================================
** derisive
(adj.)
showing disrespect or scorn for
*
The derisive comment was aimed at the man’s life long enemy.
=========================================
** derogatory
(adj.)
belittling; uncomplimentary
*
He was upset because his annual review was full of derogatory comments.
=========================================
** descant
(v.)
lengthy talking or writing
*
The man will descant on the subject if you give him too much speaking time.
=========================================
** desecrate
(v.)
to profane; violate the sanctity of
*
The teenagers’ attempt to desecrate the church disturbed the community.
=======================================
** desist
(v.)
to stop or cease
*
The judge ordered the man to desist from calling his ex-wife in the middle of
the night.
========================================
** desolate
(adj.)
to be left alone or made lonely
*
Driving down the desolate road had Kelvin worried that he wouldn’t reach a gas
station in time.
========================================
** despoil
(v.)
to take everything; plunder
*
The Huns despoiled village after village.
========================================
** despotism
(n.)
tyranny; absolute power or influence
*
The ruler’s despotism went uncontested for 30 years.
========================================
** destitute
(adj.)
poor; poverty-stricken
*
Many of the city’s sections are destitute.
========================================
** desultory
(adj.)
moving in a random, directionless manner
*
The thefts were occurring in a desultory manner making them difficult to track.
========================================
** detached
** detached
(adj.)
separated; not interested; standing alone
*
Detached from modern conveniences, the islanders live a simple, unhurried life.
========================================
** deter
(v.)
to prevent; to discourage; hinder
*
He deterred the rabbits by putting down garlic around the garden.
========================================
** determinate
(adj.)
distinct limits
*
The new laws were very determinate as far as what was allowed and what was not
allowed.
=======================================
** devoid
(adj.)
lacking; empty
*
The interplanetary probe indicated that the planet was devoid of any
atmosphere.
=======================================
** dexterous
(adj.)
skillful, quick mentally or physically
*
The dexterous gymnast was the epitome of grace on the balance beam.
=======================================
** diatribe
(n.)
a bitter or abusive speech
*
During the divorce hearings she delivered a diatribe full of the emotion
pushing her away from her husband.
========================================
** dichotomy
(n.)
a division into two parts or kinds
*
The dichotomy within the party threatens to split it.
========================================
** dictum
(n.)
a formal statement of either fact or opinion
Computer
programmers have a dictum: garbage in, garbage
out.
out.
=========================================
** didactic
(adj.)
instructive; dogmatic; preachy
*
Our teacher’s didactic technique boosted our scores.
======================================
** diffidence
(n.)
a hesitation in asserting oneself
* A
shy person may have great diffidence when forced with a problem.
======================================
** diffident
(adj.)
timid; lacking self-confidence
*
The director is looking for a self-assured actor, not a diffident one.
======================================
** digress
(v.) stray from the subject; wander from topic
(v.) stray from the subject; wander from topic
*
It is important to not digress from the plan of action.
=======================================
** dilettante
(n.)
an admirer of the fine arts; a dabbler
*
Though she played the piano occasionally, she was more of a dilettante.
=======================================
** diligence
(n.)
hard work
*
Anything can be accomplished with diligence and commitment.
=======================================
** diminutive
(adj.) smaller than average;
(n.) a small person; a word, expressing smallness, formed when a suffix is added
(adj.) smaller than average;
(n.) a small person; a word, expressing smallness, formed when a suffix is added
*
(adj.) They lived in a diminutive house.
*
(n.) The diminutive woman could not see over the counter.
=========================================
** din
(n.)
a noise which is loud and continuous
*
The din of the jackhammers reverberated throughout the concrete canyon.
=========================================
** dint
(n.)
strength
*
The dint of the bridge could hold trucks weighing many tons.
=========================================
** dirge
(n.)
a hymn for a funeral; a song or poem expressing lament
*
The mourners sang a traditional Irish dirge .
=========================================
** disapprobation
(n.)
disapproval
*
Her disapprobation of her daughter’s fiancZ’ divided the family.
=========================================
** disarray
(n.)
(state of) disorder
*
The thief left the house in disarray.
=========================================
** disavow
(v.)
to deny; to refuse to acknowledge
*
The actor has disavowed the rumor.
=========================================
** discerning
(adj.)
distinguishing one thing from another; having good judgment
*
He has a discerning eye for knowing the original from
the copy.
the copy.
=========================================
** discomfit
(v.)
to frustrate the expectations of
*
The close game discomfited the number one player.
=========================================
** discord
(n.)
disagreement; lack of harmony
*
There was discord amidst the jury, and therefore a decision could not be
made.
==============================================
** discourse
(v.)
to converse; to communicate in an orderly fashion
*
The interviewee discoursed so fluently, she was hired on the spot.
==============================================
** discreet
(adj.)
showing good judgment in conduct; prudent
*
We confided our secret in Mary because we knew she’d be discreet.
=============================================
** discrete
(adj.)
separate; individually distinct; composed of distinct parts
*
There were four discrete aspects to the architecture of the home.
====================================
** discriminate
(v.)
distinguish; demonstrate bias
*
Being a chef, he discriminated carefully among ingredients.
=====================================
** disdain
(n)
intense dislike;
(v)
look down upon; scorn
*
(n) She showed great disdain toward anyone who did not agree with her.
*
(v) She disdains the very ground you walk upon.
=====================================
** disentangle
(v.)
to free from confusion
*
We need to disentangle ourselves from the dizzying variety of choices.
=====================================
** disheartened
(adj.)
discouraged; depressed
*
After failing the exam, the student became disheartened and wondered if he
would ever graduate.
======================================
** disingenuous
(adj.)
not frank or candid; deceivingly simple (opposite: ingenious)
*
He always gives a quick, disingenuous response; you never get a straight
answer.
======================================
** disinterested
(adj.)
neutral; unbiased
(alternate
meaning; uninterested)
*
He never takes sides; he’s always disinterested.
======================================
** disparage
(v.)
to belittle; undervalue; to discredit
*
After she fired him she realized that she had disparaged the value of his
assistance.
======================================
** disparate
(adj.)
unequal; dissimilar; different
*
They came from disparate backgrounds, one a real estate magnate, the other a
custodian.
=====================================
** disparity
(n.)
difference in form, character, or degree
*
There is a great disparity between a light snack and a great feast.
=====================================
** dispassionate
(adj.)
lack of feeling; impartial
*
She was a very emotional person and could not work with such a dispassionate
employer.
======================================
** disperse
(v.)
to scatter; separate
*
The pilots dispersed the food drops over a wide area of devastation.
=======================================
** disputatious
(adj.)
argumentative; inclined to disputes
*
The child was so disputatious he needed to be removed from the room.
=======================================
** dissemble
(v.)
to pretend; to feign; to conceal by pretense
*
Agent 007 has a marvelous ability to dissemble his real intentions.
======================================
** disseminate
(v.)
to circulate; scatter
*
He was hired to disseminate newspapers to everyone in the town.
======================================
** dissent
(v.)
to disagree; differ in opinion
*
They agreed that something had to be done, but dissented on how to do it.
======================================
** dissonance
(n.)
musical discord; a mingling of inharmonious sounds; nonmusical; disagreement;
lack of harmony
*
Much twentieth-century music is not liked by classical music lovers because of
the dissonance it holds and the harmonies it lacks.
=====================================
** dissonant
(adj.)
not in harmony; in disagreement
*
Despite several intense rehearsals, the voices of the choir members continued
to be dissonant.
=====================================
** distention
(n.)
inflation or extension
*
The bulge in the carpet was caused by the distention of the wood underneath.
=====================================
** dither
(v.)
to act indecisively;
(n.)
a confused condition
*
(v.) She dithered every time she had to make a decision.
*
(n.) Having to take two tests in one day left the student in a dither.
======================================
** diverge
(v.)
separate, split
*
The wide, long river diverged into two distinct separate rivers, never again to
join.
=======================================
** divestiture
(n.)
being stripped
*
When it was found the team cheated, there was a divestiture of their crown.
=======================================
** docile
(adj.)
manageable; obedient; gentle
*
We needed to choose a docile pet because we hadn’t the patience for a lot of
training.
=======================================
** doggerel
(n.)
verse characterized by forced rhyme and meter
*
Contrary to its appearance, doggerel can contain some weighty messages.
=======================================
** dogma
(n.)
a collection of beliefs
*
The dogma of the village was based on superstition.
======================================*****
** dogmatic
(adj.)
stubborn; biased; opinionated
*
The student’s dogmatic presentation annoyed his classmates as well as his
instructor.
======================================
** dormant
(adj.)
as if asleep
*
The animals lay dormant until the spring thaw.
======================================
** doughty
(adj.)
brave and strong
*
The doughty fireman saved the woman’s life.
======================================
** dowdy
(adj.)
shabby in appearance
*
The dowdy girl had no buttons on her coat and the threads were falling apart.
======================================
** dubious
** dubious
(adj.)
doubtful; uncertain; skeptical; suspicious
*
The new information was dubious enough to re-open the case.
======================================
** duplicity
(n.)
deception
*
She forgave his duplicity but divorced him anyway.
======================================
** duress
(n.)
imprisonment; the use of threats
*
The policewoman put the man under duress in order to get a confession.
===========================================================
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