Word List 12 Flashcards
Cupidity (n)
greed
The defeated people could not satisfy the cupidity of the conquerors, who demanded excessive tribute
Cursory (adj)
casual; hastily done
Dabble (v)
work at in a non serious fashion; splash around
The amateur painter dabbled at art, but seldom produced a finished piece
Dank (adj)
damp
The walls of the dungeon were dank and slimy
Daub (v)
smear (as with paint)
From the way he daubed his paint on the canvas, I could tell he knew nothing of oils
Dawdle (v)
loiter; waste time
We have to meet a deadline! Don’t dawdle, just get down to work
Deadpan (adj)
wooden; impassive
Deadpan expression he maintained throughout his slap-stick escapades
Debacle (n)
sudden downfall; complete disaster
In the Airplane movie, every flight turns into a debacle
Debauch (v)
corrupt; seduce from virtue
Debilitate (v)
weaken; enfeeble
Michael’s severe bout of the flu debilitated him so much that he was too tired to go to work for a week
Debonair (adj)
urbane and suave; amiable; cheerful and carefree
Decorum (n)
propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners
Even the best-mannered students have trouble behaving with decorum on the last day of school (decorous)
Decrepitude (n)
state of collapse caused by illness or old age
I was unprepared for the state of decrepitude in which i had found my parents in
Deference (n)
courteous regard for another’s wish
In deference to the ministers’ request, please do not take photographs during the wedding service
Defray (v)
provide for the payment of
Her employer offered to defray the costs of the postgraduate education
