Word List 14 Flashcards
Dichotomy (n)
split; branching into two parts
Dictum (n)
authoritative and weighty statement; saying
University administration still follow the old dictum “Publish or perish”
Didactic (adj)
teaching; instructional
Pope’s lengthy poem is too didactic for my state: I dislike it when poets turn preachy and moralise (didacticism n)
Diffidence (n)
shyness
You must overcome your diffidence if you intend to become a salesperson
Dilapidated (adj)
ruined because of neglect
The dilapidated old building needed far more work that just a new coat of paint
(dilapidation n)
Dilettante (n)
aimless follower of the arts; amateur; dabbler
According to Turgenev, without painstaking work, any writer or artist remains a dilettante
Diminution (n)
lessening; reduction in size
Old Jack was as sharp as eighty as he had been at fifty; increasing age led to no diminution of his mental activity
Din (n)
continued loud noise
The din of the jackhammers outside of the classroom window drowned out the lecturer’s voice
Dint (n)
means; effort
By dint of much hard work, the volunteers were able to control the raging forest fire
Dirge (n)
lament with music
The funeral dirge stirred us to tears
Disapprobation (n)
disapproval; condemnation
The conservative father views his daughter’s radical boyfriend with disapprobation
Discombobulated (adj)
confused; discomposed
The novice dancer became so discombobulated that he wandered into the last set
Disconsolate (adj)
sad
Discursive (adj)
digressing; rambling
As the lecturer wandered from topic to topic, we wondered what if any point there was to his discursive remarks
Disenfranchise (v)
deprive of a civil right
