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Flashcards in blue book #10 Deck (85)
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1
Q

deride

A

to laugh at in scorn or contempt; scoff or jeer at; mock.

2
Q

derivative

A

1.
derived; deduced; traced from another origin.

2.
not original; secondary.

3
Q

derogatory

A

tending to lessen the merit or reputation of a person or thing; disparaging; depreciatory:
a derogatory remark.

4
Q

desecrate

A

1.
to divest of sacred or hallowed character or office.

2.
to divert from a sacred to a profane use or purpose.

3.
to treat with sacrilege; profane.

5
Q

desiccate

A

1.
to dry thoroughly; dry up.

2.
to preserve food by removing moisture; dehydrate.

3.
to become thoroughly dried or dried up.

6
Q

desist

A

to cease, as from some action or proceeding; stop.

7
Q

despicable

A

deserving to be despised, or regarded with distaste, disgust, or disdain; contemptible:
He was a mean, despicable man, who treated his wife and children badly.

8
Q

despondent

A

feeling or showing profound hopelessness, dejection, discouragement, or gloom:
despondent about failing health.

9
Q

despot

A

1.
a king or other ruler with absolute, unlimited power; autocrat.

2.
any tyrant or oppressor.

10
Q

destitute

A

1.
without means of subsistence; lacking food, clothing, and shelter.

2.
deprived of, devoid of, or lacking:
destitute of children.

11
Q

detachment

A

1.
aloofness, as from worldly affairs or from the concerns of others.

2.
freedom from prejudice or partiality; objectivity.

12
Q

deter

A

1.
to discourage or restrain from acting or proceeding:
The large dog deterred trespassers.

2.
to prevent; check; arrest:
timber treated with creosote to deter rot.

13
Q

deteriorate

A

1.
to make or become worse or inferior in character, quality, value, etc.

2.
to disintegrate or wear away.

14
Q

determinate

A

1.
having defined limits; definite.

2.
settled; positive.

3.
conclusive; final.

4.
resolute.

15
Q

detract

A

1.
to take away a part, as from quality, value, or reputation.

2.
to draw away or divert; distract:
to detract another’s attention from more important issues.

16
Q

detrimental

A

causing detriment, as loss or injury; damaging; harmful.

17
Q

detritus

A

1.
rock in small particles or other material worn or broken away from a mass, as by the action of water or glacial ice.

2.
any disintegrated material; debris; rubble.

18
Q

deviate

A

1.
to turn aside, as from a route, way, course, etc.

2.
to depart or stray, as from a procedure, course of action, or acceptable norm.

3.
to digress, as from a line of thought or reasoning.

4.
to cause to swerve; turn aside.

19
Q

devoid

A

not possessing, untouched by, void, or destitute; utterly lacking.

20
Q

devolve

A

1.
to transfer or delegate (a duty, responsibility, etc.) to or upon another; pass on.

2.
to be transferred or passed on from one to another:
The responsibility devolved on me.

3.
to roll or flow downward.

21
Q

devout

A

1.
devoted to divine worship or service; pious; religious:
a devout Catholic.

2.
expressing devotion or piety:
devout prayer.

3.
earnest or sincere; hearty:
He had a devout allegiance to the political regime.

22
Q

dexterous

A

1.
skillful or adroit in the use of the hands or body.

2.
having mental adroitness or skill; clever.

3.
done with skill or adroitness.

4.
right-handed.

23
Q

diabolical

A

1.
having the qualities of a devil; devilish; fiendish; outrageously wicked:
a diabolic plot.

2.
pertaining to or actuated by a devil.

24
Q

diadem

A

1.
a crown.

2.
a cloth headband, sometimes adorned with jewels.

3.
royal dignity or authority.

25
Q

dialectic

A

1.
of, relating to, or of the nature of logical argumentation.

2.
the art or practice of logical discussion as employed in investigating the truth of a theory or opinion.

3.
logical argumentation; a logical exchange.

26
Q

diaphanous

A

1.
very sheer and light; almost completely transparent or translucent.

2.
delicately hazy.

27
Q

diatribe

A

a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism:
repeated diatribes against the senator.

28
Q

dichotomy

A

1.
division into two parts; subdivision into halves or pairs.

2.
division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups:
a dichotomy between thought and action.

29
Q

dictate

A

1.
to say or read aloud for another person to transcribe or for a machine to record:
to dictate some letters to a secretary.

2.
to prescribe or lay down authoritatively or peremptorily; command unconditionally:
to dictate peace terms to a conquered enemy.

3.
to give orders.

30
Q

dictum

A

1.
an authoritative pronouncement or statement; judicial assertion.

2.
a saying; maxim.

31
Q

didactic

A

1.
intended for instruction; instructive:
didactic poetry.

2.
inclined to teach or lecture others too much:
a boring, didactic speaker.

3.
teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson.

32
Q

diffident

A

1.
lacking confidence in one’s own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy.

2.
restrained or reserved in manner, conduct, etc.

33
Q

diffract

A

to break up or bend waves, especially sound and light waves, around obstacles in their path.

34
Q

diffuse

A

1.
to pour out and spread, as a fluid.

2.
to spread or scatter widely or thinly; disseminate.

3.
characterized by great length or discursiveness in speech or writing; wordy.

4.
widely spread or scattered; dispersed.

35
Q

dignitary

A

a person who holds a high rank or office, as in the government or church.

36
Q

digress

A

to deviate or wander away from the main topic or purpose in speaking or writing; depart from the principal line of argument, plot, study, etc.

37
Q

dilapidated

A

reduced to or fallen into partial ruin or decay, as from age, wear, or neglect.

38
Q

dilate

A

1.
to make wider or larger; cause to expand.

2.
to spread out; expand.

3.
to speak or write at length; expatiate (often followed by on or upon).

39
Q

dilatory

A

1.
tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy.

2.
intended to cause delay, gain time, or defer decision:
a dilatory strategy.

40
Q

dilemma

A

1.
a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives.

2.
any difficult or perplexing situation or problem.

41
Q

dilettante

A

1.
a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, especially in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler.

2.
a lover of an art or science, especially of a fine art.

3.
of or relating to dilettantes.

42
Q

diligent

A

1.
constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything:
a diligent student.

2.
done or pursued with persevering attention; painstaking:
a diligent search of the files.

43
Q

diminutive

A

small; little; tiny:

a diminutive building for a model-train layout.

44
Q

din

A

1.
a loud, confused noise; a continued loud or tumultuous sound; noisy clamor.

2.
to assail with din.

3.
to sound or utter with clamor or persistent repetition.

45
Q

diplomacy

A

1.
the conduct by government officials of negotiations and other relations between nations.

2.
skill in managing negotiations, handling people, etc., so that there is little or no ill will:
Seating one’s dinner guests often calls for considerable diplomacy.

  1. tact; discretion.
46
Q

directive

A

1.
serving to direct; directing:
a directive board.

2.
an authoritative instruction or direction; specific order:
a new directive by the president on foreign aid.

47
Q

dirge

A

1.
a funeral song or tune, or one expressing mourning in commemoration of the dead.

2.
any composition resembling such a song or tune in character, as a poem of lament for the dead or solemn, mournful music:
Tennyson’s dirge for the Duke of Wellington.

3.
a mournful sound resembling a dirge:
The autumn wind sang the dirge of summer.

48
Q

dirigible

A

1.
an airship; blimp.

2.
designed for or capable of being directed, controlled, or steered.

49
Q

disabuse

A

to free (a person) from deception or error.

50
Q

disaffected

A

discontented and disloyal, as toward the government or toward authority.

51
Q

disarray

A

1.
to put out of array or order; throw into disorder.

2.
to undress.

3.
disorder; confusion:
The army retreated in disarray.

4.
disorder of apparel.

52
Q

disavow

A

to deny knowledge of, connection with, or responsibility for; disown; repudiate:
He disavowed the remark that had been attributed to him.

53
Q

disband

A

1.
to break up or dissolve (an organization):
They disbanded the corporation.

2.
to disperse.

54
Q

disbar

A

to expel from the legal profession or from the bar of a particular court.

55
Q

disburse

A

1.
to pay out (money), especially for expenses; expend.

2.
to distribute or scatter:
Our troops were disbursed over a wide area. She disbursed the flowers to the children.

56
Q

discern

A

1.
to perceive by the sight or some other sense or by the intellect; see, recognize, or apprehend:
They discerned a sail on the horizon.

2.
to distinguish mentally; recognize as distinct or different; discriminate:
He is incapable of discerning right from wrong.

3.
to distinguish or discriminate.

57
Q

discipline

A

1.
training to act in accordance with rules; drill:
military discipline.

2.
activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training:
A daily stint at the typewriter is excellent discipline for a writer.

3.
punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.

4.
the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc.:
the harsh discipline of poverty.

5.
behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control:
good discipline in an army.

6.
a set or system of rules and regulations.

58
Q

disclaim

A

1.
to deny or repudiate interest in or connection with; disavow; disown:
disclaiming all participation.

2.
to reject the claims or authority of.

59
Q

disclose

A

1.
to make known; reveal or uncover:
to disclose a secret.

2.
to cause to appear; allow to be seen; lay open to view:
In spring the violets disclose their fragrant petals.

3.
to open up; unfold.

60
Q

disconcerting

A

1.
disturbing to one’s composure or self-possession; upsetting, discomfiting.

2.
confusing, usually in the face of something totally unexpected; perplexing.

61
Q

discordant

A

1.
not harmonious; being at variance; disagreeing; incongruous:
discordant opinions.

2.
disagreeable to the ear; dissonant; harsh.

62
Q

discount

A

1.
to deduct a certain amount from a bill, charge, etc.:
All bills that are paid promptly will be discounted at two percent.

2.
to offer for sale or sell at a reduced price:
The store discounted all clothing for the sale.

3.
to leave out of account; disregard:
Even if we discount the irrelevant material, the thesis remains mediocre.

6.
to allow for exaggeration in (a statement, opinion, etc.):
Knowing his political bias they discounted most of his story.

7.
to take into account in advance, often so as to diminish the effect of:
They had discounted the effect of a decline in the stock market.

63
Q

discourse

A

1.
communication of thought by words; talk; conversation:
earnest and intelligent discourse.

2.
a formal discussion of a subject in speech or writing, as a dissertation, treatise, sermon, etc.

3.
to communicate thoughts orally; talk; converse.

4.
to treat of a subject formally in speech or writing.

64
Q

discrepancy

A

1.
the state or quality of being discrepant or in disagreement, as by displaying an unexpected or unacceptable difference; inconsistency:
The discrepancy between the evidence and his account of what happened led to his arrest.

2.
an instance of difference or inconsistency:
There are certain discrepancies between the two versions of the story.

65
Q

discretionary

A

1.
subject or left to one’s own discretion; involving freedom of judgment or choice.

2.
for any use or purpose one chooses; not earmarked for a particular purpose:
discretionary income; a discretionary fund.

66
Q

discriminating

A

1.
differentiating; analytical.

2.
noting differences or distinctions with nicety; discerning; perspicacious:
a discriminating interpreter of events.

3.
having excellent taste or judgment:
a discriminating interior designer.

67
Q

discursive

A

1.
passing aimlessly from one subject to another; digressive; rambling.

2.
proceeding by reasoning or argument rather than intuition.

68
Q

disdain

A

1.
to look upon or treat with contempt; despise; scorn.

2.
to think unworthy of notice, response, etc.; consider beneath oneself:
to disdain replying to an insult.

3.
a feeling of contempt for anything regarded as unworthy; haughty contempt; scorn.

69
Q

disenfranchise

A
1.
to deprive (a person) of a right of citizenship, as of the right to vote.

2.
to deprive of a franchise, privilege, or right.

70
Q

disengage

A

1.
to release from attachment or connection; loosen; unfasten:
to disengage a clutch.

2.
to free oneself from an engagement, pledge, obligation, etc.:
He accepted the invitation, but was later forced to disengage himself.

3.
to break off action with an enemy.

71
Q

disequilibrium

A

lack of equilibrium; imbalance.

72
Q

disgorge

A

1.
to eject or throw out from the throat, mouth, or stomach; vomit forth.

2.
to surrender or yield something illicitly obtained.

3.
to discharge forcefully or as a result of force; to eject, yield.

73
Q

disgruntled

A

displeased and discontented; sulky; peevish:

Her disgruntled husband refused to join us.

74
Q

disheveled

A

1.
hanging loosely or in disorder; unkempt:
disheveled hair.

2.
untidy; disarranged:
a disheveled appearance.

75
Q

disillusion

A

to free from or deprive of illusion, belief, idealism, etc.; disenchant; disappoint.

76
Q

disinclined

A

lacking desire or willingness; unwilling; averse:

I’m disinclined to go to the movies tonight.

77
Q

disingenuous

A

lacking in frankness, candor, or sincerity; falsely or hypocritically ingenuous; insincere:
Her excuse was rather disingenuous.

78
Q

disintegrate

A

1.
to separate into parts or lose intactness or solidness; break up; deteriorate:
The old book is gradually disintegrating with age.

2.
to reduce to particles, fragments, or parts; break up or destroy the cohesion of:
Rocks are disintegrated by frost and rain.

79
Q

dismantle

A

1.
to deprive or strip of apparatus, furniture, equipment, defenses, etc.:
to dismantle a ship; to dismantle a fortress.

2.
to take apart; to disassemble or pull down:
They dismantled the machine and shipped it in pieces.

3.
to divest of dress, covering, etc.:
The wind dismantled the trees of their leaves.

80
Q

dismissive

A

1.
indicating dismissal or rejection; having the purpose or effect of dismissing, as from one’s presence or from consideration:
a curt, dismissive gesture.

2.
showing disregard; indicating lack of interest or approbation; scornful; disdainful.

81
Q

disparage

A

1.
to speak of or treat slightingly; depreciate; belittle:
Do not disparage good manners.

2.
to bring reproach or discredit upon; lower the estimation of:
Your behavior will disparage the whole family.

82
Q

disparate

A

distinct in kind; essentially different; dissimilar:

disparate ideas.

83
Q

dispassionate

A

free from or unaffected by passion; devoid of personal feeling or bias; impartial; calm:
a dispassionate critic.

84
Q

dispatch

A

1.
to send off or away with speed, as a messenger, letter, troops, etc.

2.
to dismiss a person, as after an audience.

3.
to put to death; kill; execute:
The spy was promptly dispatched.

4.
to transact or dispose of a matter promptly or speedily.

6.
expeditious performance; promptness or speed:
Proceed with all possible dispatch.

85
Q

dispel

A

1.
to drive off in various directions; disperse; dissipate:
to dispel the dense fog.

2.
to cause to vanish; alleviate:
to dispel her fears.