D1 Mneomonics Flashcards
daunt
(verb): to intimidate or discourage. “DAUNT”
Think: don’t!
My mean old aunt Mildred would often daunt me when I was younger by screaming, “don’t!” whenever I got too loud
dearth
(noun): lack. “DEARTH”
Think: dead earth
Due to the dead earth of our farmland, there will be a dearth of food this winter
debacle
(noun): a complete disaster. “duh BAHK ul”
Think: da bottle
I’m an alcoholic, so when I hit da bottle, the night usually becomes a debacle
debased
(adjective): lowered in value or reputation. “dee BASED”
Think: de-based
Milk chocolate is a crime against the cacao bean. Confectioners start of with a base of pure dark chocolate, but then they debase it by adding milk powder and tons of sugar
debauchery
(noun): extreme indulgence in pleasure “duh BOTCh er ee”
Think: the bachelor party
During the bachelor party, the wolf pack in The Hangover particpated in some serious debuchery
debilitate
(verb): to weaken. “duh BILL it ate’
Think: decrease ability
Cancer will often debilitate its victims and can decrease their ability to be active
decadent
(adjective): decaying: self indulgent. “DEK uh dent”
Think: decayed
In WALL-E, the decadent passengers of the spaceship have decayed into overweight, lazy, passive lumps
decimate
(verb): to destroy a large part of “DESS uh mate”
Think: decimate remains
At the start of our campaign, all of our soldiers were healthy, but attacks and disease have decimated the ranks so that only a decimal remains alive
declaimed
(verb): spoke loudly and self-importantly. “dee CLAIMED”
Think: “I delcare!”
“Well, I declare!” The Southern belle declaimed
decorous
(adjective): well-behaved. “DECK or us”
Think: the chorus
Kids in the chorus are usually not rebels- they’re often decorous
decrepit
(adjective): worn-out; run-down. “duh CREP it”
Think: scrap it
Your decrepit old car looks like crap; you should scrap it
decried
(verb): expressed strong disapproval about “duh CRIED”
Think: cried
After my boss decried my work in front of everyone, I went home and cried
defamatory
(adjective): something that hurts someone’s reputation “duh Fam ih tory”
Think: de-fame
The defamatory Enquirer story will “de-fame” that actor; he’ll lose his fame
defenestrate
(verb): to quickly throw out. “duh FEN eh strate”
Think: defense demonstrate
If you defenestrate a burglar through a plate-glass window, your home defense is demonstrated
defunct
(adjective): no longer existing. “duh FUNKED”
Think: de-function
When I can fly in my dreams, the law of gravity seems t be defunct, like it has been “de-functioned”
degenerate
(verb, adjective) verb: to move backward or decay, adjective; decay. “duh JENN er it”
Think: jenner ate my dust
1976 Olympic decathlon champion Caitlyn Jenner ate my dust when I challenged her to a footrace; I guess that her speed has degenerated with age
delectable
(adjective): delightful; delicious. “duh LECT uh bull”
Think: delicious electable
Ryan Gosling should run for president since most women think he’s delectable and delicous enough to be electable
deleterious
(adjective): harmful. “duh luh TEER ee us”
Think: deletes
Using that old computer could be deleterious to your grade because it randomly deletes files
delimit
(verb) : to determine the limit, boundary or extent of something. “dee LIM it”
think: determine limit
Partying until 3am with your friends is a great way to determine your limits, but the next-morning hangover may lead you delmit your alcohol intake the next time you go out
delineate
(verb): to outline; to describe in detail “Dee LIN ee ate”
Think: the line
The strip of masking tape I put down is the line that clearly delineates the two halves of the dorm room- keep your stuff on your side!
demagogue
(noun) : a leader who gains power by trickery. “dem a GOG”
think: demigod
The cult was led by a demagogue; he manipulated followers into thinking he was a demigod
demarcate
(verb): to define: to set apart., “de MARK ate”
Think: mark it
If you want to demarcate your side of the dorm room, mark it with a long piece of masking tape
demean
(verb): to lower in character, status, or reputation. “dee MEAN”
Think: mean
Thanks to the jocks’ demeaning comments to him, the new kid went home after his first day at our school and told his mom that we’re all mean
demeanor
(noun): one’s appearance and behavior “duh ME ner”
Think: meaner personality
Not only has my ambition diminished with age, but so has my demeanor: I used to have a meaner personality
