D2 Mneomonics Flashcards
dilatory
(adjective): tending to procrastinate “DILL a tor ee”
Think: delay later
The dilatory gator liked to delay things until later
dilettante
(noun): a dabbler; one with superficial knowledge of an area. “DILL uh taunt”
Think: diluted
The dilettante’s knowledge of the subject was, understandably, diluted
dint
(noun): force; power. “DINT”
Think: Hulk’s dent
The incredible Hulk made a dent in the car by dint of his enormous strength
dire
(adjective): desparate
“DAHYER (rhymes with “fire”_”
Think: die
If you are afraid that you might die, then the situation is dire
discomfit
(verb) : to embarrass or confuse. “dis KUM fit”
think: discomfort
Realizing one’s suit had be replaced with a too-tight Speedo would discomfort and discomfit anyone
disconcert
(verb): to confuse or frustrate. “dis KUN sirt”
Think: diss the concert
To liven up recitals, I disconcert the musicians by dissing the concert
discreet
(adjective): having or showing self-restraint and good judgment “dis KREET”
Think: this secrET
I’m pregnant-but please, be discreET and keep this secrET- if my parents find out, they’ll kill me
discrepancy
(noun): a difference, divergence, or disagreement. “dis KREP in see”
Think: this crepe vs. Nancy’s
There seems to be a large discrepancy between the size this crepe of mine and that of Nancy’s …I wonder whether she took a bite of mine while I wasn’t looking
discrete
(adjective): individually distinct; separate “dis KREET”
Think: Crete
The Greek island of Crete is discrete because it doesn’t touch any other land
disgruntled
(adjective): displeased. “dis GRUNT ulled”
Think: grunted
The fat warthog grunted to show he was disgruntled with his small dinner
dismantle
(verb): to take apart or destroy. “Dis MAN till”
Think: Mickey Mantle
A 16-time baseball All-star, Mickey Mantle often dismantled opposing teams with his brilliant hitting
dismissive
(adjective): showing rejection and contempt for “dis MISS ive”
Think: dismiss
When she sings “Call Me Maybe”, Carly Rae Jepsen is dismissive because she dismissed all the other boys who tried to chase her
disparage
(verb): to insult or to put down “dis PARRIAGE (rhymes with “marriage”)
Think: despair and rage
he felt despair and rage because the rapper liked to diss and disparage him
disparate
(adjective): distinct; different “DISS per it”
Think: this parrot vs. that pirate
This parrot is disparate (different) from that pirate on whose shoulder it is sitting. They are disparate species, after all.. even if they do look a bit alike
dispassionate
(adjective): not passionate/ interested “diss PASH in it”
Think: not passionate
Dis=not, so dispassionate=not passionate (not interested)
dispatch
(noun): speed; efficiency. “DIS patch”
Think: dispatcher
If you want a job as a dispatcher- using the radio to direct police- you’d better dispatch`
displacing
(verb): removing from the usual place “Dis place”
Think: dis place to dat place
Don’t think of your demotion as me displacing you- I’m just moving your desk from dis place to dat place
disputatious
(adjective): inclined to argue “dis pyoo TAY shus”
Think: dispute
After being pulled over, the disputatious lawyer unwisely disputed the accuracy of the cop’s radar gun
dissemble
(verb): to mislead, hide or conceal. “dis EM bull”
Think: disassemble gun
The terrorist tried to dissemble his plan by disassembling his gun before trying to smuggle it through airport security
disseminated
(verb): spread out. “dis EM in nate id”
Think: diss ‘em, Nate
His dad advised to “diss ‘em, Nate”, so Nate disseminated flyers all over the school that criticized his opponents in the election
distension
(noun): swelling. “dis TEN shun”
Think: dis-tension
A belly showing distension after a huge meal might be because the person has weak abs with no muscle tension
dither
(verb): to stress out from indecision. “DITH ur”
Think: ditz do either
You’re such a ditz- you’d do either and it’s making you dither
diurnal
(adjective): daily, of the daytime. “die URN ul
Think: the urinal
My use of the urinal is diurnal- I pee every day
divergent
(adjective): moving in different directions. “duh VERIE int”
Think: two roads diverged
“two road diverged in a yellow wood,” begins the famous Robert Frost Poem, “the Road not Taken”
