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195 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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bureaucracy |
the administrator or government |
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cairn |
a monument or landmark of stones piled in the shape of a corn |
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carborundum |
a hard abrasive substance used for scrubbing |
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carbuncle |
a red colored gem, garnet |
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caricature |
an unrealistic, exaggerated representation of someone |
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catalepsy |
a condition in which there is a loss of control |
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cavalcade |
a procession of carriages |
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celerity |
quickness, rapidness, speed |
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chortle |
a laugh |
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cistern |
a tank used to hold water |
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colloquy |
a formal discussion |
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colonnade |
a series of columns set at regular intervals, usually supporting a roof |
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complaisant |
satisfied; content |
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condescension |
patronization, acting as if you're doing something beneath your dignity |
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copious |
abundant, plentiful |
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acetylene |
a colorless, poisonous, highly flammable gas |
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addenda |
things added, an appendix |
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alburnum |
sapwood, the soft wood inside the bark that conducts water (I'll burn 'em) |
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amorous |
having to do with love |
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animalcular |
pertaining to microscoic or small animals |
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anonymity |
unknown or nameless |
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apologist |
one who defends a doctrine, faith, or action |
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aqueous |
watery |
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arboreal |
that which lives in trees |
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arduous |
tiring, difficult, hard |
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argosy |
a large merchant ship |
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augury |
indication, sign, omen |
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auroral |
early morning, dawning |
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benignant |
gentle, kind, good |
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bilious |
having an ailment of the liver, cross or bad-tempered |
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zenith |
highest point |
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wrath |
violent anger |
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wizened |
dried up |
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winch |
machine for hoisting or pulling |
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winced |
shrunk back involuntarily |
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welter |
toss out, wallow |
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warder |
watchman or warden |
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wanton |
excessively merry, having no regard for justice or others feelings |
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votaries |
devoted participants |
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volatile |
readily vaporizing, explosive or easily |
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vivacious |
lively |
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vitriolic |
something caustic or corrosive |
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vitiated |
spoiled or impaired |
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unpropitious |
unfavorable |
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aberration |
deviation or distortion |
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pithy |
brief and full of meaning and substance |
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quiescent |
quiet, still, inactive |
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reticent |
not talking much, reserved |
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voluble |
talking a great deal with ease |
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egotistical |
excessively self-absorbed |
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narcissist |
extreme self-adoration |
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ostentatious |
showing off |
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platitude |
quality of being dull |
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prosaic |
dull, commonplace |
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conciliate |
to win a person over through special methods |
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captious |
likely to dispute or argue |
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disputatious |
made for the sake of quarreling |
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polemical |
inclined to argue or debate, controversial |
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pugnacious |
eager to fight, belligerent |
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penurious |
stingy, relating to great poverty |
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allegation |
affirmation, declaration |
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allegory |
a speech or discourse which conveys a meaning different from the literal one |
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alleviate |
to make light or less |
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alliteration |
repetition of a letter |
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allocate |
to distribute |
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altercation |
heated dispute |
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altruistic |
the opposite of selfishness, premotives |
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amalgamate |
to mix or blend |
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amelioration |
an improvement |
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amendable |
accountable, responsible, or agreeable |
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amenities |
pleasantries |
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amity |
friendship, harmony |
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amnesia |
loss of memory |
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amorphous |
without shape or irregular shape |
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anachronism |
an error in chronology or order |
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misanthropist |
a person who hates mankind |
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soliloquized |
to make a dramatic monologue, or mutter to oneself |
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pious |
conscientious in religious practices |
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penetralium |
things kept in private or secret |
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stalwart |
strong or brave |
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impertinence |
insolence, rude |
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actuate |
to put into motion |
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physiognomy |
facial appearance as a reflection of inner character |
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vexations |
troubling, annoying, distressing |
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laconic |
sparing of words |
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sagacity |
shrewdness |
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austere |
severe |
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taciturn |
almost always silent |
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corroborating |
supporting with evidence |
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ensconcing |
settle snugly, encased |
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incantation |
use of spoken or sung charms |
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inimical |
hostile or harmful |
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antiphonal |
in alternating responses |
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obscurity |
protection, security, hidden |
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propitiate |
appease, gain favor |
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gesticulate |
make hand motions |
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interminable |
endless |
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pontificate |
talk pompously |
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therapeutic |
offering a remedy |
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penitent |
feeling sorrow for sins |
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penumbras |
partial sorrow for sins |
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polls |
places where votes are cast |
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ludicrous |
absurd |
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inscrutable |
unknowable |
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talisman |
magic charm |
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injudicious |
not characterized by sound judgment |
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vociferate |
noisy and insistent |
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dilatory |
delaying, not prompt |
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fastidious |
difficult to please |
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peremptorily |
acting with dominance |
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avarice |
greed |
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mawkish |
sickly sentimental |
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ignominous |
dishonorable, humiliating |
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bludgeon |
a short club |
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pertinacious |
obstinately persistent |
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obviate |
make unnecessary |
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anathema |
a solemn curse |
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anent |
in regards to, respecting |
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anomaly |
something unusual or abnormal |
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antecedent |
one that came before |
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curate |
clergymen |
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lachrymose |
tearful |
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assiduity |
diligently |
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blackguard |
scoundrel |
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paroxysm |
a spasm or sudden outburst |
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cambric |
fine thin linen; cloth or fabric |
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vagaries |
whims |
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sizar |
an undergraduate |
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petulantly |
irritably |
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winsome |
causing joy |
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thible |
a slice |
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abject |
to suffer; to endure |
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dree |
low in spirit |
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slattern |
untidy woman |
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comminations |
threats of punishment |
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choler |
bad temper |
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noyance |
harm; annoyance |
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gambol |
to skip about |
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adders |
poisonous snakes |
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homage |
reverent regard |
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unkennel |
release |
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clemency |
mercy, mildness |
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ducat |
gold coin |
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petar |
a loud firecracker |
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gleaned |
collected little by little |
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scourge |
whip or punish |
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cicatrice |
scar |
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garrisoned |
stationed troops |
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botch |
do clumsily |
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conjectured |
guessed |
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opulent |
lavish |
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oracular |
one held to give divinely inspired answers |
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oscillation |
swings back and forth |
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ostensible |
giving the impression of |
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ostentatious |
pretentious display; showing off |
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ostracized |
excluded by common consent |
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paean |
song of praise |
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palaver |
talk |
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palliate |
ease without curing, conceal |
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paltry |
trivial |
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panacea |
universal remedy |
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pandemonium |
a wild uproar |
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panegyric |
eulogistic orientation |
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paradox |
contradicting statement yet can be true |
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paragon |
model of perfection |
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parochialism |
relating to a church parish |
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parody |
satirical imitation |
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paroxysm |
spasm |
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parsimonious |
extremely frugal |
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pathological |
physical abnormality |
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paucity |
shortage |
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peccadillo |
slight offense |
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pedagogue |
art of profession of teaching |
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pedantic |
showing of one's knowledge |
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peremptory |
imperative, domineering |
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perennial |
present in all seasons of the year |
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perfidious |
treachery |
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perfunctory |
done merely as duty |
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personification |
embodiment of or to represent |
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perspicuity |
acuteness of understanding or judgment |
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depredatory |
plundering or laying waste |
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derelict |
abandoned or negligent |
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derogatory |
intended to lower the reputation |
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descried |
caught sight of |
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desideratum |
something needed or wanted |
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despicable |
deserving scorn |
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destitution |
lacking everything |
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desuetude |
disuse |
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diaphanous |
to shine through, transparent |
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diatribe |
denunciation, severe criticism |
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didactic |
intended to teach a moral lesson |
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diffident |
reserved |
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dilettante |
one who dabbles in a field of interest |
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diminutive |
extremely small |
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discordant |
lack of harmony |
