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250 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
covetous
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avaricious; desirous of (someone else's possessions); V. covet: desire eagerly (someone else's possessions)
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cow
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terrorize; intimidate
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cower
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shrink quivering as from fear; cringe
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coy
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shy (flirtatiously); showing a (pretended) lack of self-confidence; modest; coquettish; CF. job offer? ??? ?
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cozen
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cheat; hoodwink; swindle
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crabbed
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sour; bad-tempered; peevish; difficult to read as handwriting
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craft
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skill (esp. with one's hands); skill in deceiving people; guile; ADJ. crafty: cleverly deceitful; cunning
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crass
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very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; Ex. crass behavior
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crave
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desire; want intensely
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craven
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cowardly
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credence
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belief
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credential
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evidence concerning one's authority; written proof of a person's position; Ex. The new ambassador presented his credentials to the court.
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credo
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creed, a brief authoritative formula of religious belief, a set of fundamental beliefs; also : a guiding principle
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credulity
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belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivet'e; ADJ. credulous
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creed
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system of religious or ethical belief
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creep
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move with body close to the ground; move stealthily or slowly; N.
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cremate
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incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory, crematorium
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crescendo
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increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; climax; CF. crescent
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crest
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top (as of a hill or wave); showy feathers on the head of a bird
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crestfallen
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dejected; dispirited
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crevice
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crack; fissure
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cringe
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shrink back as if in fear; cower
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crinkle
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wrinkle
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criteria
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standards used in judging; CF. criterion
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crochet
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make (a piece of needlework) by looping thread with a hooked needle; N. CF. crotchet
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crone
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hag; ugly old woman
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cross
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bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry
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crossbreed
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hybridize; N: hybrid; CF. interbreed; CF. inbreed
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crotchety
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(of someone old) eccentric; odd; whimsical; bad-tempered; N. crotchet: odd or whimsical notion
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crust
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hard outer covering (as of earth or snow)
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crux
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essential or main point; Ex. the crux of the problem; ADJ. crucial: of deciding importance
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crypt
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secret recess or vault usually used for burial; underground room (under a church)
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cryptic
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mysterious; hidden; secret
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cubicle
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small chamber used for sleeping or work
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cue
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word or signal (as in a play to prompt another actor's speech or entrance); reminder or hint; V: give a cue to
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cuisine
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style of cooking; Ex. French cuisine
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culinary
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relating to cooking or kitchen
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cull
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pick out from others (to kill the weakest members); reject; select; collect (information); N.
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culmination
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highest point; climax; V. culminate in: reach the highest point in; end in; Ex. a series of minor clashes culminating in war
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culpable
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deserving blame; blameworthy
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culprit
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one guilty of a crime
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culvert
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artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road
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cumbersome
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heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; Ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform
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cumulative
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growing by addition; accumulative
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cunning
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clever in deceiving; sly; N: cleverness in deceiving; deceit
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cupidity
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greed (for wealth); CF. cupid; CF. Cupid
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curator
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superintendent; manager (in charge of a museum or a library)
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curb
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chain or strap used with a bit to restrain a horse; something that checks; V: check; restrain
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curfew
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regulation requiring all people to leave the streets at stated times; signal (as a bell) announcing the hour of a curfew
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curmudgeon
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churlish, miserly individual; bad-tempered old person
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cursive
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(of writing) flowing; running; having the successive letters joined
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cursory
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casual; hastily done with little attention to detail
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curtail
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shorten; reduce
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cynical
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skeptical or distrustful of human motives; N. cynicism; CF. cynic: person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness
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cynosure
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object of general attention; person or thing that is a center of attention; CF. Ursa Minor
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d'eb\^acle
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sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster
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d'ebris
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rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed
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d'ecollet'e
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(of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d'ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)
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d'enouement
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final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained
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dabble
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work at in a nonserious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid
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dainty
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delicate; delicately beautiful; fastidious; not easy to please; Ex. dainty movement/dress
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dais
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raised platform for speakers or other important people
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dally
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trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time
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damn
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condemn; criticize severely; condemn to everlasting punishment; doom; bring to ruin; N. damnation
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dank
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damp; unpleasantly wet
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dapper
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neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry
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dappled
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spotted
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dart
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move or throw suddenly and quickly
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daub
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smear (as with paint); cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one's clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint
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daunt
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intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten
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dauntless
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bold; fearless
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dawdle
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loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing
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daze
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stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb; N.
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dazzle
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make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill with wonder
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deadlock
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standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate
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deadpan
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wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face
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dearth
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scarcity
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debar
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bar; forbid; exclude; Ex. debarred from jury services
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debase
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degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement
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debauch
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corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior (with sex and alcohol)
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debilitate
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weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble
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debonair
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(of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition
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debunk
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expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule
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debut
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d'ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation of a young woman to society
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debutante
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young woman making formal entrance into society
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decadent
decadent - the quality or state of being decadent/the process of becoming decadent |
marked by decay or decline
characterized by or appealing to self-indulgence |
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decant
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pour off gently (wine or liquid)
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decapitate
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behead
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decelerate
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slow down
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deciduous
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falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth
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decimate
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kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a large part of
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decipher
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decode; CF. indecipherable
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declivity
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downward slope
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decomposition
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decay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts
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decorous
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proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)
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decorum
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propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct
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decoy
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lure or bait; V.
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decree
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authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of law; V: order or judge by decree
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decrepit
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weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man
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decrepitude
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state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age
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deducible
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derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning
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deface
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mar; disfigure
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defalcate
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embezzle
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defame
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harm someone's reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory
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default
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failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.
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defeatist
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resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism
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defect
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shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)
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defection
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desertion
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defer
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give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous
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deference
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courteous regard for another's wish; courteous yielding to another's wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery
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defiance
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refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
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defile
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pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains
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definitive
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most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court
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deflect
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turn aside; turn away from a straight course
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defoliate
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destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant
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defray
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provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay
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defrock
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strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock
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deft
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neat; skillful
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defunct
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dead; no longer in use or existence
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degenerate
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become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person
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degradation
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humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank
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deify
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turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity
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deign
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condescend; stoop
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delete
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erase; strike out
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deleterious
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harmful
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deliberate
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consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow
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delineate
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portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation
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delirium
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mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious
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delta
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flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river
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delude
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deceive
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deluge
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flood; rush; V.
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delusion
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false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that
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delusive
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deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises
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delve
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dig; search deeply; investigate
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demagogue
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person who appeals to people's prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery
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demean
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disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave
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demeanor
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behavior; bearing
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demented
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insane
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demise
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death
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demographic
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related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population
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demolition
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destruction; V. demolish
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demoniac(demoniacal)
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fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil
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demotic
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of or pertaining to the people
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demur
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object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday
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demure
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(of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure
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denigrate
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blacken; defame
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denizen
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(animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor
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denomination
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religious group; unit in a system; name or designation; CF. denominator: common trait or characteristic
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denotation
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meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation
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denounce
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condemn; criticize; N. denunciation
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depict
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portray
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deplete
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reduce; exhaust
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deplore
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regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad; Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living condition
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deploy
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spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically
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deport
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send out of the country; behave; N. deportation, deportment
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depose
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dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify
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deposition
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testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning
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depravity
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extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
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deprecate
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express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory
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depreciate
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lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value
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depredation
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plundering; destruction
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deputize
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work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person who has the power to take charge when the leading person is away
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deranged
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insane
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derelict
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negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person
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dereliction
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neglect of duty; abandonment
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deride
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ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect
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derision
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ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory
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derivation
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deriving; origin or source of something; Ex. the derivation of the word
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derivative
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unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N.
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dermatologist
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one who studies the skin and its diseases
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derogatory
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expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage
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descry
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catch sight of (something distant)
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desecrate
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profane; violate the sanctity of
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deserts
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what someone deserves
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desiccate
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dry up
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desolate
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(of a place) deserted; unpopulated; (of a person) lonely; forlorn; joyless
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desolate (v)
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make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert
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desperado
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reckless, desperate outlaw
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desperate
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having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent because of loss of hope or despair; undertaken as a last resort
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despise
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look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible
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despoil
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plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village
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despondent
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without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection
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despot
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tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism
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destitute
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extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience
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desultory
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aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
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detached
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emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment
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detain
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keep waiting; prevent from leaving or going; N. detention
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determinate
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having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final
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determination
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resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision
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deterrent
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something that discourages or deters
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detonation
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explosion
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detraction
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slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor
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detrimental
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harmful; damaging; N. detriment
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deviate
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turn away from (a principle, norm); move away from an accepted standard; swerve; depart; diverge; N. deviation; Ex. deviation of the path of light by a prism
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devious
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roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route
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devise
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think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest
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devoid
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empty; lacking
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devolve
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deputize; pass or be passed to others (power, work, or property); Ex. devolve on/upon/to
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devotee
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enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach
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devout
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pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope
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dexterous
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skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity
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diabolical
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diabolic; devilish; fiendish
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diadem
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crown
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dialectical
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relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments
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diaphanous
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sheer; transparent
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diatribe
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bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse
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dichotomy
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division into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones)
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dictum
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authoritative and weighty statement (made by a judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark (something said in passing)
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didactic
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(of speech or writing) intended to teach a moral lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism
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die
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metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice
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diffidence
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shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident
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diffuse
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wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out (like a gas); V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse
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dignitary
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person of high rank or position
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digression
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wandering away from the subject; V. digress
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dilapidated
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falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation
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dilate
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expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on (a subject)
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dilatory
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delaying; tending to delay
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dilemma
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situation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives
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dilettante
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aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight
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diligence
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steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
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dilute
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make (a liquid) less concentrated; reduce in strength; Ex. dilute the influence of the president
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diminution
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lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
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din
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continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition
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dinghy
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small boat (often ship's boat)
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dingy
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(of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain
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dint
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means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
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diorama
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life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background
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dire
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warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food
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dirge
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funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)
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disabuse
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correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief
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disaffected
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disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
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disapprobation
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disapproval; condemnation
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disarray
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state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex. with her clothes in disarray
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disavowal
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denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim
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disband
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dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
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disbar
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make (a lawyer) leave the bar or the legal profession
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disburse
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pay out (as from a fund); N. disbursement; CF. purse
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discernible
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distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement
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discerning
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mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
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disclaim
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disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer
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disclose
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reveal; N. disclosure
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discombobulated
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discomposed; confused
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discomfit
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frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
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discompose
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disturb the composure of; confuse
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disconcert
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confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb
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disconsolate
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hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)
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discord
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conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when musical notes are played)
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discorda
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not harmonious; conflicting
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discount
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disregard; regard (a story or news) as unimportant; deduct from a cost
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discourse
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serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either written or spoken); conversation; V.
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