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52 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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descry
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v. catch sight of
we could barely descry the enemy's vessels |
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desolate
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adj. unpopulated; joyless
desolate patch of wilderness v. rob of joy; lay waste to; forsake the bandits desolated the countryside |
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desperado
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n. reckless outlaw
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despoil
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v. strip of valuables; rob
the raiders despoiled the village |
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despondent
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adj. depressed; gloomy
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despot
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n. tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler
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destitute
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adj. extremely poor
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desuetude
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n. state of disuse
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desultory
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adj. aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
desultory remark |
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determinate
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adj. having a fixed order or procedure; invariable
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determination
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n,. resolve; measurement or calculation; decition
determination of the answer |
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detraction
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n. slandering; aspersion
they were held up to ridicule and detraction |
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devious
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adj. roundabout; erratic; not straightfoward
devious plan a devious course a devious procedure a devious scheme to acquire wealth (shifty or crooked) |
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devolve
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v. be transferred to another; delegate to another; gradually worsen
all the work devolved upon poor alice. |
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diabolical
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adj. devilish
diabolical scheme |
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diadem
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n. crown
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dialectical
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adj. relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal
dialectical skill teaching is a dialectical situation |
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diaphanous
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adj. sheer; transparent
diaphanous curtains |
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diatribe
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n. bitter scolding; invective
lengthy diatribe |
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dictum
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n. authoritative and weighty statement; saying; maxim
old dictum: "publish or perish" |
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die
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n. device for stamping or imjpressing; mold
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diffidence
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n. shyness
you must overcome your diffidence |
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diffuse
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adj. wordy; rambling; spread out
diffuse manuscripts |
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dilapidated
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adj. ruined bc of neglect
dilapidated old building |
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dilatory
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adj. tending to delay; intentionally delaying
dilatory in paying bills |
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dilettante
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n. aimless follower of the arts; amateur; dabbler
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din
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n. continued loud noise
the din of the jackhammers |
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dinghy
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n. small boat (often ship's boat)
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dingy
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adj. dull; not fresh; cheerless
dingy old apartment |
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dint
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n. means; effort
by dint of much hard work... |
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diorama
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n. life-size, 3D scene from nature or history
dioramas at the museum |
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dire
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adj. disastrous
her dire predictions of an approaching depression |
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dirge
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n. lament with music
the funeral dirge |
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disabuse
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v. correct a false impression; undeceive
I will attempt to disabuse you of your impression of my client's guilt; he is innocent |
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disaffected
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adj. disloyal
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disapprobation
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n. disapproval; condemnation
view his daughter's bf with disapprobation |
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disarray
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n. a disorderly or untidy state
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disavowal
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n. denial; disclaiming
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disburse
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v. pay out
disburse money |
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discernible
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adj. distinguishable; perceivable
the ships were not discernible in the fog |
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disclaim
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v. disown; renounce claim to
If i grant you this privileg, will you disclaim all other rights? |
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discombobulated
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adj. confused; discomposed; disconcert;upset
The speaker was completely discombobulated by the hecklers. |
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discomfit
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v. put to rout; defeat; disoncert
This ruse will discomfit the enemy |
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disconcert
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v. confuse; upset; embarrassed
Her angry reply disconcerted me completely. |
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disconsolate
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adj. sad
the death of his wife left him disconsolate |
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discount
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v. disregard
discount what he said |
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discourse
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n. formal discussion; conversation
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discredit
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v. defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve
each candidate tried to discredit the other |
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discretion
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n. prudence in speech, actions; ability to decide responsibly; freedom to act on one's own
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discursive
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adj. digressing; rambling
discursive remarks |
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disenfranchise
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v. deprive of civil right
this tax disenfranchises the blacks |
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disgorge
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v. surrender something; eject; vomit
unwilling to disgorge the cash he had stolen. |
