Read Online The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate by Eugene Ehrlich - Free Book Online
Authors: Eugene Ehrlich
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their inclination to destroy reputations of people they worked with, but they could truthfully say they never intended to derogate their immediate supervisor's authority.”
Related word: derogation ( DER - e -GAY-sh e n) noun .
derogatory (di-ROG- e - TOR -ee) adjective
disparaging; contemptuous.
Related words: derogatorily (di- ROG - e -TOR- e -lee) adverb , derogatoriness (di-ROG- e - TOR -ee-nis) noun .
deserts (di-ZURTS) plural noun
what one deserves (whether good or bad).
Do not confuse deserts with desserts , a word whose meaning we all understand. Hint: we look forward to a choice of desserts at the end of a good meal, but if we overeat to the point of suffering gastric pain, we are getting our just deserts .
desideratum (di- SID - e -RAH-t e m) noun, plural desiderata (di- SID - e -RAH-t e )
something that is lacking but is needed or desired.
despoil (di-SPOYL) verb
strip of possessions; rob, pillage, plunder (a place or person).
Related words: despoiler and despoilment both nouns .
desuetude (DES-wi- TOOD ) noun
a state of disuse.
detritus (di-TR I -t e s) noun
1. fragments (of gravel, silt, etc.) caused by the rubbing away of a larger mass.
2. any waste; debris.
Related word: detrital (di-TR I -t e l) adjective .
detumescence ( DEE -too-MES- e ns) noun
reduction or subsidence from a swollen state.
Related word: detumescent adjective .
devolve (di-VOLV) verb
pass or be passed on to a deputy or successor.
Related word: devolvement noun .
diadem (D I - e - DEM ) noun
a crown or headband worn as a sign of sovereignty.
dialectic ( D I - e -LEK-tik) noun
the investigation of the truth of opinions in philosophy, economics, etc. by systematic reasoning and logical disputation.
Related words: dialectic, dialectal , and dialectical all adjectives , dialectician ( D I - e -lek-TISH- e n) noun .
Diaspora (d I -AS-p e r- e ) noun , also given as diaspora , especially in sense 2 below
1. the dispersion of the Jews to countries outside of Palestine after the end of the Babylonian captivity.
2. the dispersion of any minority religious or ethnic group among people of a prevailing religion or ethnicity.
dichotomy (d I -KOT- e -mee) noun, plural dichotomies
division into two parts or kinds.
Related words: dichotomic ( D I -k e -TOM-ik) and dichotomous (d I -KOT- e -m e s) both adjectives , dichotomically ( D I -k e -TOM-i-klee) adverb , dichotomize (d I -KOT- e - M I Z ) verb .
dictum (DIK-t e m) noun, plural dicta (DIK-t e ) or dictums
1. a formal expression of opinion, especially a judicial assertion.
2. a maxim, a saying.
diffident (DIF-i-d e nt) adjective
lacking self-confidence; hesitating to put oneself or one's ideas forward.
Related words: diffidence noun , diffidently adverb .
dilatory (DIL- e - TOR -ee) adjective
slow in doing something; not prompt; tending to procrastinate.
Related words: dilatorily adverb , dilatoriness noun .
dipsomania ( DIP -s e -MAY-nee- e ) noun
an uncontrollable craving for alcoholic drink.
Related words: dipsomaniac ( DIP -s e -MAY-nee- AK ) noun , dipsomaniacal ( DIP -s e -m e -N I - e -k e l) adjective .
disaffected ( DIS - e -FEK-tid) adjective
discontented and disloyal, as toward authority.
Related words: disaffectedly adverb , disaffectedness noun .
disaffection ( DIS - e -FEK-sh e n) noun
estrangement; disloyalty; political discontent.
discomfit (dis-KUM-fit) verb
1. disconcert; confuse and deject.
2. thwart, foil; frustrate the plans of.
Do not confuse discomfit with discomfort , which see.
Related word: discomfiter noun
Related word: derogation ( DER - e -GAY-sh e n) noun .
derogatory (di-ROG- e - TOR -ee) adjective
disparaging; contemptuous.
Related words: derogatorily (di- ROG - e -TOR- e -lee) adverb , derogatoriness (di-ROG- e - TOR -ee-nis) noun .
deserts (di-ZURTS) plural noun
what one deserves (whether good or bad).
Do not confuse deserts with desserts , a word whose meaning we all understand. Hint: we look forward to a choice of desserts at the end of a good meal, but if we overeat to the point of suffering gastric pain, we are getting our just deserts .
desideratum (di- SID - e -RAH-t e m) noun, plural desiderata (di- SID - e -RAH-t e )
something that is lacking but is needed or desired.
despoil (di-SPOYL) verb
strip of possessions; rob, pillage, plunder (a place or person).
Related words: despoiler and despoilment both nouns .
desuetude (DES-wi- TOOD ) noun
a state of disuse.
detritus (di-TR I -t e s) noun
1. fragments (of gravel, silt, etc.) caused by the rubbing away of a larger mass.
2. any waste; debris.
Related word: detrital (di-TR I -t e l) adjective .
detumescence ( DEE -too-MES- e ns) noun
reduction or subsidence from a swollen state.
Related word: detumescent adjective .
devolve (di-VOLV) verb
pass or be passed on to a deputy or successor.
Related word: devolvement noun .
diadem (D I - e - DEM ) noun
a crown or headband worn as a sign of sovereignty.
dialectic ( D I - e -LEK-tik) noun
the investigation of the truth of opinions in philosophy, economics, etc. by systematic reasoning and logical disputation.
Related words: dialectic, dialectal , and dialectical all adjectives , dialectician ( D I - e -lek-TISH- e n) noun .
Diaspora (d I -AS-p e r- e ) noun , also given as diaspora , especially in sense 2 below
1. the dispersion of the Jews to countries outside of Palestine after the end of the Babylonian captivity.
2. the dispersion of any minority religious or ethnic group among people of a prevailing religion or ethnicity.
dichotomy (d I -KOT- e -mee) noun, plural dichotomies
division into two parts or kinds.
Related words: dichotomic ( D I -k e -TOM-ik) and dichotomous (d I -KOT- e -m e s) both adjectives , dichotomically ( D I -k e -TOM-i-klee) adverb , dichotomize (d I -KOT- e - M I Z ) verb .
dictum (DIK-t e m) noun, plural dicta (DIK-t e ) or dictums
1. a formal expression of opinion, especially a judicial assertion.
2. a maxim, a saying.
diffident (DIF-i-d e nt) adjective
lacking self-confidence; hesitating to put oneself or one's ideas forward.
Related words: diffidence noun , diffidently adverb .
dilatory (DIL- e - TOR -ee) adjective
slow in doing something; not prompt; tending to procrastinate.
Related words: dilatorily adverb , dilatoriness noun .
dipsomania ( DIP -s e -MAY-nee- e ) noun
an uncontrollable craving for alcoholic drink.
Related words: dipsomaniac ( DIP -s e -MAY-nee- AK ) noun , dipsomaniacal ( DIP -s e -m e -N I - e -k e l) adjective .
disaffected ( DIS - e -FEK-tid) adjective
discontented and disloyal, as toward authority.
Related words: disaffectedly adverb , disaffectedness noun .
disaffection ( DIS - e -FEK-sh e n) noun
estrangement; disloyalty; political discontent.
discomfit (dis-KUM-fit) verb
1. disconcert; confuse and deject.
2. thwart, foil; frustrate the plans of.
Do not confuse discomfit with discomfort , which see.
Related word: discomfiter noun
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