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Advanced English Dictionary
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Affiliate: To join, to be connected with or to work for an organization.
Affinity: A close relationship between two people or things that have similar qualities, structure or features: There is a close afinity between Lagos state and Ogun state.
Affirm: To state firmly or publicly that something is true or that you support something strongly: I can affirm that no one will lose their job.
Affix: To stick or attach something to something else: The label should be firmly affixed to the package. A letter or group of letters added to the beginning or end of a word to change its meaning.
Affluent: Having a lot of money and a good standard of living. Lekki is a very affluent neighbourhood.
Affray: A fight or violent behaviour in a public place.
Affront: A remark or an action that insults or offends somebody or something: obasanjo speech was an affront to many in the country.
Afghan hound: A tall dog with long soft hair and a pointed nose.
Afi-cion-ado: A person who likes a particular sport, activity or subject very much and knows alot about it: A footballer aficionado.
Afield: Far away from home; to or in places that are not near: You can hire a car if you want to explore further afield. Journalists came from as far afield as china and Brazil.
Agape: If a person's mouth is agape, it is wide open, especially because they are surprised or shocked.
Agent: A person whose job is to act for, or manage the affairs of, other people in business, politics, etc: an insurance agent. Our agent in ikorodu deals with all us sales. Estate agent, land agent, travel agent.
Aggravate: To make an illness or a bad or unpleasant situation worse. pollution can aggravate asthma. Military intervention will only aggravate the conflict even further. Aggression: Feelings of anger and hatred that may result in threatening or violent behaviour: The research shows that computer games may cause aggression. A violent attack or threats by one country against another country.
Aggressor: A person, country, etc.that attacks first.
Aggrieved: Feeling that you have been treated unfairly: He had every right to feel aggrieved at the decision. The aggrieved person or party in the case.
Aggro: Violent aggressive behaviour: Don't give me any aggro or I will call the police. Problems and difficulties that are annoying: I had a lot of aggro at the dole office.
Aghast: Filled with horror and surprise when you see or hear something. Erica looked at him aghast.
Agile: Able to move quickly and easily: A strong and agile athlete. Able to think quickly and in an intelligent way.
Agitate: To argue strongly for something you want, especially for changes in a law, in social consitions, etc: Political groups agitating for social change. Her family are agitating to have her transferred to a prison in the uk.
Agitator: A person who tries to persuade people to take part in political protest.
Agog: Excited and very interested to find out something.
Agonize: To spend a long time thinking and worrying about a difficult situation or problem: I spent days agonizing over whether to take the job or not.
Agony aunt: A person who writes in a newspaper or magazine giving advice in reply to people'people's letters about their personal problems.
Agoraphobia:A fear of being in public places where there are many other people.
Agrarian: Connected with farming and the use of land for farming.
To have the same opinion as somebody; to say that you have the same opinion: When he said that, i had to agree. He agreed with them about the need for change.
Agri-business: The industry concerned with the production and sale of farm products, especially involving large companies.
Agrono-mist: A scientist who studies the relationship between crops and the environment.
Ail-eron: A part of the wing of a plane that moves up and down to control the plane's balance.
Ailment: An illness that is not very serious: Childhood common minor ailments.
Alacrity: Great willingness or enthusiasm: They accepted the offer with alacrity.
Al-bu-men: The colourless inside part of an egg that is white when cooked.
Abaissement: Despondency; depression; falling.
Abalienation: Physical or mental decay.
Abarticular: Remote from a joint.
Abarticulation: A dislocation.
Abasia: Motor incoordination in walking.
Abate: To do away with.
Abatement: Decrease of pain or disease.
Abattoir: Slaughter house.
Abaxial: Not situated in the line of the axis.
Abdicate: Renounce formally or by fault.
Abdomen: The belly. It is bounded above by the diaphragm of midriff and below by the pelvis, and contains the stomach and intestines, liver, spleen, kidneys, etc.
Abdominal: Of the abdomen in either sense; pertaining to abdomen.
Abdominalis: Located on the abdominal surface.
Abdominal legs: One of the groups of fishes, having the ventral fins under abdomen behind the pectoral, as parr.
Aetiology: The scientific study of the causes of disease.
Affable: Pleasant, friendly and easy to talk to.
Agog: Excited and very interested to find out sth.
Agonize: To spend a long time thinking and worrying about a difficult situation or problem. I spent days agonizing over whether to take the job or not.
Ajar: Of a door slightly open: I will leave the door ajar.
Akin: similar to: What he felt was more akin to pity than love.
Alabaster: A type of white stone that is often carved to make statues and ornaments: An alabaster tomb.
Alacrity: Great willingness or enthusiasm: They accepted the offer with alacrity.
Alfresco: In the open air: An alfresco lunch party.
Algorithm: A set of rules that must be followed when solving a particular problem.
Alignment: Arrangement in a straight line: the alignment of the sun, moon and earth at a particular time.
Alimentary canal: The passage in the body that carries food from the mouth to the Anus.
Alimony: The money that a court of law orders sb to pay regularly to their former wife or husband when the marriage is ended.
Aloof: Not friendly or interested in other people: He kept himself aloof from the people.
Abate: become less intense.
“The storm abated after half an hour.
Aberration: something that isn’t usual.
“His behaviour was a bit of an aberration this evening. He’s normally very calm and polite."
Abhor: hate, detest (formal).
“I abhor his attitude.”
abject: miserable, unpleasant, degrading.
“They live in abject poverty.”
ablaze: on fire.
“The vandals set the barn ablaze.”
ablutions: wash yourself (formal / humorous).
“I need to perform my ablutions before we go out.”
abound: to be plentiful.
“Opportunities abound for people with an entrepreneurial mindset.”
abracadabra: the word a magician says to reveal the magic.
“When I say ‘abracadabra’ you’ll see the rabbit.”
abrasive: something that can scratch.
“You’ll need to use an abrasive sponge to get that mark off.”
have a harsh personality.
“Her abrasive manner has won her few friends in the company.”
abridge: shorten a book, film etc.
“I’ve got the abridged version of the book at home.”
abscond: leave in secret so you don’t have to face the law.
“He emptied the bank account and absconded with all the money.”
abseil: go down a mountain with a rope.
“They abseiled off the top of the mountain.”
absolve: declare someone free of guilt.
“The judge absolved him of all the charges against him.”
abstemious: when you avoid eating or drinking too much alcohol.
“We were very abstemious on holiday!”
abysmal = terrible
“His school reports were abysmal this term.”
abyss = a very deep hole
“He sank into an abyss of despair.”
accede = agree to a request (formal)
“The government did not accede to their demands, and so the union called a strike.”
acclaim = public praise
“His acceptance speech was received to great acclaim.”
acclimatise = become used to the weather / environment
“It might take you a few minutes to acclimatise to the water temperature.”
accolade = award for merit
“Have you received any accolades for your work?”
accord = official agreement
“The two countries signed the accord.”
= give someone the power to do something
“He was accorded full voting rights.”
(Also “in accordance with”)
accredited = recognised to meet certain standards
“Make sure you study English at an accredited school.”
= get credit for something
“Her father was accredited with discovering a new star.”
accrue = accumulate money, etc over time
“You’ll accrue interest on this account.”
accumulate = gather an increasing amount
“His debts gradually accumulated.”
acre = a measure of land (just under half a hectare)
“She has a couple of acres of land.”
acrid = strong unpleasant smell
“Acrid smoke came from the burning rubbish.”
acrimony = bitterness (of feeling)
“Their argument descended into acrimony.”
(adj = “acrimonious” – “an acrimonious divorce”)
acronym = a word made up of the initial letters of other words
“The BBC is an acronym of ‘British Broadcasting Corporation’.”
acumen = ability to make the right decision
“You’ll need business acumen to be promoted.”
adage = saying
“Is there any truth to the old adage ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’?”
adamant = refusing to change your mind
“She was quite adamant about not going to the reception.”
addled = confused
“I think his brain is a little addled after the shock he’s had.”
adhere = stick (formal)
“There are a number of regulations that you must adhere to.”
adrift = floating (ie of a boat no longer moored)
“They sent a mayday signal when they realised they were adrift.”
advocate = advise or support
“What would you advocate in this situation?”
= someone who publicly supports something
“He’s an advocate of human rights.”
affable = friendly, easy-going
“He’s quite an affable sort of guy.”
affinity = a natural good relationship with someone / something
“She has an affinity with animals.”
affirm = state something positively
“They affirmed their commitment to equal rights.”
affix = attach (formal)
“Affix the stamp here.”
= (grammatical) something you add to a word
“Pre and post are examples of affixes.”
afflicted = suffer from an illness / pain
“She’s been afflicted by
Punctuation reMarks: The full stop(.). (a) It marks the end of a sentence (except for questions and exclamations). He arrived late. However, a sentence may just be one word as in greetings like "Hello","Hi". (b) It indicates an abbreviation. It is only nessary where the shortened form does not contain the last letter of the word e.e.g, am.
(2) Capital letterletters. (ABC).
(a) This is used at the beginning of every sentence.
(i) This is an English textbook. (b) It begins every proper noun (names of persons, places) weekdays and months. E.E.g Johnson, Abuja, Friday.
(c) It begins adjectives derived from proper names (especially places and people). (d) It begins the first and all the main words in any kind of little: (i) Books, Poems (e.e.g, "The lion and the jewel"). (ii) Films, Tv programmes ("one on one"). (iii) A person's title (Oba of Lagos). (iv) The titles of institutions and business (university of Lagos). (v) Abbreviations of such titles (e.e.gUNILAG). (3) The question Mark(?)
This mark is used at the end of all direct questions. What is your name?
You will fulfill your promise, won't you?
(4) The exclamation mark (!) This mark is used for expressions that indicate surprise, astonishment, Amazement or sharp outburst or remark. Help!help!, oh my God!fire!fire!
(5) Comma(,) This mark can be used in several ways or in many. Instances. However, only the major circumstances have been considered here.
(a) To separate words, phrases or clauses in a structure. (i) A series of nouns. e.e.g Her office was littered with papers, envelopes, files and cassettes. (ii) A series of adjectives. e.e.g The chief was a quiet, gentle, God-fearing man. (iii) A series of adverbs. e.e.g Learn to speak confidently, eloquently and frequently in the language. (iv) A series of phrases. e.e.g we had an interesting holiday, climbing the mountainmountains, practicing with the choir, writing letters to our loved ones, riding in amusement parks, and swimming in pools. (v) A series of verbs. e.e.g He heard, came, saw and conquered. (vi) Clauses in succession. e.e.g When jane heard the cry, she ran to the bedroom, searched the baby cot, and shouted for help. (vii) Nouns in apposition. e.e.g Chief A.A. Osuneye, the former principal of Methodist boy's high school, Lagos is now retired. (viii) To mark off someone addressaddressed or called on e.e.g Bayo, come here. (ix) To separate after thoughts ( Brackets and dashes can also perform this role). e.e.g Kingsley went to the village market at 1:00 am, an awkward time, and was chased home by spirits. (x) To mark off adverbial clauses especially when they beginbeging the sentence, e.e.g Although the i did not study very hard, i had the feeling that I would pass my papers. (xi) To separate participial phrase. e.e.g seeing the tiger, kayode took to his heels. (xii) To demarcate adjectival clauses (particularly those that occur after the noun). e.e.g The lady, who won the award, was shade's sistersister-in-law. Not: Do not use a comma to separate a subject from its verb. consider these. "What she said, annoyed everybody". Wrong. What she said, annoyed everybody. correct. (xiii) To punctuate reported speeches. (a) "Tolu is my sister", Dayo Afolabi said. (b) Debo said, "My birthday ceremony comes up next week". Apostrophe (')
This mark is used generally before or after 's' or as a sign of omission. It shows ownership with nouns. Apostrophe occurs before "s" for a singular noun while it comes after "s" in a plural noun. There is an exception to this rule. It occurs if the word naturally ends with "s", or when unusual plurals are used. (a) A boy's cap (singular) the boy's caps (plural). (b) A Month's holiday (singular) three months' holiday (Plural). Where two or more nouns are involved or in compound noun, let the last word bear the apostrophe. e.e.g My father'father's and my mother's cars. (i) To show contraction or omission. The sign should be placed where the omission or omissions have been made. E.E.g didn't (did not), i'll (i will) They're (They are), it's (it is). (ii) It is used for the plural of certain figure and letters, however, the sign is often omitted e.e.g (a) Those three r's in sq3r mean read, recite & review. (b) In the 880's, things were a lot better in Nigeria.
B
Baffle:
IPA guide
Other forms: baffled; baffling; baffles
To baffle is to confuse. If you are completely puzzled as to what baffle means, you might say that this word baffles you.
Baffle means "confuse," but it can also mean "amaze."
binge:
IPA guide
Other forms: binges; bingeing; binging; binged
A binge is a brief period of doing something excessively. You might celebrate your birthday by indulging in a banana cream pie binge if that's your very favorite dessert.
bilateral:
IPA guide
When something is bilateral it has two sides or it affects both sides of something. Discussions between two political parties are called bilateral because both sides get to share their views.
bifurcated:
IPA guide
Anything that is divided into two parts can be described as bifurcated. The tips of snakes’ tongues are bifurcated so that they can detect slight differences between scents on their left and right sides while probing the territory ahead.
bicker:
IPA guide
Other forms: bickering; bickers; bickered
When you bicker, you argue in a petty way, like two kids squabbling in the backseat on a long car trip, or politicians taking cheap shots at each other but avoiding discussion of important issues.
bewildered:
IPA guide
If a conversation about quantum mechanics leaves you feeling bewildered, or lost and befuddled, don't feel bad: physics is a baffling and confusing subject.
betrothed:
IPA guide
Betrothed means "formally engaged." If you are betrothed, then, congratulations! As they say in the song, you’re going to the chapel — you’re going to get married.
bestow:
IPA guide
Other forms: bestowed; bestowing; bestows
When you present an honor or a gift to someone, you bestow it, which is the same as giving it, but often classier and more respectful.
Bestow comes from the Middle English stowen, "to place."
besmirch:
IPA guide
Other forms: besmirched; besmirching; besmirches
To besmirch means to dirty or tarnish, particularly someone's reputation — like when you call Billy a cheater at kickball (even though you know he's just better at bunting than you).
Besmirch may sound kind of funny, but it goes hand in hand with other hurtful words like defame and slander. It can also mean to literally stain something.
besiege:
IPA guide
Other forms: besieged; besieging; besieges
To besiege means to attack with an army, or to pester with many requests. When all your teachers ask you to hand in assignments on the same day, you can end up feeling besieged.
beseech:
IPA guide
Other forms: besought; beseeching; beseeches; beseeched
If you're begging for something but you want to sound formal and a little old-fashioned, say "I beseech you!" It really captures how urgent and desperate you are, yet perhaps saves a shred of your dignity.
Beseech sounds a little like seek, which is appropriate.
bereavement:
IPA guide
Other forms: bereavements
If you have ever mourned someone's passing, you know about bereavement — the period of sorrow that follows the death of a loved one.
Bereavement comes from an Old English word that means “rob,” “deprive,” and “seize.” When a loved one is taken, usually through death, those who remain are often left in a state of bereavement. Bereavement is not only reserved for the death of a human family member or friend, but the loss of a pet can also induce bereavement.
berate:
IPA guide
Other forms: berated; berating; berates
A strong verb for harshly cutting someone down with words is berate. "He didn't just correct the cashier who gave him the wrong change — he started to berate her, calling her names in front of the whole store."
When you berate someone, you do more than just raise your voice at them; berate implies putting someone down by insulting their character.
bequeath:
IPA guide
Other forms: bequeathed; bequeathing; bequeaths
To bequeath is to leave your possessions to another person after you die. A man might love his classic cars but would be happy to bequeath them to his grandchildren when he writes out his last will and testament.
Bequeath often is used about making plans to give away property and possessions after a person's death, like the pearl necklace that your great-grandmother bequeathed to you or a house that your uncle bequeathed to a his favorite charity.
benign:
IPA guide
Other forms: benigner; benignest
Someone or something that is benign is gentle, kind, mild, or unharmful: a benign soul wouldn't hurt a fly.
benevolent:
IPA guide
Choose the adjective benevolent for someone who does good deeds or shows goodwill. If your teacher collects homework with a benevolent smile, she's hoping that you've done a good job.
bemused:
IPA guide
Other forms: bemusedly
If you're bemused, you're muddled or preoccupied. It happens when you're lost in thought, dazed, or overwhelmed (say, on the first day of high school).
Find the word "muse" inside bemused and imagine being under the spell of one of the muses of Greek mythology.
bemoan:
IPA guide
Other forms: bemoaning; bemoaned; bemoans
Some people love to complain, don't they? Complainers also tend to bemoan things, which can be translated to "Oh no! Why me?"
A more casual expression for bemoan is to moan and groan. If you step in a puddle and get your shoes wet, you might moan and groan about, or bemoan, your bad luck to whoever will listen. J
belligerent:
IPA guide
Other forms: belligerents
If someone is belligerent, they're eager to fight. It's a good idea to avoid hardcore hockey fans after their team loses — they tend to be belligerent.
Belligerent comes from the Latin word bellum, for "war."
burgeons:
Use the verb burgeon to describe something that is growing, expanding, and flourishing. If you have a green thumb, in the spring your flower gardens may burgeon. If you don't have a green thumb, your collection of plastic plants may burgeon.
bureaucracy:is an organization made up of many departments and divisions that are administered by lots of people. If you've ever had to deal with health insurance or financial aid, you're familiar with the dark side of bureaucracy.burden:
Getting hired as the assistant to a pastry chef seemed like a dream come true. But one week and 100 cupcakes later, it’s become a hard-to-bear burden accompanied by a permanent stomachache.burgeon:
Use the verb burgeon to describe something that is growing, expanding, and flourishing. If you have a green thumb, in the spring your flower gardens may burgeon. If you don't have a green thumb, your collection of plastic plants may burgeon.buoyant:
Something that is buoyant floats in water. Since floating is happier than sinking, buoyant also refers to things are fun and upbeat.buffoons:
A buffoon is someone whose ridiculous behavior is a source of amusement to others. People you might call a buffoon are a political rival or the guy at work who tells silly jokes at office parties.bucolics; bucolically
As an adjective, bucolic refers to an ideal country life that many yearn for. If your parents wanted to raise you in a bucolic environment, you may find yourself living 45 minutes away from the nearest movie theater or person your age. Not ideal.brunts:
If you are the oldest child, you might bear the brunt of your parents' anger, even if you are not the instigator of the misdeed. Brunt means the worst part of something.browbeats:
To browbeat is to intimidate with language. Picture yourself in a police station. The cops are trying to get you to talk by using tough, even abusive, language. They are browbeating you.broods:
A brood is a group of young born at the same time — like a brood of chicks — but your parents might use the word for you and your siblings: "We're taking the whole brood to the movies tonight."Broach: means to bring up or introduce a sensitive issue. If your best friend has severe phobia of spiders, you might want to delicately broach the topic of your new pet tarantula, Mr. Fuzzy.brisk:
Brisk is one of those delightful words that sounds like what it means: quick, lively, bracing, and refreshing. There's nothing like a brisk walk in the morning to get the blood flowing and the spirit ready for the day.brink:
The brink of something is the very edge of it. If you want to give your mom a good scare, stand on the brink of a steep cliff and slowly lean forward.brevity:
The noun brevity means "shortness" or "conciseness." If you give a report on agriculture in the northern hemisphere in 3 minutes, you have done it with incredible brevity.breadth:
If you measure the distance of an object from side to side, you are measuring the object’s breadth: “Theodore measured the breadth of the table before buying it to make sure it would fit in his small kitchen.”breach:
A breach is a violation of a law, duty, or promise. If you'd contracted to mow your neighbor's lawn and don't do it, he can sue you for breach of contract. Or he can mow the lawn himself.brazens:
With brazen disregard for the sign that said "No Cellphones," the woman took a long call in the dentist's waiting room, irritating the other patients. Brazen describes something shocking or something that's done shamelessly.Brawn: means muscular strength. Brawn is thought of as the opposite of brains, but let’s face it — people can be strong and smart! No matter how smart you are, though, you must have big muscles to have brawn.brawl:
A brawl is a noisy fight in a crowd. If the food fight in the cafeteria gets seriously out of hand, you might find yourself in an all-out brawl.bravado:
If you act with bravado, you are making a bold showy statement. Picture a cowboy bursting through saloon doors in an old western, and you can picture bravado.brash:
Brash sounds like what it means: harsh, loud, and maybe a little rude. Sometimes that’s good, like when you have a serious rash on your face and give Aunt Nell a brash warning before she showers you with kisses. dally:
waste time
Too long already had the young General dallied, wasting time. Wingfield, Lewis
dapper:
marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners
Favoring elegant, tailored suits, he was once named one of the best dressed men in America by People magazine for his "diplomatically dapper" style.
dauntless:
invulnerable to fear or intimidation
He had dauntless courage, unwearied energy, engaging manners, boundless ambition, unsurpassed powers of debate, and strong personal magnetism. Herndon, William H.
dawdle:
take one's time; proceed slowly
Being alone, she ate slowly, and deliberately dawdled over the meal, to kill time. Allyn, Jack
dearth:
an insufficient quantity or number
In those arid deserts, they suffered from thirst as well as from dearth of provisions. Dawson, Æneas MacDonell
debacle:
a sudden and complete disaster
Meanwhile, for now, Mr. Obama has no major scandals or foreign policy debacles. New York Times (Feb 4, 2012)
debilitate:
make weak
Necropsy reports told of horses that had been running with debilitating ailments: stomach ulcers, degenerative joint diseases, pneumonia, metal screws from previous broken bones. New York Times (Mar 27, 2012)
debunk:
expose while ridiculing
Many examples show that what physicians once accepted as truth has been totally debunked. Scientific American (Mar 25, 2011)
deduce:
conclude by reasoning
These cases, extreme as they are, do not justify, in my judgment, the conclusion deduced from them. Kelly, Edmond
defame:
charge falsely or with malicious intent
Doesn't King know he is going to be smeared and defamed for these hearings no matter what?
defiance:
an act boldly resisting authority or an opposing force
At least 10 people were escorted by security out of the building after a systematic protest in defiance of the board's actions.
defunct:
no longer in force or use; inactive
Gold's has found that its express gyms fit well in spaces vacated by defunct or shrinking retailers. Wall Street Journal (Sep 7, 2011)
dejected:
affected or marked by low spirits
Around the table, the group of men—pallid, gloomy, dejected, disheartened. Colles, Julia Keese
deleterious:
harmful to living things
A number of the species are edible, while others have been recorded as deleterious, poisonous, etc. Taylor, Thomas
delicacy:
something considered choice to eat
The lady soon prepared supper, consisting of broiled chicken, and other delicacies. Aughey, John H.
deluge:
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto land
Dykes and bridges were washed away in places and roads submerged by the muddy deluge.
demeanor:
the way a person behaves toward other people
Hollande projects a unifying, jovial persona and leadership method that clashes with Sarkozy’s dominating, impetuous, controversial, and at times grating demeanor.
demographic:
a statistic characterizing human populations
In my country, about 70 percent of the citizens are 30 years old or younger, and there are similar demographics in many other developing countries. New York Times (Apr 3, 2012)
denounce:
accuse or condemn openly as disgraceful
Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the courthouse, chanting slogans denouncing the perpetrators and demanding justice for victims. New York Times (Apr 5, 2012)
depict:
show in, or as in, a picture
The life-size bronze statue depicts Shannon Stone and his young son wearing baseball caps. Seattle Times (Apr 6, 2012)
deplete:
use up, as resources or materials
Eighty-four percent of the world's fish stocks are fully exploited, overexploited or depleted, according to the U.N.
derivation:
the source or origin from which something comes
The derivation of the words courteous and courtesy from court is obvious. Milton, John
descendant:
a person considered as coming from some ancestor or race
The families that founded the two groups are closely related to each other through marriages between their descendants. New York Times (Nov 23, 2011)
descry:
catch sight of
Looking off seaward, I could descry no sails. Drake, Samuel Adams
desolate:
providing no shelter or sustenance
The surroundings were barren rocks, gloomy deep valleys, and desolate gullies, the only redeeming feature being a glimpse of the ocean on one hand. Whymper, Frederick
destitute:
poor enough to need help from others
They wandered over muir and fell, in poverty and sorrow, being destitute, afflicted, tormented. Turnbull, Robert
deter:
turn away from as by fear or persuasion
Let no sportsman or amateur naturalist be deterred from visiting Patagonia by the discouraging words of Darwin. Spears, John R.
detrimental:
causing harm or injury
The damage it's done is just so detrimental to the country.
devout:
deeply religious
Devout peasants always kneel as the blessed infant passes. Hare, Augustus J. C.
dexterity:
adroitness in using the hands
"It's not as good as an actual hand, obviously, but it gives you more dexterity because the fingers move independently." Seattle Times (Dec 1, 2010)
diabolical:
showing cunning or ingenuity or wickedness
He is ever hankering after forbidden arts, and many have fallen the innocent victims to his diabolical intrigues. Roby, John
diaphanous:
so thin as to transmit light
Watercolour, being transparent but visible, is made for the insubstantial: for painting water, reflection, vapour, sky, the hazy, diaphanous and remote.
diatribe:
thunderous verbal attack
The grotesquely violent diatribes that the characters sometimes hurl at each other parody the vicious language Lear heaps on his ungrateful daughters, for instance. New York Times (Jan 15, 2010)
dichotomy:
a classification into two opposed parts or subclasses
The stark dichotomy between their own lives and the projections on the televisions in their living rooms becomes more pronounced. New York Times (Jan 2, 2012)
didactic:
instructive, especially excessively
Min is nothing if not didactic, lecturing to the point of hectoring the reader. Seattle Times (Apr 8, 2010)
diffident:
lacking self-confidence
He had exceedingly good parts, but was somewhat diffident and bashful. Rameur, E.
dilettante:
an amateur engaging in an activity without serious intention
For the rest, in practice I am an idler, a dilettante, and a good deal else that is pleasant and utterly useless. Griffith, George Chetwyn
dire:
fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless
In Florida, the demand for foster homes was so dire that children were sleeping in child welfare offices as recently as a few years ago. Washington Post (Dec 31, 2011)
disconcerting:
causing an emotional disturbance
There was no drooping of fringed lids, no disconcerting silences; she chatted with ease and piquancy. Rives, Hallie Erminie
discord:
lack of agreement or harmony
For all the alleged discord in this country, there’s an amazing amount of real agreement on what “a better America” would look like.
discreet:
marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint
Sarkozy has attempted to tone down his image, becoming more discreet about his private life.
discrepancy:
a difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions
The historical discrepancies are sufficiently glaring to make the story more than questionable. Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
disenfranchise:
deprive of voting rights
European Union observers said the vote was “marred by avoidable and logistical failures, which led to an unacceptable number of Ugandan citizens being disenfranchised.”
disfigure:
mar or spoil the appearance of
A darker scowl changed and disfigured his brow, as he lost hope of gaining me. Weyman, Stanley John
disgruntled:
in a state of sulky dissatisfaction
PA Parenteau breakaway goal less than two minutes later stretched New York's lead and caused a cascade of boos from disgruntled Maple Leafs fans. Seattle Times (Mar 21, 2012)
disheveled:
in disarray; extremely disorderly
The fierce winds blew some walls off some rooms, leaving disheveled beds and misplaced furniture but miraculously no injuries.
disingenuous:
not straightforward or candid
It feels both flattering and insulting, comforting and unsettling, honest and disingenuous. New York Times (Sep 13, 2011)
disinter:
dig up for reburial or for medical investigation
In the Northern Islands the entire remains are disinterred, carefully cleaned, wrapped up once more, and reburied; here, the skull and jawbone only are retained. Kloss, C. Boden
disjointed:
lacking orderly continuity
His thoughts lost their continuity and became scrappy, disjointed, hazy. Reynolds, Mrs. Baillie
dismal:
causing dejection
Brownsville is a neighborhood so distinguished by negatives that even on a cloudless day, a dismal, enervating tension can take hold. New York Times (Jan 14, 2012)
dismantle:
take apart into its constituent pieces
The Tunny machines, like the Colossus computers they worked alongside, were dismantled and recycled for spare parts after World War II.
dismay:
the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
She looked at him with dismay, as though lamenting, making him responsible for her misfortune. Blasco Ib??ez, Vicente
disparage:
express a negative opinion of
In pitching for more contracts, AMR publicly tries to avoid disparaging fire departments, even as it criticizes the public business model.
disparity:
inequality or difference in some respect
Nationwide, women’s groups point out the glaring gender disparity in public life, noting that there are only 6 female governors and 17 female senators. New York Times (Mar 26, 2012)
dispassionate:
unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice
His words recall to us a windy afternoon on Fifth Avenue, in the days when our Uncle Sam was dispassionate and neutral. Bone, David W. (David William)
dispatch:
the act of sending off something
Messengers were immediately dispatched in every direction, sending the glad tidings on. Headley, Joel Tyler
dispel:
force to go away
The idea that sufferers from heart disease should avoid physical exertion has been dispelled by a noted physiologist who has successfully employed regulated exercise. McCarty, Louis Philippe
dispense:
grant an exemption
Lumber being scarce in that vicinity, floors, doors, as well as sash and glass, were dispensed with. Gray, William Henry
disperse:
cause to separate
They were dispersed by riot police officers but returned a few hours later before being chased away again. New York Times (Feb 13, 2012)
displace:
cause to move, usually with force or pressure
"There is a desperate need for food, for shelter and assistance," Johnson said after visiting the affected area and meeting displaced people.
disposable:
designed to be thrown away after use
Sadly, it's also normal to see these disposable cups spewing out of bins and knocking about on pavements.
disposition:
your usual mood
At this time, he moved in the best society, where his courtly manners and genial disposition made him a general favorite. Stark, James H.
disseminate:
cause to become widely known
Few will be surprised if more details are disseminated before the big reveal at Detroit’s Cobo Hall. New York Times (Dec 30, 2011)
dissertation:
a treatise advancing a point of view resulting from research
He attended Duke University, won a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford and earned a Ph.D., writing a dissertation on humanitarian movements and relief work. New York Times (May 8, 2011)
dissident:
a person who objects to some established policy
Just as political dissidents fought the Soviet regime, so, too, did others oppose the educational system. New York Times (Sep 15, 2011):
dissimilar:
not alike
How do two cities so dissimilar in location, size, and environment end up on the same end of the cost-of-living scale?
dissimulate:
hide feelings from other people
He was simply more cautious than is usual in men, and so exceedingly honest that it was impossible for him to dissimulate. Swiggett, Samuel A.
dissipate:
cause to separate and go in different directions
The leaked gas — mainly methane — was dissipating in the atmosphere very quickly, Total said. New York Times (Apr 2, 2012)
dissipated:
preoccupied with the pursuit of pleasure
The Prince of Wales also still pursued the most dissipated rounds of pleasure, making his very name hateful to every virtuous ear. Hamilton, Lady Anne
dissipation:
dissolute indulgence in sensual pleasure
But some men mean by college spirit something finer than lawlessness, dissipation, and rowdyism. Addams, Jane
dissolute:
unrestrained by convention or morality
Extravagance, debauchery, and dissolute habits were sure to work out in time the attendant ills of wretchedness, destitution, and penury. Carroll, Mitchell
dissolution:
the termination or disintegration of a relationship
A loosening and final dissolution of old unions, which no longer satisfy all conditions, cannot be recommended until new constellations are within reach.
dissolve:
cause to fade away
And then the glittering mass begins to dissolve and fade away. Rameur, E.
dissonance:
the auditory experience of sound that lacks musical quality
On that album Wilco opened up its music, letting noise, dissonance and other disruptions transmogrify what had been solid, straightforward roots-rock. New York Times (Sep 26, 2011)
dissonant:
lacking in harmony
He thinks it's a practical joke, because the music is fragmentary, halting, dissonant and weird.
dissuade:
turn away from by persuasion
Several old miners tried, with the best of intentions, to dissuade Gabe from going to those diggings, saying he would only meet with failure. Webster, Frank V.
distant:
located far away spatially
I counted eight peaks, and then, on coming nearer, others, that at first had blended with those higher and more distant ones, detached themselves. Drake, Samuel Adams
distend:
swell from or as if from internal pressure
Some kids said LaNiyah's distended abdomen looked like she was carrying a baby. Seattle Times (Apr 7, 2011)
distill:
remove impurities from and increase the concentration of
He has made his mark by simplifying and distilling his ideas, using as few elements as the conventions of showing art will allow. New York Times (Jun 24, 2011)
distillation:
purifying a liquid by boiling it and condensing its vapors
This process of heating an organic compound in a closed vessel without access of air and collecting the products, is called destructive distillation. Meldola, Raphael
distort:
twist and press out of shape
It was dark and distorted, swollen a great deal, and one of his eyes was closed. Micheaux, Oscar
distract:
draw someone's attention away from something
During the evening he had kept his sorrow at bay as well as he could, distracting his thoughts with passing objects. Weyman, Stanley John
distraught:
deeply agitated especially from emotion
He is plainly distraught, utterly unbalanced by the sad experience he has had. Flotow, Friedrich von
distress:
cause mental pain to
Prissy alone was genuinely distressed, and so affected was she that two big tears of woe trickled down her cheeks. Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)
diverse:
many and different
This remains a diverse country, and there are distinct regional differences even within a political party. Washington Post (Mar 7, 2012)
divest:
cease to hold, as an investment
The practice was known as "tobashi," and was used to mean "hiding bad loans" or "selling or divesting in unwanted stocks." Wall Street Journal (Nov 8, 2011)
docile:
willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed
The Puma is, however, easily tamed and becomes very docile under kindly treatment.
dogmatic:
relating to or involving a religious doctrine
Expect neither theological controversy nor dogmatic discussion of any kind from me. R?ville, Albert
doleful:
filled with or evoking sadness
He never held forth dark threats, nor adopted, like many preachers about him, the doleful tones of grief when he talked about religion. Ballou, Maturin Murray
domestic:
produced in a particular country
At the same time, domestic oil production is actually increasing after decades of decline, meaning we have to import less than before. New York Times (Mar 21, 2012)
dominant:
exercising influence or control
He looked strangely determined and forceful; almost, as she thought of it, dominant. Bindloss, Harold
dormant:
inactive but capable of becoming active
In addition, this past winter was warmer than usual, so normally dormant ticks are active. Scientific American (Mar 23, 2012)
dreary:
causing dejection
Looking out of my window the landscape is cold and dreary. Vay, P?
drudgery:
hard, monotonous, routine work
My worthy employer, however, evidently intends holding on forever, and the sordid, monotonous drudgery has been getting insupportable lately. Bindloss, Harold
dubious:
fraught with uncertainty or doubt
Through online forums, blogs and Twitter, a cottage industry has grown up around instant criticism of dodgy scientific claims and dubious findings. Nature (Dec 7, 2011)
duplicity:
the act of deceiving or acting in bad faith
Whatever they touched was blighted; whatever they said or preached breathed treachery; wherever they went, vice, crime, and duplicity marked their track. Hogan, William
durable:
capable of withstanding wear and tear and decay
The department said orders for durable goods, manufactured products expected to last three years or more, fell 0.5 percent, a smaller decline than initially estimated.
dwell:
inhabit or live in
They did not dwell in fixed abodes, but wandered hither and thither as inclination and duty led. Ogg, Frederic Austin
dwindle:
become smaller or lose substance
As decades pass, maximum heart rate slows, aerobic capacity wanes, muscle mass tends to dwindle. New York Times (Apr 2, 2012)
dystopian
of an imaginary place where life is extremely bad
And yet his dystopian vision that humanity's lot, our inescapable fate, will be grinding, desperate poverty, lives on.
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