deputize
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C2 verb /ˈdɛpjʊˌtaɪz/

deputize

jemanden als Stellvertreter ernennen
Meaning
To appoint someone as a deputy; to act as a substitute or representative.
Example
The sheriff decided to deputize several locals to help maintain order.
Der Sheriff beschloss, mehrere Einheimische zu deputieren, um die Ordnung aufrechtzuerhalten.
C2 noun /ˈdɪfɪdəns/

diffidence

Selbstzweifel
Meaning
Lack of self-confidence; shyness or modesty.
Example
Her diffidence made it hard for her to speak in public.
Ihre Selbstzweifel machten es ihr schwer, in der Öffentlichkeit zu sprechen.
C2 noun /ˌdɪʃəˈbiːl/

dishabille

unordentlich gekleidet
Meaning
The state of being only partly or loosely dressed; casual or careless attire.
Example
She answered the door in a state of dishabille, wearing just a robe.
Sie öffnete die Tür in einem Zustand unordentlich gekleidet, nur mit einem Morgenmantel.
C2 adjective /ˈdɔːrsəl/

dorsal

dorsal
Meaning
Relating to the back or upper side of an animal or body part.
Example
Sharks have a prominent dorsal fin.
Haie haben eine auffällige dorsale Flosse.
C2 verb /dɪˈbɪlɪteɪt/

debilitate

schwächen
Meaning
to weaken or make someone or something infirm
Example
The long illness debilitated his strength.
Die lange Krankheit schwächte seine Kraft.
C2 adjective /dɛˈspɒtɪk/

despotic

despotisch
Meaning
exercising power in a cruel, oppressive, or authoritarian way
Example
The king’s despotic rule left the people in misery.
Die despotische Herrschaft des Königs hinterließ das Volk im Elend.
C2 noun /dɜːrdʒ/

dirge

Klagelied
Meaning
A mournful song, piece of music, or poem expressing grief, often for the dead.
Example
The choir sang a solemn dirge at the funeral.
Der Chor sang ein feierliches Klagelied bei der Beerdigung.
C2 noun /ˈdændi/

dandy

Mann, der zu viel Wert auf sein Aussehen und seine Kleidung legt
Meaning
a man who gives too much attention to his appearance and clothes
Example
The young dandy spent hours grooming himself before the party.
Der junge Dandy verbrachte Stunden damit, sich vor der Party herauszuputzen.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪ.jʊˈret.ɪk/

diuretic

diuretisch
Meaning
A substance that promotes the production of urine.
Example
Coffee has a mild diuretic effect.
Kaffee hat eine leichte diuretische Wirkung.
C2 verb /dɪˈsɪmjʊˌleɪt/

dissimulate

verbergen
Meaning
To disguise or conceal one's true feelings or intentions.
Example
He tried to dissimulate his fear with a smile.
Er versuchte, seine Angst mit einem Lächeln zu verbergen.
C2 verb /ˈdɛsɪkreɪt/

desecrate

entweihen
Meaning
to treat a sacred place or object with disrespect or violation
Example
The vandals desecrated the ancient temple walls with graffiti.
Die Vandalen entweihten die alten Tempelmauern mit Graffiti.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈkrɪtɪkəl/

diacritical

diakritisch
Meaning
Relating to a mark added to a letter to indicate a different pronunciation or stress.
Example
The word résumé has diacritical marks that change its meaning from resume.
Das Wort 'Résumé' hat diakritische Zeichen, die seine Bedeutung von 'resume' ändern.
C2 verb /diːˈpɒpjʊˌleɪt/

depopulate

entvölkern
Meaning
To reduce the number of people living in a place.
Example
The war threatened to depopulate the once-thriving town.
Der Krieg drohte, die einst blühende Stadt zu entvölkern.
C2 noun /ˈdrækmə/

drachma

Drachme
Meaning
The basic monetary unit of Greece before the adoption of the euro.
Example
The old coin collection included a silver drachma.
Die alte Münzsammlung enthielt eine silberne Drachme.
C2 adjective /dɪˈklæməˌtɔri/

declamatory

deklamatorischer Stil
Meaning
speaking in a loud, rhetorical, or dramatic way
Example
The politician’s declamatory style impressed some but irritated others.
Der deklamatorische Stil des Politikers beeindruckte einige, aber irritierte andere.
C2 adjective /dɪˈrɒɡətɪv/

derogative

abwertend
Meaning
Expressing a low opinion or showing lack of respect.
Example
He made a derogative remark about her work.
Er machte eine abwertende Bemerkung über ihre Arbeit.
C2 noun /ˈdeb.juː.tɑːnt/

debutante

junge Frau, die ihre erste formelle Erscheinung in der Gesellschaft hat
Meaning
A young woman making her first formal appearance in society.
Example
The debutante wore a white gown at the ball.
Die Debütantin trug ein weißes Kleid auf dem Ball.
C2 adjective /daɪˈvɜːrtɪbəl/

divertible

umleitbar
Meaning
capable of being turned aside or redirected
Example
Funds from the budget are not legally divertible.
Gelder aus dem Budget können nicht gesetzlich umgeleitet werden.
C2 noun /ˌdɪvɪˈneɪʃən/

divination

Wahrsagung
Meaning
the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means
Example
Ancient people often relied on divination to guide important decisions.
Frühere Völker vertrauten oft auf Wahrsagung, um wichtige Entscheidungen zu treffen.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪstəl/

distal

distal
Meaning
situated away from the center of the body or from the point of attachment
Example
The doctor examined the distal end of the patient’s arm.
Der Arzt untersuchte das distale Ende des Arms des Patienten.
C2 adjective /dɪˈmoʊniˌæk/

demoniac

dämonisch
Meaning
possessed, produced, or influenced by a demon; frenzied or violent
Example
The soldiers fought with demoniac fury.
Die Soldaten kämpften mit dämonischer Wut.
C2 noun /ˈdɛswɪˌtuːd/

desuetude

Desuetude
Meaning
a state of disuse or inactivity
Example
The old law has fallen into desuetude.
Das alte Gesetz ist in Desuetude gefallen.
C2 noun /dɪˈbɛntʃər/

debenture

Anleihe
Meaning
a type of debt instrument not secured by physical assets or collateral
Example
The company raised capital by issuing debentures to investors.
Das Unternehmen sammelte Kapital, indem es Anleihen an Investoren ausgab.
C2 noun /ˈdɛntɪfrɪs/

dentifrice

Zahnpasta
Meaning
a substance such as powder, paste, or liquid used to clean teeth
Example
He bought a new herbal dentifrice from the pharmacy.
Er kaufte ein neues Kräuter-Dentifrice in der Apotheke.
C2 verb /dɪˈbɔːtʃ/

debauch

verderben
Meaning
to corrupt morally; to lead into excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures
Example
The novel shows how wealth can debauch a person's character.
Der Roman zeigt, wie Reichtum den Charakter einer Person verderben kann.
C2 noun /ˈdɛvɪlri/

devilry

Teufelswerk
Meaning
Wicked or cruel behavior; mischievous actions.
Example
The children were full of devilry on Halloween night.
Die Kinder waren an Halloween voller Teufelswerk.
C2 noun /dɪsˈtɛmpər/

distemper

eine Viruskrankheit, die Tiere betrifft, insbesondere Hunde
Meaning
a viral disease affecting animals, especially dogs; also refers to a state of disorder
Example
The dog was diagnosed with distemper and needed immediate care.
Der Hund wurde mit Distemper diagnostiziert und benötigte sofortige Pflege.
C2 prefix /dɪs-/

dys-

Präfix, das abnormal, schlecht, schwierig oder defekt bedeutet
Meaning
A prefix meaning abnormal, bad, difficult, or impaired.
Example
Words like 'dysfunction' and 'dyslexia' use the prefix dys- to indicate difficulty or impairment.
Wörter wie 'Dysfunktion' und 'Dyslexie' verwenden das Präfix dis-, um Schwierigkeiten oder Beeinträchtigungen anzuzeigen.
C2 noun /dɪˈfoʊliənt/

defoliant

Entlaubungsmittel
Meaning
a chemical that causes leaves to drop from plants, often used in warfare or agriculture
Example
The army sprayed defoliant to clear the forest cover.
Das Heer setzte Entlaubungsmittel ein, um das Laub im Wald zu lichten.
C2 noun /dɛnˈdrɒlədʒi/

dendrology

Dendrologie
Meaning
the scientific study of trees and woody plants
Example
He is studying dendrology at the university.
Er studiert Dendrologie an der Universität.
C2 adjective /ˈdəʊl.səm/

dolesome

traurig
Meaning
Filled with grief or sadness; mournful.
Example
The dolesome ballad brought tears to their eyes.
Das traurige Lied brachte Tränen in ihre Augen.
C2 verb /ˈdɒɡmətaɪz/

dogmatize

dogmatisieren
Meaning
To state opinions or beliefs as if they were absolute truths.
Example
The professor tended to dogmatize on political issues.
Der Professor neigte dazu, in politischen Fragen dogmatisch zu sein.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛsɪkeɪtɪd/

desiccated

getrocknet
Meaning
completely dried, having had all moisture removed
Example
The museum displayed desiccated specimens of plants.
Das Museum zeigte getrocknete Pflanzenspezimen.
C2 noun /ˈdɪfθɒŋ/

diphthong

Diphthong
Meaning
A complex vowel sound that begins with one vowel and glides into another within the same syllable.
Example
The word 'coin' contains a diphthong.
Das Wort 'coin' enthält einen Diphthong.
C2 verb /dɪˈnɒmɪˌneɪt/

denominate

bezeichnen
Meaning
to give a name or designation to something
Example
The currency was denominated in dollars.
Die Währung wurde in Dollar bezeichnet.
C2 verb /dɪˈræsɪˌneɪt/

deracinate

entwurzeln
Meaning
To uproot something completely; to displace people from their native environment or culture.
Example
The conflict deracinated many families from their homeland.
Der Konflikt hat viele Familien aus ihrer Heimat vertrieben.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪɡræf/

digraph

Digraph
Meaning
A pair of letters representing a single sound, such as 'sh' in 'ship'.
Example
In the word 'phone', the letters 'ph' form a digraph.
Im Wort 'Telefon' bilden die Buchstaben 'ph' einen Digraph.
C2 verb /djuːp/

dupe

täuschen
Meaning
To deceive or trick someone into believing or doing something.
Example
He was duped into buying a fake watch.
Er wurde betrogen, um eine gefälschte Uhr zu kaufen.
C2 adjective /dɪˈstɛnsəbl̩/

distensible

dehnbar
Meaning
Capable of being stretched or expanded.
Example
The stomach is a distensible organ that can expand after eating.
Der Magen ist ein dehnbares Organ, das sich nach dem Essen ausdehnen kann.
C2 noun /ˈdɒldrəmz/

doldrums

Flaute
Meaning
A state of inactivity, stagnation, or low spirits; also a region near the equator with calm winds.
Example
After the project failed, the team was stuck in the doldrums for months.
Nachdem das Projekt gescheitert war, steckte das Team monatelang in der Flaute fest.
C2 noun /dɪˈkæmərən/

decameron

Dekameron (Sammlung von Erzählungen von Boccaccio)
Meaning
A collection of 100 tales written by Giovanni Boccaccio in the 14th century, told by a group of people over ten days.
Example
The Decameron is considered a masterpiece of classical Italian literature.
Das Dekameron gilt als ein Meisterwerk der klassischen italienischen Literatur.
C2 noun /dɪˈdʒɛnərəsi/

degeneracy

Degeneration
Meaning
The state of decline or deterioration, often in moral, cultural, or physical qualities.
Example
The novel portrays the moral degeneracy of a corrupt society.
Der Roman stellt den moralischen Verfall einer korrupten Gesellschaft dar.
C2 noun /dɪˈtrækʃən/

detraction

Abwertung
Meaning
The act of belittling or taking away from the value of something.
Example
Her constant detraction of others made her unpopular.
Ihre ständige Abwertung anderer machte sie unpopulär.
C2 verb /ˌdɪskəmˈbɑːbjuleɪt/

discombobulate

verwirren
Meaning
to confuse or disconcert; to upset the normal order
Example
The sudden question seemed to discombobulate him.
Die plötzliche Frage schien ihn zu verwirren.
C2 adjective /ˈdjuːtiəbl/

dutiable

zollpflichtig
Meaning
subject to customs duty or tax
Example
Imported electronics are often dutiable at the border.
Importierte Elektronik ist an der Grenze oft zollpflichtig.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈkʌmfɪtɪŋ/

discomfiting

peinlich
Meaning
Causing unease, embarrassment, or discomfort.
Example
His discomfiting questions made everyone shift uncomfortably in their seats.
Seine peinlichen Fragen brachten alle dazu, sich unbehaglich in ihren Sitzen zu rühren.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈreɪndʒ/

disarrange

verrücken
Meaning
to disturb the order or arrangement of something
Example
The wind disarranged her hair.
Der Wind hat ihr Haar durcheinander gebracht.
C2 verb /diːˈlɪmɪt/

delimit

abgrenzen
Meaning
to fix the boundaries or limits of something
Example
The treaty was signed to delimit the borders of the two countries.
Der Vertrag wurde unterzeichnet, um die Grenzen der beiden Länder festzulegen.
C2 verb /diːˈfrɑːk/

defrock

einen Priester seines Amtes entheben
Meaning
to officially remove a priest or minister from their position and authority
Example
The church decided to defrock the priest after the scandal.
Die Kirche entschied sich, den Priester nach dem Skandal zu entkleiden.
C2 noun /ˈdrɪvəl/

drivel

Quatsch
Meaning
silly or nonsensical talk
Example
The politician’s speech was full of meaningless drivel.
Die Rede des Politikers war voller bedeutungsloser Quatsch.
C2 verb /ˌdɪskəˈmoʊd/

discommode

belästigen
Meaning
To cause inconvenience or trouble to someone.
Example
I hope my request does not discommode you.
Ich hoffe, meine Anfrage wird Ihnen keine Unannehmlichkeiten bereiten.
C2 noun /drɛɡz/

dregs

Rückstände
Meaning
the remnants of a liquid left in a container, together with any sediment or grounds; the most worthless part of something
Example
He drank the dregs of the coffee before leaving.
Er trank die Rückstände des Kaffees, bevor er ging.
C2 verb /dɪˈstreɪn/

distrain

pfänden
Meaning
to seize someone's property in order to obtain payment of rent or other money owed
Example
The landlord distrained the tenant's furniture for unpaid rent.
Der Vermieter pfändete die Möbel des Mieters wegen unbezahlter Miete.
C2 adjective /dɪˈspjuːtəbl/

Disputable

streitbar; fraglich
Meaning
open to debate or argument; questionable
Example
The facts in the case are disputable and need further investigation.
Die Fakten im Fall sind streitbar und benötigen eine weitere Untersuchung.
C2 noun /ˌdɛkəˈsɪləbəl/

decasyllable

zehnsilber
Meaning
A line of verse with ten syllables.
Example
The poet often wrote in decasyllable form.
Der Dichter schrieb oft in Zehnsilber-Form.
C2 noun /ˈdjʊərəns/

durance

Gefängnis
Meaning
imprisonment or confinement
Example
The prisoner spent years in durance before his release.
Der Gefangene verbrachte Jahre im Gefängnis, bevor er entlassen wurde.
C2 verb /dɪsˈkʌmfɪt/

discomfit

verwirren
Meaning
to make someone feel uneasy, embarrassed, or confused
Example
The interviewer’s tough questions discomfited the candidate.
Die schwierigen Fragen des Interviewers haben den Kandidaten verunsichert.
C2 noun /ˌdiːlɛkˈteɪʃən/

delectation

Vergnügen
Meaning
great pleasure or delight
Example
She read the story aloud for the delectation of her friends.
Sie las die Geschichte laut für das Vergnügen ihrer Freunde.
C2 noun /dɪˈpoʊnənt/

deponent

Zeuge
Meaning
A person who gives testimony under oath, especially in a written deposition.
Example
The deponent confirmed the accuracy of the statement during the trial.
Der Zeuge bestätigte die Richtigkeit der Aussage während des Prozesses.
C2 noun /ˌdɛrɪˈlɪkʃən/

dereliction

Pflichtvernachlässigung
Meaning
the state of being abandoned; neglect of duty
Example
The officer was charged with dereliction of duty.
Der Beamte wurde wegen der Pflichtvernachlässigung angeklagt.
C2 noun /djuːˈplɪsɪti/

duplicity

Doppelmoral
Meaning
Deceitfulness or double-dealing; dishonesty.
Example
Her duplicity was revealed during the investigation.
Ihre Doppelmoral wurde während der Untersuchung aufgedeckt.
C2 noun /draɪd roʊz ˈpɛtəlz/

Dried Rose Petals

getrocknete Rosenblätter
Meaning
dehydrated petals from roses used for culinary and aromatic purposes
Example
The dessert was garnished with dried rose petals.
Das Dessert wurde mit getrockneten Rosenblättern garniert.
C2 verb /diːˈnæʃənəlaɪz/

denationalize

denationalisieren
Meaning
to transfer ownership from the government to private individuals or companies
Example
The government decided to denationalize the bank to encourage private investment.
Die Regierung entschied sich, die Bank zu denationalisieren, um private Investitionen zu fördern.
C2 noun /ˈdæstərd/

dastard

Feigling
Meaning
a cowardly or dishonorable person
Example
Only a dastard would betray his closest friend.
Nur ein Feigling würde seinen engsten Freund verraten.
C2 verb /deɪn/

deign

seiner Würde zuwider handeln
Meaning
to do something considered beneath one's dignity
Example
The king did not deign to reply to the commoner.
Der König gönnte sich nicht, dem gemeinen Mann zu antworten.
C2 adjective /droʊl/

droll

komisch
Meaning
curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement
Example
He had a droll sense of humor that made everyone laugh.
Er hatte einen komischen Sinn für Humor, der alle zum Lachen brachte.
C2 noun /dɪˈsweɪʒən/

dissuasion

Abschreckung
Meaning
The act of persuading someone not to take a course of action.
Example
Her dissuasion prevented him from making a bad investment.
Ihre Abschreckung verhinderte, dass er eine schlechte Investition tätigte.
C2 verb /ˈdɛsɪkeɪt/

desiccate

austrocknen
Meaning
to dry up completely or remove the moisture from something
Example
The hot sun can quickly desiccate plants in the desert.
Die heiße Sonne kann Pflanzen in der Wüste schnell austrocknen.
C2 adjective /dɪˈsɛnʃəs/

dissentious

spaltend
Meaning
Causing or likely to cause disagreement and conflict.
Example
His dissentious remarks divided the group further.
Seine spaltenden Bemerkungen teilten die Gruppe weiter.
C2 noun /ˈdrʌmɪt/

Drumet

drumet
Meaning
a small drum used in military or marching bands
Example
The drummer played a steady beat on the drumet during the parade.
Der Schlagzeuger spielte einen gleichmäßigen Takt auf dem Drumet während der Parade.
C2 adjective /ˌdɒktrɪˈnɛər/

doctrinaire

dogmatisch
Meaning
stubbornly devoted to a theory or doctrine without regard to practical considerations
Example
His doctrinaire approach to politics alienated many supporters.
Seine dogmatische Herangehensweise an die Politik entfremdete viele Unterstützer.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈfræntʃaɪz/

disenfranchise

des Wahlrechts berauben
Meaning
To deprive someone of the right to vote or other rights.
Example
The new law could disenfranchise thousands of voters.
Das neue Gesetz könnte Tausende von Wählern vom Wahlrecht ausschließen.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsæprəˈbeɪʃən/

disapprobation

starke Ablehnung
Meaning
strong disapproval, typically on moral grounds
Example
The policy was met with widespread disapprobation.
Die Politik stieß auf weit verbreitete Ablehnung.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/

deferential

respektvoll
Meaning
Showing or expressing respect and high regard.
Example
He was always deferential toward his teachers.
Er war immer respektvoll gegenüber seinen Lehrern.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsɪnklɪˈneɪʃən/

disinclination

Unwilligkeit
Meaning
a lack of willingness or desire to do something
Example
She showed a clear disinclination to join the meeting.
Sie zeigte eine deutliche Unwilligkeit, an der Sitzung teilzunehmen.
C2 adjective /dɪˈluːsəri/

delusory

trügerisch
Meaning
Based on illusion; not real.
Example
He was filled with delusory hopes of becoming famous overnight.
Er war erfüllt von trügerischen Hoffnungen, über Nacht berühmt zu werden.
C2 verb /dɪsˈpɔːrt/

disport

sich vergnügen
Meaning
To amuse oneself in a lively or playful way.
Example
The children disported themselves in the garden.
Die Kinder haben sich im Garten vergnügt.
C2 adjective /ˈdekərəs/

decorous

vornehm
Meaning
showing proper and polite behavior; marked by good taste
Example
The audience gave a decorous applause after the performance.
Das Publikum spendete nach der Aufführung höflichen Applaus.
C2 verb /dɪsˈtɛnd/

distend

aufblähen
Meaning
to swell or expand by pressure from within
Example
Her stomach began to distend after the large meal.
Ihr Bauch begann sich nach dem großen Essen zu distendieren.
C2 verb /drəˈɡuːn/

dragoon

zwingen
Meaning
to force someone to do something through coercion or intimidation
Example
The manager tried to dragoon the team into working overtime.
Der Manager versuchte, das Team zu zwingen, Überstunden zu machen.
C2 noun /ˈdræɡˌnɛt/

dragnet

Durchsuchung
Meaning
A systematic search or investigation, often by police to catch criminals.
Example
The police launched a dragnet to capture the fugitives.
Die Polizei startete eine Durchsuchung, um die Flüchtigen zu fangen.
C2 noun /ˈdɛnɪzən/

denizen

Bewohner
Meaning
an inhabitant or resident of a particular place
Example
The forest is home to many nocturnal denizens.
Der Wald ist die Heimat vieler nachtaktiver Bewohner.
C2 noun /dəˈɡerəˌtaɪp/

daguerreotype

alte Fotografie
Meaning
An early type of photograph produced on a silver or silver-covered copper plate.
Example
The museum displayed a rare daguerreotype of Abraham Lincoln.
Das Museum zeigte ein seltenes Daguerreotyp von Abraham Lincoln.
C2 noun /doʊˈniː/

donee

Begünstigter
Meaning
A person who receives a gift or donation.
Example
The scholarship fund’s donee expressed heartfelt gratitude.
Der Begünstigte des Stipendienfonds drückte seine aufrichtige Dankbarkeit aus.
C2 noun /ˈdoʊneɪtər/

donator

Spender
Meaning
A person who gives something, especially money or goods, as a donation.
Example
The donator wished to remain anonymous after contributing a large sum.
Der Spender wollte nach der Überweisung einer großen Summe anonym bleiben.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌliːtər/

decaliter

zehn Liter
Meaning
A metric unit of capacity equal to ten liters.
Example
The container could hold up to one decaliter of water.
Der Behälter könnte bis zu einem Dekaliter Wasser fassen.
C2 adjective /dɪˈkɔːrəs/

decourous

anständig
Meaning
characterized by propriety, good taste, and proper manners
Example
She maintained a decourous silence during the ceremony.
Sie bewahrte während der Zeremonie eine anständige Stille.
C2 noun /ˈdɒɡ roʊz/

Dog-rose

Hunde-Rose
Meaning
A wild rose species with pink or white flowers and thorny stems, common in hedgerows
Example
The dog-rose bush grew wild along the countryside path.
Der Hunde-Rosenstrauch wuchs wild entlang des Landweges.
C2 verb /dɪˈkænt/

decant

dekantieren
Meaning
To pour liquid gently from one container into another, especially without disturbing the sediment.
Example
She carefully decanted the wine into a clean glass.
Sie goss den Wein vorsichtig in ein sauberes Glas.
C2 noun /ˈdoʊtɪdʒ/

dotage

Alter
Meaning
The period of old age, especially when one is weak or senile.
Example
He spent his dotage reminiscing about his youth.
Er verbrachte sein Alter damit, an seine Jugend zu erinnern.
C2 noun /dɪsˈjuːnjən/

disunion

Zerwürfung
Meaning
the state of being separated or not united
Example
Civil wars often result from national disunion.
Bürgerkriege entstehen oft durch nationale Zerwürfung.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈhɛrɪt/

disinherit

enterben
Meaning
to deprive someone, especially a child, of inheritance or right to property
Example
The father threatened to disinherit his son for his reckless actions.
Der Vater drohte, seinen Sohn wegen seiner rücksichtslosen Handlungen zu enterben.
C2 noun /dɪˌlæpɪˈdeɪʃən/

dilapidation

Verwahrlosung
Meaning
The state of disrepair or ruin as a result of neglect.
Example
The old temple was in a state of dilapidation.
Der alte Tempel war in einem Zustand der Verwahrlosung.
C2 adjective /ˈdoʊlfəl/

Doleful

traurig; betrübt;
Meaning
sorrowful; mournful; expressing grief or sadness
Example
She gave him a doleful look when he left.
Sie warf ihm einen traurigen Blick zu, als er ging.
C2 adjective /daɪˈæfənəs/

diaphanous

durchscheinend
Meaning
Light, delicate, and translucent.
Example
She wore a diaphanous dress that shimmered in the sunlight.
Sie trug ein durchscheinendes Kleid, das im Sonnenlicht schimmerte.
C2 verb /ˌdɛlɪˈkwɛs/

deliquesce

flüssig werden, indem man Feuchtigkeit aus der Luft aufnimmt
Meaning
to become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air
Example
The salt began to deliquesce after being left in the humid room.
Das Salz begann zu deliquescieren, nachdem es im feuchten Raum gelassen wurde.
C2 verb /ˈdɒdə/

dodder

zittern beim Gehen
Meaning
To move in a weak and unsteady way, especially due to old age.
Example
The old man doddered across the street with a cane.
Der alte Mann zitterte beim Gehen die Straße entlang mit einem Stock.
C2 noun /ˈdɛftnəs/

deftness

Geschicklichkeit
Meaning
Skillfulness and quickness in action or thought.
Example
Her deftness with words impressed the audience.
Ihre Geschicklichkeit mit Worten beeindruckte das Publikum.
C2 adjective /dɪˈlɛktəbl̩/

delectable

köstlich
Meaning
delicious or highly enjoyable
Example
The restaurant served a delectable meal.
Das Restaurant servierte eine köstliche Mahlzeit.
C2 noun /dɪˈpɑːzɪtər/

depositor

Einleger
Meaning
a person who places money in a bank or financial institution
Example
The bank provides insurance to protect depositors’ funds.
Die Bank bietet eine Versicherung, um die Gelder der Einleger zu schützen.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪfɪdənt/

diffident

schüchtern
Meaning
Shy or lacking confidence in one's own abilities.
Example
He was too diffident to ask a question in class.
Er war zu schüchtern, um im Unterricht eine Frage zu stellen.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛsəlˌtɔːri/

desultory

planlos
Meaning
lacking a clear plan, purpose, or enthusiasm
Example
His desultory conversation bored the audience.
Seine planlose Unterhaltung langweilte das Publikum.
C2 adjective /ˈdjuːtiəs/

duteous

pflichtbewusst
Meaning
dutiful; obedient and respectful
Example
The duteous child always followed her parents’ instructions.
Das pflichtbewusste Kind folgte immer den Anweisungen seiner Eltern.
C2 noun /ˌdɪləˈtænt/

dilettante

Dilettant
Meaning
A person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, especially in a superficial way.
Example
He was dismissed as a dilettante in the art world because he lacked formal training.
Er wurde als Dilettant in der Kunstwelt abgetan, weil ihm formale Ausbildung fehlte.
C2 adjective /ˌdɪspjuːˈteɪʃəs/

disputatious

streitlustig
Meaning
fond of or given to argument and debate
Example
His disputatious nature often led to heated conversations.
Sein streitlustiger Charakter führte oft zu hitzigen Diskussionen.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛməˈnaɪəkəl/

demoniacal

dämonisch
Meaning
characteristic of or resembling a demon; wildly evil
Example
He gave a demoniacal laugh that terrified everyone.
Er gab ein dämonisches Lachen von sich, das alle erschreckte.
C2 noun ˈdɒɡ.ɪd.nəs

doggedness

Beharrlichkeit
Meaning
Stubborn persistence in achieving something without giving up.
Example
His doggedness in pursuing his goals was inspiring.
Seine Beharrlichkeit bei der Verfolgung seiner Ziele war inspirierend.
C2 adjective /daɪˈɜːrnəl/

diurnal

tagaktiv
Meaning
active during the day; occurring daily
Example
Most birds are diurnal creatures, active in daylight hours.
Die meisten Vögel sind tagaktive Tiere, die während der Tageslichtstunden aktiv sind.
C2 adjective /ˌdeɪ.kɒlˈteɪ/

decollete

Kleid mit tiefem Ausschnitt
Meaning
of a woman's dress or top, cut low so as to reveal the neck and upper chest
Example
She wore a decollete gown to the party.
Sie trug ein Kleid mit tiefem Ausschnitt zur Party.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈlɛktɪkəl/

dialectical

dialektisch
Meaning
Relating to the logical discussion of ideas and opinions.
Example
She took a dialectical approach to solve the complex issue.
Sie nahm einen dialektischen Ansatz, um das komplexe Problem zu lösen.
C2 noun /dɪˈsɪstəns/

desistance

Desistenz
Meaning
The act of stopping or ceasing from some action or behavior.
Example
The court urged his desistance from further unlawful activities.
Das Gericht forderte ihn auf, von weiteren illegalen Aktivitäten Abstand zu nehmen.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈpɛptɪk/

dyspeptic

Dyspepsie, schlecht gelaunt
Meaning
Relating to indigestion or having a gloomy or irritable disposition.
Example
After the heavy meal, he felt dyspeptic and uncomfortable.
Nach der schweren Mahlzeit fühlte er sich dyspeptisch und unwohl.
C2 noun /ˈdeɪ.ɪs/

Dais

Podium
Meaning
a raised platform, typically at one end of a room or hall, for speakers or honored guests
Example
The principal stood on the dais to address the entire school assembly.
Der Direktor stand auf dem Podium, um der gesamten Schulversammlung eine Rede zu halten.
C2 noun /dɪˈsɛnʃən/

dissension

Dissens
Meaning
Strong disagreement or difference of opinion, especially leading to discord within a group.
Example
The meeting ended in dissension among the committee members.
Das Treffen endete in Dissens unter den Mitgliedern des Komitees.
C2 noun /dɪˈkrɛpɪˌtjuːd/

decrepitude

Verfall
Meaning
the state of being old, weak, and worn out
Example
The once-great empire fell into decrepitude.
Das einst große Imperium fiel in den Verfall.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪəˈlɛktɪk/

dialectic

Dialektik
Meaning
A method of argument or reasoning by dialogue, especially as a means of investigating truth.
Example
The philosopher used dialectic to challenge his students' assumptions.
Der Philosoph benutzte die Dialektik, um die Annahmen seiner Studenten herauszufordern.
C2 verb /dɒf/

doff

den Hut abnehmen als Zeichen des Respekts
Meaning
to take off an item of clothing, especially a hat, as a sign of respect
Example
He doffed his hat as the procession passed.
Er nahm seinen Hut ab, als der Umzug vorbeizog.
C2 adjective /ˈdaʊ.di/

dowdy

altmodisch / heruntergekommen
Meaning
unfashionable, dull, or shabby in appearance
Example
She wore a dowdy dress to the party.
Sie trug ein altmodisches Kleid zur Party.
C2 adverb /ˈdɑːrklɪŋ/

darkling

im Dunkeln
Meaning
In the dark or growing dark; dimly.
Example
The forest creatures moved darkling through the night.
Die Waldbewohner bewegten sich im Dunkeln durch die Nacht.
C2 noun /ˈdɛθsˌhɛd/

deaths-head

Totenkopf
Meaning
A representation of a human skull, often used as a symbol of death.
Example
The pirate flag was marked with a grim deaths-head.
Die Piratenflagge war mit einem finsteren Totenkopf markiert.
C2 verb /ˈdiːfælˌkeɪt/

defalcate

veruntreuen
Meaning
to misuse or embezzle money that one is responsible for
Example
The accountant was accused of defalcating company funds.
Der Buchhalter wurde beschuldigt, Unternehmensgelder zu veruntreuen.