drivel
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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 noun /ˌdɪskənˈtɪnjʊəns/

discontinuance

Einstellung
Meaning
the act of stopping something, especially permanently
Example
The discontinuance of the service disappointed many customers.
Die Einstellung des Dienstes enttäuschte viele Kunden.
C2 noun /ˌdeɪnuːˈmɒ̃/

denouement

Auflösung
Meaning
The final resolution or conclusion of a story, drama, or complicated situation.
Example
The novel's denouement was both surprising and satisfying.
Das Ende des Romans war sowohl überraschend als auch befriedigend.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːrʃən/

disproportion

Disproportion
Meaning
a lack of balance or symmetry; an inequality
Example
There is a clear disproportion between rich and poor in many societies.
Es gibt eine klare Disproportion zwischen Reichen und Armen in vielen Gesellschaften.
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 /dɪˈstɛnʃən/

distention

Schwellung
Meaning
The state of being swollen due to internal pressure.
Example
The patient complained of abdominal pain and distention.
Der Patient klagte über Bauchschmerzen und Schwellung.
C2 noun /ˈdiːɪst/

deist

Deist
Meaning
a person who believes in the existence of a supreme being but rejects organized religion
Example
The philosopher identified himself as a deist.
Der Philosoph identifizierte sich als Deist.
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 adjective /ˈdɛndrɔɪd/

dendroid

baumähnlich
Meaning
tree-shaped or branching like a tree
Example
The coral has a dendroid structure.
Das Korallen hat eine dendroid Struktur.
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 adjective /ˌdɛbəˈnɛr/

debonair

charmant
Meaning
confident, stylish, and charming, typically referring to a man
Example
He looked debonair in his tuxedo at the gala.
Er sah charmant in seinem Smoking bei der Gala aus.
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 /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 verb /dɪsˈkaʊntənəns/

discountenance

missbilligen
Meaning
To disapprove of or discourage something.
Example
The teacher strongly discountenanced cheating in exams.
Der Lehrer missbilligte das Schummeln bei den Prüfungen stark.
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 noun /ˌdaɪvəˈɡeɪʃən/

divagation

Abschweifung
Meaning
digression; wandering from a path or subject
Example
His lecture was full of divagation, making it hard to follow the main point.
Seine Vorlesung war voller Abschweifungen, was es schwer machte, dem Hauptpunkt zu folgen.
C2 verb /dɪˈbɑːrk/

debark

aussteigen
Meaning
to disembark or get off a ship, aircraft, or vehicle
Example
The passengers debarked as soon as the ship docked.
Die Passagiere stiegen aus, sobald das Schiff anlegte.
C2 verb /dɪˈsɛmbəl/

dissemble

vorgetäuschen
Meaning
to conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs; to pretend
Example
He tried to dissemble his anger with a forced smile.
Er versuchte, seinen Ärger mit einem erzwungenen 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 noun /ˌdiːnəʊˈteɪʃən/

denotation

Bedeutung
Meaning
The literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.
Example
The denotation of the word 'rose' is a type of flower.
Die Denotation des Wortes 'Rose' ist eine Art von Blume.
C2 noun /dɪˈtraɪtəs/

detritus

Detritus
Meaning
Waste or debris of any kind; fragments left from destruction or decay.
Example
The riverbank was covered with detritus after the flood.
Das Ufer war nach der Überschwemmung mit Detritus bedeckt.
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 verb /ˈdʌv.teɪl/

dovetail

perfekt passen
Meaning
to fit or combine perfectly together
Example
Her plans dovetail perfectly with our goals.
Ihre Pläne passen perfekt zu unseren Zielen.
C2 adjective /ˈdʌktaɪl/

ductile

dehnbar
Meaning
capable of being stretched into a thin wire without breaking; easily influenced
Example
Gold is a very ductile metal.
Gold ist ein sehr dehnbares Metall.
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 noun /dɪsˈdʒʌŋkʃən/

disjunction

Trennung
Meaning
A lack of connection between things; separation or disunity.
Example
There is a clear disjunction between theory and practice.
Es gibt eine klare Trennung zwischen Theorie und Praxis.
C2 verb /ˈdæli/

dally

trödeln
Meaning
To act or move slowly; to waste time; also to engage in a casual romantic relationship.
Example
He dallied in the garden instead of starting his work.
Er zögerte im Garten, anstatt mit seiner Arbeit zu beginnen.
C2 noun /dɪˈkæmɪtər/

decameter

Dekameter
Meaning
A metric unit of length equal to ten meters.
Example
The field was measured in decameters for accuracy.
Das Feld wurde in Dekametern zur Genauigkeit gemessen.
C2 noun /ˈdɪktəm/

dictum

Diktum
Meaning
A formal pronouncement, authoritative statement, or maxim.
Example
The judge’s dictum clarified the principle of equality before the law.
Das Diktum des Richters klärte das Prinzip der Gleichheit vor dem Gesetz.
C2 adjective /ˈdæpəld/

dappled

gefleckt
Meaning
Marked with spots or patches of light and shade or different colors.
Example
The forest floor was dappled with sunlight.
Der Waldboden war mit Sonnenlicht gefleckt.
C2 noun /ˈdɛskænt/

descant

Zusatzmelodie
Meaning
An additional melody or counterpoint sung or played above the main melody.
Example
The choir added a beautiful descant to the hymn.
Der Chor fügte dem Lied eine schöne Zusatzmelodie hinzu.
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 adjective /dɪˈlɛktəbl̩/

delectable

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

diatribe

Tirade
Meaning
A forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.
Example
The politician launched a diatribe against his opponents.
Der Politiker startete eine Tirade gegen seine Gegner.
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 adjective /daɪˈdæktɪk/

didactic

didaktisch
Meaning
Intended to teach, often with a moral lesson.
Example
The novel is not just entertaining but also didactic in nature.
Der Roman ist nicht nur unterhaltsam, sondern auch didaktisch in seiner Natur.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪk/

diabolic

diabolisch
Meaning
Extremely evil or cruel; characteristic of the devil.
Example
The villain devised a diabolic scheme.
Der Bösewicht ersann einen diabolischen Plan.
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 noun /dreɪk/

Drake

männliche Ente
Meaning
a male duck; a type of waterfowl
Example
The drake led his family of ducks across the pond.
Der drake führte seine Familie von Enten über den Teich.
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 verb /dɪˈdʒɛkt/

deject

entmutigen
Meaning
to make someone feel sad, depressed, or dispirited
Example
The news of his failure seemed to deject him deeply.
Die Nachricht von seinem Misserfolg schien ihn zutiefst zu entmutigen.
C2 noun /ˈdɒɡərəl/

doggerel

vulgäre Verse
Meaning
Comic or irregular verse, often poorly constructed and lacking in artistic quality.
Example
The poet’s work was dismissed as mere doggerel by the critics.
Das Werk des Dichters wurde von den Kritikern als bloße vulgäre Verse abgetan.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsrɪˈpjuːt/

disrepute

Rufschädigung
Meaning
the state of being held in low esteem or having a bad reputation
Example
The scandal brought the politician into disrepute.
Der Skandal brachte den Politiker in Verruf.
C2 adjective /dɪˈdjuːsəbl/

deducible

ableitbar
Meaning
able to be deduced; possible to be inferred
Example
The solution is deducible from the data provided.
Die Lösung ist aus den bereitgestellten Daten ableitbar.
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 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 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 /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 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 /dɪˈkæmp/

decamp

abhauen
Meaning
To depart suddenly or secretly, often to avoid trouble or escape.
Example
The thief decamped before the police arrived.
Der Dieb ist abgehauen, bevor die Polizei kam.
C2 noun /dɪˌlɪniˈeɪʃən/

delineation

Delineation
Meaning
the precise description, drawing, or outlining of something
Example
The artist’s delineation of the landscape was remarkably accurate.
Die Delineation der Landschaft durch den Künstler war bemerkenswert genau.
C2 noun /ˈdæl.i.əns/

Dalliance

Affäre; Flirt; flüchtige Beziehung
Meaning
a casual romantic or sexual relationship; a brief involvement or experiment
Example
His dalliance with photography lasted only a few months before he lost interest.
Seine Affäre mit der Fotografie dauerte nur wenige Monate, bevor er das Interesse verlor.
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 /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 verb /ˌdɒmɪˈnɪə/

domineer

beherrschen
Meaning
to assert one's will over another in an arrogant way
Example
He tends to domineer over his younger colleagues.
Er neigt dazu, über seine jüngeren Kollegen zu herrschen.
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 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 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 adjective /ˈdæpər/

dapper

schick und gepflegt
Meaning
Neat, stylish, and well-dressed in appearance.
Example
He looked very dapper in his new suit.
Er sah in seinem neuen Anzug sehr schick aus.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈvaʊ/

disavow

verleugnen
Meaning
to deny responsibility for or connection with something
Example
He disavowed any involvement in the scandal.
Er leugnete jede Beteiligung an dem Skandal.
C2 noun /drɒs/

dross

Abfall
Meaning
worthless or unwanted material; rubbish or impurities
Example
Most of his early writings were considered dross.
Die meisten seiner frühen Schriften wurden als Abfall betrachtet.
C2 noun /dɪˌsɪdəˈreɪtəm/

desideratum

notwendige Sache
Meaning
something that is desired or considered necessary
Example
For many students, financial aid is a desideratum.
Für viele Studenten ist finanzielle Hilfe eine notwendige Sache.
C2 verb /dɔːb/

daub

bestreichen
Meaning
to spread a thick or sticky substance carelessly on a surface
Example
The children daubed paint all over the walls.
Die Kinder bestreichen die Wände mit Farbe.
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 adjective /dɪˈstreɪ/

distrait

abwesend
Meaning
deeply distracted or absent-minded, often due to worry or grief
Example
He looked distrait after hearing the sad news.
Er sah abwesend aus, nachdem er die traurigen Nachrichten gehört hatte.
C2 noun /dɪˈmʌrɪdʒ/

demurrage

Demurrage
Meaning
a charge payable to the owner of a ship or vehicle for not loading or unloading on time
Example
The company had to pay demurrage for delaying the unloading of goods.
Das Unternehmen musste Demurrage zahlen, weil es das Entladen der Waren verzögert hatte.
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 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 /dɪˈfjuːzəbl/

diffusible

diffusierbar
Meaning
able to spread or be spread through a medium
Example
Oxygen is diffusible through cell membranes.
Sauerstoff ist durch Zellmembranen diffusierbar.
C2 noun /ˈdəʊ.lər/

dolor

Schmerz
Meaning
A state of great sorrow or distress.
Example
The nation was in deep dolor after the tragedy.
Die Nation war nach der Tragödie in tiefem Schmerz.
C2 verb /dɪˈfreɪ/

defray

Kosten übernehmen
Meaning
to provide money to pay the costs of something
Example
The grant will help defray the cost of education.
Das Stipendium wird helfen, die Kosten der Ausbildung zu decken.
C2 verb /ˈdɪðər/

dither

zögern
Meaning
to be indecisive or unable to make a decision
Example
He dithered for hours before choosing a restaurant.
Er zögerte stundenlang, bevor er ein Restaurant auswählte.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈkɜrsɪv/

discursive

abschweifend
Meaning
Tending to digress or move from topic to topic; lengthy and rambling.
Example
His discursive style made the lecture hard to follow.
Seine abschweifende Art machte den Vortrag schwer zu folgen.
C2 noun /drʌdʒ/

drudge

Harte Arbeiter
Meaning
A person made to do hard, menial, or dull work.
Example
He felt like a drudge, stuck in repetitive tasks all day.
Er fühlte sich wie ein harter Arbeiter, der den ganzen Tag mit wiederholenden Aufgaben beschäftigt war.
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 verb /ˈdɔːd(ə)l/

dawdle

trödeln
Meaning
to waste time by being slow or idle
Example
Stop dawdling and finish your homework.
Hör auf, Zeit zu verschwenden und beende deine Hausaufgaben.
C2 noun /daɪˈvʌldʒəns/

divulgence

Offenbarung
Meaning
the act of revealing or disclosing something secret or private
Example
The divulgence of company secrets caused a major scandal.
Die Offenbarung von Unternehmensgeheimnissen führte zu einem großen Skandal.
C2 noun /ˈdʌlərd/

dullard

Dummkopf
Meaning
a slow or stupid person
Example
He was considered a dullard by his classmates.
Er wurde von seinen Klassenkameraden als Dummkopf betrachtet.
C2 noun /ˈdɪti/

ditty

kurzes Lied
Meaning
a short, simple song or poem
Example
She sang a cheerful little ditty while cooking.
Sie sang ein fröhliches kleines Lied beim Kochen.
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 /ˈdʌblɪt/

doublet

Doppelt / enge Jacke
Meaning
a close-fitting jacket worn by men in the Renaissance; also, a pair of similar things
Example
The actor wore a velvet doublet for the Shakespearean play.
Der Schauspieler trug ein Samtdoublet für das Shakespeare-Stück.
C2 adjective /ˈdʌlsɪt/

dulcet

sanft
Meaning
sweet and soothing (often used ironically)
Example
She was enchanted by his dulcet voice.
Sie war verzaubert von seiner sanften Stimme.
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 noun /draɪ ɡuːs ˈbɛri/

Dry goose berry

getrocknete Amla
Meaning
dehydrated amla fruit, rich in vitamin C and used for medicinal and culinary purposes
Example
Dry goose berry powder is excellent for hair growth.
Getrocknetes Amla-Pulver ist hervorragend für das Haarwachstum.
C2 verb /daʊz/

dowse

Nach Wasser oder Mineralien mit einer Wahrsagerstab suchen; oder mit Flüssigkeit durchnässen oder löschen.
Meaning
To search for underground water or minerals using a divining rod; also to drench or extinguish with liquid.
Example
The farmer tried to dowse for water in the dry field.
Der Bauer versuchte, im trockenen Feld nach Wasser zu suchen.
C2 adjective /dɪˈskrɛpənt/

discrepant

diskrepant
Meaning
showing a difference or inconsistency
Example
The witnesses gave discrepant accounts of the incident.
Die Zeugen gaben unterschiedliche Schilderungen des Vorfalls.
C2 noun /ˈdɔɪən/

doyen

respektierte Person
Meaning
The most respected or prominent person in a particular field.
Example
He is regarded as the doyen of modern literature in the country.
Er wird als der Doyen der modernen Literatur im Land angesehen.
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 noun /ˌdɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/

dissipation

Verschwendung
Meaning
the process of disappearing or wasting; excessive indulgence in pleasure
Example
The dissipation of his fortune left him in poverty.
Die Verschwendung seines Vermögens brachte ihn in Armut.
C2 verb /dɪˈspɒnd/

despond

entmutigen
Meaning
to lose confidence or hope; to become dejected
Example
After repeated failures, he began to despond.
Nach wiederholtem Scheitern begann er, sich zu entmutigen.
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 verb /dɪˈkleɪm/

declaim

deklamieren
Meaning
to speak aloud in a formal, passionate, or theatrical way
Example
The actor declaimed his lines with great intensity.
Der Schauspieler deklamierte seine Zeilen mit großer Intensität.
C2 adjective /daɪˈɡrɛsɪv/

digressive

tendenz vom Hauptthema abzuweichen
Meaning
Tending to depart from the main subject in speech or writing.
Example
The speaker's digressive style made the lecture difficult to follow.
Der digressive Stil des Sprechers erschwerte das Verfolgen des Vortrags.
C2 verb /dɪˈkæpɪteɪt/

decapitate

Glück
Meaning
To cut off the head of a person or animal.
Example
The ancient executioner decapitated the criminal.
Sie konnte ihr Glück nicht verbergen, als sie den Preis erhielt.
C2 noun /ˌdɪpsəˈmeɪniæk/

dipsomaniac

Alkoholiker
Meaning
A person with an uncontrollable craving for alcoholic drinks.
Example
The novel portrayed the tragic downfall of a dipsomaniac who lost everything to alcohol.
Der Roman stellte den tragischen Untergang eines Alkoholikers dar, der alles wegen Alkohol verlor.
C2 noun /ˌdɛprɪˈdeɪʃən/

depredation

Raub
Meaning
An act of attacking or plundering; damage caused by such acts.
Example
The villagers feared the depredation of wild animals at night.
Die Dorfbewohner fürchteten den Raub durch wilde Tiere in der Nacht.
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 /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 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 verb /ˌdɪsəˈbjuːz/

disabuse

korrigieren
Meaning
To free someone from a false belief or misconception.
Example
The teacher tried to disabuse the students of their misunderstanding.
Der Lehrer versuchte, die Schüler von ihrem Missverständnis zu befreien.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪlətɔːri/

dilatory

verzögernd
Meaning
Tending to cause delay; slow to act.
Example
The committee was criticized for its dilatory response to the crisis.
Das Komitee wurde für seine verzögernde Antwort auf die Krise kritisiert.
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 /dɪˈsɛnʃənt/

dissentient

abtrünnig
Meaning
Expressing or holding opinions that are opposed to the majority or official view.
Example
Only a few dissentient voices were heard during the debate.
Während der Debatte waren nur wenige abtrünnige Stimmen zu hören.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪˌsɪləbəl/

disyllable

Zweisilbiges Wort
Meaning
a word consisting of two syllables
Example
The word 'happy' is a disyllable.
Das Wort ‚glücklich‘ ist ein zweisilbiges Wort.
C2 noun /dɪsˈkwaɪɪtjuːd/

disquietude

Unruhe
Meaning
A state of uneasiness, anxiety, or restlessness.
Example
His constant pacing showed his inner disquietude.
Sein ständiges Hin- und Herlaufen zeigte seine innere Unruhe.
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 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 /daɪˈɡrɛʃən/

digression

Abschweifung
Meaning
A temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.
Example
Her story was full of interesting digressions.
Ihre Geschichte war voller interessanter Abschweifungen.
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 /ˌdɛkləˈmeɪʃən/

declamation

Deklamation
Meaning
a formal speech delivered with rhetorical or dramatic effect
Example
Her declamation captivated the audience at the competition.
Ihre Deklamation fesselte das Publikum beim Wettbewerb.
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 /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 /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 noun /dɪnt/

dint

Anstrengung, Schlagabdruck
Meaning
an impression or hollow made by a blow; force or power
Example
By dint of hard work, he achieved success.
Durch Dint von harter Arbeit erreichte er Erfolg.
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 /dɪˈklɪvɪti/

declivity

Hang
Meaning
a downward slope of ground
Example
They carefully climbed down the declivity of the hill.
Sie kletterten vorsichtig den Hang des Hügels hinunter.
C2 noun /ˈdɒkɪt/

docket

Liste
Meaning
a list or schedule of cases to be tried in a court or items to be done
Example
The judge reviewed the docket before starting the session.
Der Richter überprüfte die Liste, bevor er die Sitzung begann.
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 /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 noun/verb /dɪsˈfeɪvər/

disfavor

Missbilligung / Abneigung
Meaning
disapproval or dislike; to regard with disapproval
Example
The new policy fell into disfavor with the public.
Die neue Politik geriet in Misskredit bei der Öffentlichkeit.
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.