CEFR Level
to lose confidence or hope; to become dejected
"After repeated failures, he began to despond."
exercising power in a cruel, oppressive, or authoritarian way
"The king’s despotic rule left the people in misery."
a state of disuse or inactivity
"The old law has fallen into desuetude."
lacking a clear plan, purpose, or enthusiasm
"His desultory conversation bored the audience."
having exact and definite limits or form
"The contract is for a determinate period of two years."
The act of belittling or taking away from the value of something.
"Her constant detraction of others made her unpopular."
Waste or debris of any kind; fragments left from destruction or decay.
"The riverbank was covered with detritus after the flood."
To thrust or force something downward or outward.
"The violent waves detruded rocks from the cliff."
Wicked or cruel behavior; mischievous actions.
"The children were full of devilry on Halloween night."
Cruel or malicious behavior; mischief with an evil aspect.
"The villain’s deviltry terrified the townsfolk."
a traditional Indian garment for men consisting of a piece of unstitched cloth worn around the waist and legs
"The elderly man wore a white dhuti during the religious ceremony."
Extremely evil or cruel; characteristic of the devil.
"The villain devised a diabolic scheme."
Relating to a mark added to a letter to indicate a different pronunciation or stress.
"The word résumé has diacritical marks that change its meaning from resume."
A crown or headband worn as a symbol of royalty or authority.
"The queen wore a glittering diadem at the coronation."
Relating to the logical discussion of ideas and opinions.
"She took a dialectical approach to solve the complex issue."
A person skilled in dialectic or logical argument.
"Socrates is often considered the greatest dialectician in history."
Light, delicate, and translucent.
"She wore a diaphanous dress that shimmered in the sunlight."
Consisting of two atoms.
"Oxygen is a diatomic molecule."
A forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.
"The politician launched a diatribe against his opponents."
A formal pronouncement, authoritative statement, or maxim.
"The judge’s dictum clarified the principle of equality before the law."
Intended to teach, often with a moral lesson.
"The novel is not just entertaining but also didactic in nature."
A distinguishing characteristic that sets one thing apart from another.
"The differentia of humans is their ability to reason abstractly."
Lack of self-confidence; shyness or modesty.
"Her diffidence made it hard for her to speak in public."
able to spread or be spread through a medium
"Oxygen is diffusible through cell membranes."
A pair of letters representing a single sound, such as 'sh' in 'ship'.
"In the word 'phone', the letters 'ph' form a digraph."
A temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.
"Her story was full of interesting digressions."
Tending to depart from the main subject in speech or writing.
"The speaker's digressive style made the lecture difficult to follow."
To cause something, especially a building, to fall into ruin or disrepair.
"The abandoned house began to dilapidate over the years."
The state of disrepair or ruin as a result of neglect.
"The old temple was in a state of dilapidation."
Tending to cause delay; slow to act.
"The committee was criticized for its dilatory response to the crisis."
A person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, especially in a superficial way.
"He was dismissed as a dilettante in the art world because he lacked formal training."
an impression or hollow made by a blow; force or power
"By dint of hard work, he achieved success."
relating to a diocese or the district under the supervision of a bishop in the Christian Church
"The diocesan council met to discuss church affairs."
A complex vowel sound that begins with one vowel and glides into another within the same syllable.
"The word 'coin' contains a diphthong."
A person skilled in diplomacy; another word for diplomat.
"The diplomatist handled the negotiations with great tact."
A person with an uncontrollable craving for alcoholic drinks.
"The novel portrayed the tragic downfall of a dipsomaniac who lost everything to alcohol."
A mournful song, piece of music, or poem expressing grief, often for the dead.
"The choir sang a solemn dirge at the funeral."
To free someone from a false belief or misconception.
"The teacher tried to disabuse the students of their misunderstanding."
Dissatisfied and rebellious, especially against authority or leadership.
"The reforms were introduced to calm the disaffected youth."
strong disapproval, typically on moral grounds
"The policy was met with widespread disapprobation."
to disturb the order or arrangement of something
"The wind disarranged her hair."
to deny responsibility for or connection with something
"He disavowed any involvement in the scandal."
the denial of any responsibility, connection, or support
"The politician issued a firm disavowal of the controversial remarks."
to officially remove a lawyer from the legal profession
"The corrupt lawyer was disbarred for unethical conduct."
to relieve someone of a burden or load
"She disburdened herself of worries by sharing them with her friend."
to pay out money, especially from a fund
"The organization will disburse the funds to the affected families."
The payment of money from a fund.
"The company's disbursement of salaries was delayed."
to confuse or disconcert; to upset the normal order
"The sudden question seemed to discombobulate him."
