CEFR Level
a member of an armed gang of robbers; a bandit, especially in India and Myanmar
"The village was terrorized by a gang of dacoits who robbed travelers."
An early type of photograph produced on a silver or silver-covered copper plate.
"The museum displayed a rare daguerreotype of Abraham Lincoln."
A raised platform in a hall or room, usually where speakers or honored guests sit.
"The speaker stood on the dais to address the audience."
A casual romantic or sexual relationship; also frivolous or playful behavior.
"Their dalliance during the summer was brief but intense."
To act or move slowly; to waste time; also to engage in a casual romantic relationship.
"He dallied in the garden instead of starting his work."
condemnation to eternal punishment in hell; something that causes ruin or failure
"The preacher spoke about salvation and damnation in his sermon."
a man who gives too much attention to his appearance and clothes
"The young dandy spent hours grooming himself before the party."
unpleasantly damp and cold
"The basement was dark and dank, filled with a musty smell."
Neat, stylish, and well-dressed in appearance.
"He looked very dapper in his new suit."
Marked with spots or patches of light and shade or different colors.
"The forest floor was dappled with sunlight."
In the dark or growing dark; dimly.
"The forest creatures moved darkling through the night."
a cowardly or dishonorable person
"Only a dastard would betray his closest friend."
to spread a thick or sticky substance carelessly on a surface
"The children daubed paint all over the walls."
showing fearlessness and determination
"The dauntless soldier charged forward without hesitation."
to waste time by being slow or idle
"Stop dawdling and finish your homework."
a worker employed by the day; a day laborer
"The farmer hired a day-man to help with the harvest."
a race or contest in which two or more competitors finish exactly equal
"The race ended in a dead-heat between the two runners."
Deliberately impassive or expressionless in manner.
"She delivered the joke in a completely deadpan voice."
A representation of a human skull, often used as a symbol of death.
"The pirate flag was marked with a grim deaths-head."
to disembark or get off a ship, aircraft, or vehicle
"The passengers debarked as soon as the ship docked."
to corrupt morally; to lead into excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures
"The novel shows how wealth can debauch a person's character."
excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; corruption or vice
"The novel depicts the debauchery of the aristocrats in the city."
a type of debt instrument not secured by physical assets or collateral
"The company raised capital by issuing debentures to investors."
to weaken or make someone or something infirm
"The long illness debilitated his strength."
confident, stylish, and charming, typically referring to a man
"He looked debonair in his tuxedo at the gala."
A young woman making her first formal appearance in society.
"The debutante wore a white gown at the ball."
A polygon with ten sides and ten angles.
"The geometry teacher drew a perfect decagon on the board."
A metric unit of mass equal to ten grams.
"The package weighed exactly one decagram."
A metric unit of capacity equal to ten liters.
"The container could hold up to one decaliter of water."
The Ten Commandments in the Bible; a set of fundamental rules or principles.
"The priest gave a sermon on the importance of the Decalogue."
A collection of 100 tales written by Giovanni Boccaccio in the 14th century, told by a group of people over ten days.
"The Decameron is considered a masterpiece of classical Italian literature."
A metric unit of length equal to ten meters.
"The field was measured in decameters for accuracy."
To depart suddenly or secretly, often to avoid trouble or escape.
"The thief decamped before the police arrived."
To pour liquid gently from one container into another, especially without disturbing the sediment.
"She carefully decanted the wine into a clean glass."
To cut off the head of a person or animal.
"The ancient executioner decapitated the criminal."
An arthropod with ten limbs, such as crabs, lobsters, and shrimps.
"The lobster is a well-known decapod."
A line of verse with ten syllables.
"The poet often wrote in decasyllable form."
to speak aloud in a formal, passionate, or theatrical way
"The actor declaimed his lines with great intensity."
a formal speech delivered with rhetorical or dramatic effect
"Her declamation captivated the audience at the competition."
speaking in a loud, rhetorical, or dramatic way
"The politician’s declamatory style impressed some but irritated others."
a downward slope of ground
"They carefully climbed down the declivity of the hill."
of a woman's dress or top, cut low so as to reveal the neck and upper chest
"She wore a decollete gown to the party."
showing proper and polite behavior; marked by good taste
"The audience gave a decorous applause after the performance."
characterized by propriety, good taste, and proper manners
"She maintained a decourous silence during the ceremony."
worn out or weakened by age or neglect
"The decrepit old house was on the verge of collapse."
the state of being old, weak, and worn out
"The once-great empire fell into decrepitude."
able to be deduced; possible to be inferred
"The solution is deducible from the data provided."
to misuse or embezzle money that one is responsible for
"The accountant was accused of defalcating company funds."
Showing or expressing respect and high regard.
"He was always deferential toward his teachers."
a chemical that causes leaves to drop from plants, often used in warfare or agriculture
"The army sprayed defoliant to clear the forest cover."
