CEFR Level
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."
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."
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."
to strip leaves from a tree, plant, or area, often using chemicals
"The farmers defoliated the fields before harvest."
to provide money to pay the costs of something
"The grant will help defray the cost of education."
to officially remove a priest or minister from their position and authority
"The church decided to defrock the priest after the scandal."
Skillfulness and quickness in action or thought.
"Her deftness with words impressed the audience."
The state of decline or deterioration, often in moral, cultural, or physical qualities.
"The novel portrays the moral degeneracy of a corrupt society."
to treat or worship someone or something as a god
"Some fans deify their favorite celebrities."
to do something considered beneath one's dignity
"The king did not deign to reply to the commoner."
a person who believes in the existence of a supreme being but rejects organized religion
"The philosopher identified himself as a deist."
to make someone feel sad, depressed, or dispirited
"The news of his failure seemed to deject him deeply."
a state of sadness, depression, or low spirits
"She sat in a state of dejection after hearing the bad news."
delicious or highly enjoyable
"The restaurant served a delectable meal."
great pleasure or delight
"She read the story aloud for the delectation of her friends."
causing harm or damage
"Smoking has deleterious effects on health."
