The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate (12 page)

Related words:
depreciation
(di-
PREE
-shee-AY-sh
e
n)
noun
,
depreciatory
(di-PREE-shee-
e
-
TOR
-ee)
adjective
.

deracinate
(di-RAS-
e
-
NAYT
)
verb

uproot; isolate (someone) from his home or environment.

Related word:
deracination
(di-
RAS
-
e
-NAY-sh
e
n)
noun
.

derision
(di-RIZH-
e
n)
noun

scorn, ridicule.

Related word:
derisible
(di-RIZ-
e
-b
e
l)
adjective
.

derisive
(di-R
I
-siv)
adjective

expressing or causing derision; scornful, mocking.

See
derisory
.

Related words:
derisiveness
noun
,
derisively
adverb
.

derisory
(di-R
I
-s
e
-ree)
adjective

worthy of ridicule; too insignificant for serious consideration.

Derisory
and
derisive
are close in meaning, but careful writers use the two adjectives differently. For example, something
worthy of ridicule
may be described as
derisory
, as in “Entry-level wages in our firm are
derisory
.” Again, a remark
expressing derision
may be characterized as
derisive
, as in “His
derisive
comments were intended to destroy his opponent's candidacy.”

derogate
(DER-
e
GAYT
)
verb

detract from; disparage, belittle.

“They were known for their inclination to destroy reputations of people they worked with, but they could truthfully say they never intended to
derogate
their immediate supervisor's authority.”

Related word:
derogation
(
DER
-
e
-GAY-sh
e
n)
noun
.

derogatory
(di-ROG-
e
-
TOR
-ee)
adjective

disparaging; contemptuous.

Related words:
derogatorily
(di-
ROG
-
e
-TOR-
e
-lee)
adverb
,
derogatoriness
(di-ROG-
e
-
TOR
-ee-nis)
noun
.

deserts
(di-ZURTS)
plural noun

what one deserves (whether good or bad).

Do not confuse
deserts
with
desserts
, a word whose meaning we all understand. Hint: we look forward to a choice of
desserts
at the end of a good meal, but if we overeat to the point of suffering gastric pain, we are getting our just
deserts
.

desideratum
(di-
SID
-
e
-RAH-t
e
m)
noun, plural
desiderata
(di-
SID
-
e
-RAH-t
e
)

something that is lacking but is needed or desired.

despoil
(di-SPOYL)
verb

strip of possessions; rob, pillage, plunder (a place or person).

Related words:
despoiler
and
despoilment
both nouns
.

desuetude
(DES-wi-
TOOD
)
noun

a state of disuse.

detritus
(di-TR
I
-t
e
s)
noun

1. fragments (of gravel, silt, etc.) caused by the rubbing away of a larger mass.

2. any waste; debris.

Related word:
detrital
(di-TR
I
-t
e
l)
adjective
.

detumescence
(
DEE
-too-MES-
e
ns)
noun

reduction or subsidence from a swollen state.

Related word:
detumescent
adjective
.

devolve
(di-VOLV)
verb

pass or be passed on to a deputy or successor.

Related word:
devolvement
noun
.

diadem
(D
I
-
e
-
DEM
)
noun

a crown or headband worn as a sign of sovereignty.

dialectic
(
D
I
-
e
-LEK-tik)
noun

the investigation of the truth of opinions in philosophy, economics, etc. by systematic reasoning and logical disputation.

Related words:
dialectic, dialectal
, and
dialectical
all adjectives
,
dialectician
(
D
I
-
e
-lek-TISH-
e
n)
noun
.

Diaspora
(d
I
-AS-p
e
r-
e
)
noun
, also given as
diaspora
, especially in sense 2 below

1. the dispersion of the Jews to countries outside of Palestine after the end of the Babylonian captivity.

2. the dispersion of any minority religious or ethnic group among people of a prevailing religion or ethnicity.

dichotomy
(d
I
-KOT-
e
-mee)
noun, plural
dichotomies

division into two parts or kinds.

Related words:
dichotomic
(
D
I
-k
e
-TOM-ik) and
dichotomous
(d
I
-KOT-
e
-m
e
s)
both adjectives
,
dichotomically
(
D
I
-k
e
-TOM-i-klee)
adverb
,
dichotomize
(d
I
-KOT-
e
-
M
I
Z
)
verb
.

dictum
(DIK-t
e
m)
noun, plural
dicta
(DIK-t
e
) or
dictums

1. a formal expression of opinion, especially a judicial assertion.

2. a maxim, a saying.

diffident
(DIF-i-d
e
nt)
adjective

lacking self-confidence; hesitating to put oneself or one's ideas forward.

Related words:
diffidence
noun
,
diffidently
adverb
.

dilatory
(DIL-
e
-
TOR
-ee)
adjective

slow in doing something; not prompt; tending to procrastinate.

Related words:
dilatorily
adverb
,
dilatoriness
noun
.

dipsomania
(
DIP
-s
e
-MAY-nee-
e
)
noun

an uncontrollable craving for alcoholic drink.

Related words:
dipsomaniac
(
DIP
-s
e
-MAY-nee-
AK
)
noun
,
dipsomaniacal
(
DIP
-s
e
-m
e
-N
I
-
e
-k
e
l)
adjective
.

disaffected
(
DIS
-
e
-FEK-tid)
adjective

discontented and disloyal, as toward authority.

Related words:
disaffectedly
adverb
,
disaffectedness
noun
.

disaffection
(
DIS
-
e
-FEK-sh
e
n)
noun

estrangement; disloyalty; political discontent.

discomfit
(dis-KUM-fit)
verb

1. disconcert; confuse and deject.

2. thwart, foil; frustrate the plans of.

Do not confuse
discomfit
with
discomfort
, which see.

Related word:
discomfiter
noun
.