vocab test

criterion (n)

a norm, a standard, a model

cursory (adj)

hasty, superficial

dearth (n)

a scarcity, a shortage

debilitate (v)

to weaken, to undermine

decadence (n)

decay, ruin

deference (n)

honor, great respect

delineate (v)

to depict, to describe, to show

denunciation (n)

open condemnation, public disapproval

deprecate (v)

to put down, to express disapproval of

desecrate (v)

to violate, to lay waste, to destroy

destitute (adj)

very poor, needy

deter (v)

to hinder, to prevent, to discourage

diatribe (n)

a verbal attack, a bitter, critical speech

didactic (adj)

instructional, for teaching purposes

diminution (n)

a decrease, a lessening

discerning (adj)

insightful, perceptive

disparage (v)

to degrade, to belittle, to put down

disparity (n)

inequality, difference

disposition (n)

temperament, nature, personality

dissipated (adj/v)

wasted, disheveled, drunken; or squandered, scattered

dogmatic (adj)

arrogant, stubborn

dormant (adj)

asleep, inactive

duplicity (n)

deceitfulness, double-dealing

ebb (v)

to decline, to become weaker

eclectic (adj)

taken from different sources, diversified

efface (v)

to erase, to wipe out

egregious (adj)

flagrant, obviously bad

elucidate (v)

to explain, to make clear

elusive (adj)

hard to understand, baffling

embroil (v)

to involve in a quarrel, to entangle

emulate (v)

to rival, to try to equal or excel

enervate (v)

to sap energy from, to weaken

engender (v)

to cause, to make happen

enigma (n)

a mystery, a puzzle

ephemeral (adj)

short lived, lasting a short time

equanimity (n)

composure, calmness

euphemism (n)

a nice way of saying something harsh

evanescent (adj)

short-lived, fleeting

exacerbate (v)

to make worse, to irritate

expedient (adj)

useful, practical

expedite (v)

to accelerate, to speed up

expunge (v)

to erase, to wipe out

extol (v)

to praise highly

facilitate (v)

to make easier, to help make happen

fallacy (n)

a false idea, an erroneous belief

fastidious (adj)

overly neat, finicky

fervor (n)

passion, intense emotion, zeal

flagrant (adj)

glaringly bad, obviously offensive, outrageous

formidable (adj)

dreaded, hard to overcome, frightful

fortuitous (adj)

accidental, occurring by chance