DSAT Vocabulary Set #2 - Essential English Terms & Definitions

develop

v- to grow or progress, to bring something to a more advanced stage

deviate

v- to depart from an established course or norm

diminish

v- decrease in size, extent, or range

disagreeable

adj- unpleasant or difficult to deal with

disapprove

v- to have or express an unfavorable opinion about something

discernible

adj- able to be recognized or distinguished

disconcerting

adj- causing one to feel uneasy or confused

discount

v- to disregard OR to lower the price of something

discourage

v- to cause someone to lose confidence or to warn against

discover

v- to uncover, reveal, or make known

discuss

v- to talk about

disengage

v- to detach or separate oneself from a situation or relationship

dismiss

v- to reject or not seriously consider

disorienting

adj- causing someone to feel confused or disoriented

disparate

adj- completely different

disperse

v- to scatter or distribute over a wide area

dispute

v- to argue or disagree about something

disregard

v- to ignore or pay no attention to something

distraction

n- something that draws attention away

distrust

n- disbelief and suspicion

diverge

v- to go in different directions from a common point

diverse

adj- having a wide variety or range of different elements or characteristics

dogmatic

adj- inclined to rigidly follow a set of rules or maintain a belief

doubt

n/v- a feeling of uncertainty; to not believe something

dynamic

adj- constantly changing; active and adaptable

eclipse

v- to surpass or outshine

elicit

v- to evoke or draw out a response or reaction from someone

elusive

adj- difficult to find, catch, or achieve

embrace

v- to readily accept OR to hug

encompass

v- to include or cover

encourage

v- to inspire with confidence

enduring

adj- lasting; surviving

enhance

v- to make something better or improve it

ensure

v- make sure that something shall occur or be the case

entail

v- to involve or require as a necessary part or consequence

enthusiasm

n- excitement or passion about something

entrench

v- to firmly establish or fix in place

epitomize

v- to be a perfect example of something

establish

v- to set up or create something

evaluate

v- to assess or judge

evidence

n- proof that demonstrates an idea

evince

v- to show or reveal something

evolving

adj- developing or changing gradually over time

exacerbate

v- to make worse or more severe

exactitude

n- meticulousness, being careful and precise

example

n- an individual instance taken to be representative of a general pattern

exceed

v- to go or be beyond the limit or expectations

exemplify

v- to serve as a typical or excellent example of something

existence

n- the fact or state of living or having objective reality

expand

v- to increase in size or amount

expand on

idiom- to give more details about something you have said or written

experience

n- knowledge or skill that comes from having done certain things

experiment

v/n- to test or try something out; a test or investigation of a hypothesis

explain

v- to make something clear or understandable by describing or giving reasons for it

exploit

v- to take advantage of

expose

v- to reveal something for others to see

exposure

n- the revelation of an identity or fact

extend

v- to make longer or prolong

extensive

adj- covering a large area or having a great range or scope

extraordinary

adj- exceptional or remarkable, beyond what is ordinary or usual

fabricate

v- to invent or make up something in order to deceive or mislead

feature

v- to have something as a prominent or important part or aspect

follow

v- to come after or come as a result of something

foretell

v- to predict or forecast something that will happen in the future

forfeiture

n- the loss or giving up of something as a penalty for wrongdoing

foster

v- to promote or encourage the development of something

fragile

adj- easily broken or damaged

fruitless

adj- producing no results or benefits, unsuccessful

fulfill

v- to meet or satisfy a need, desire, or expectation

gaining on

idiom- getting nearer to someone or something you are pursuing

genuine

adj- real, authentic

grapple

v- to struggle with or try to overcome a difficult problem or challenge

haphazard

adj- lacking any obvious principle of organization or purpose

healthy

adj- in good physical or mental condition, free from illness or injury

hibernation

n- a state of inactivity or dormancy in which an animal or plant reduces its metabolic activity

hidden

adj- not visible

hinder

v- to prevent or slow down progress

hoard

v- to accumulate for future use; stockpile

homogenous

adj- having similar or uniform characteristics

hypothesize

v- to make a guess, the correctness of which will eventually be investigated systematically

ignore

v- to disregard or refuse to take notice of something