Rarely Used D Words

Rarely Used D Words

Dado • noun (pl. dados) 1 the lower part of the wall of a room, when decorated differently from the upper part. 2 Architecture the cube of a pedestal between the base and the cornice. — ORIGIN

Italian, ‘dice or cube’.

Dais • noun a low platform for a lectern or throne. — ORIGIN

Old French deis, from Latin discus ‘disc or plate’ (later ‘table’), from Greek diskos

‘discus’. Dapper • adjective (of a man) neat in dress and appearance. — ORIGIN

probably from a Low German or Dutch word meaning ‘strong, stout’.

Dapple • verb mark with spots or small patches. • noun a patch of colour or light. — ORIGIN

perhaps related to an Old Norse word meaning ‘spot’.

Dastardly • adjective dated or humorous wicked and cruel. from archaic dastard ‘despicable person’, probably from dazed and influenced by dotard and bastard. — ORIGIN

Dative • adjective (in Latin, Greek, German, etc.) denoting a case of nouns and pronouns indicating an indirect object or recipient. • noun a dative noun, pronoun, etc. — ORIGIN

from Latin casus dativus ‘case of giving’, from dare ‘give’.

Debar • verb (debarred, debarring) exclude or prohibit officially from doing something. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

debarment noun.

Old French desbarrer ‘unbar’.

Debouch • verb emerge from a confined space into a wide, open area. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

debouchment noun.

French, from bouche ‘mouth’.

Declaim • verb speak or recite in an emphatic or dramatic way. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

declamatory adjective.

Latin declamare, from clamare ‘to shout’.

Declension • noun 1 the variation of the form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective that identifies its grammatical case, number, and gender. 2 the class to which a noun or adjective is assigned according to this variation. — ORIGIN

from Old French decliner ‘to decline’.

Decoction • noun a liquor containing the concentrated essence of a substance, produced as a result of heating or boiling. — ORIGIN

Latin, from decoquere ‘boil down’.

Decrement • noun 1 a reduction or diminution. 2 Physics the ratio of the amplitudes in successive cycles of a damped oscillation. — ORIGIN

Latin decrementum ‘diminution’, from decrescere ‘to decrease’.

Defalcation • verb formal embezzle (funds). — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

defalcation noun.

originally in the sense deduct, subtract: from Latin defalcare ‘to lop’.

Defray • verb provide money to pay (a cost). — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN Deign •

defrayal noun.

French défrayer, from obsolete frai ‘cost, expenses.’

verb (deign to do) do something that one considers to be beneath one’s dignity.

— ORIGIN

Latin dignare ‘deem worthy’, from dignus ‘worthy’.

Delectation • noun formal, chiefly humorous pleasure and delight. — ORIGIN

Latin, from delectare ‘to charm’.

Demesne • noun 1 historical land attached to a manor. 2 archaic a domain. — ORIGIN

from Old French demeine ‘belonging to a lord’, from Latin dominus ‘lord, master’.

Demonetize • verb deprive (a coin or precious metal) of its status as money. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

demonetization noun.

French démonétiser, from Latin moneta ‘money’.

Demur • verb (demurred, demurring) raise doubts or objections; show reluctance. • noun the action of demurring: they accepted without demur. — DERIVATIVES

demurral noun.

— ORIGIN

Old French demourer, from Latin morari ‘delay’.

Demurrage • noun Commerce. 1 the detention in port of a vessel by the shipowner, as in loading or unloading, beyond the time allowed or agreed upon. 2 the similar undue detention of a railroad car, truck, etc. 3 a charge for such undue detention. — ORIGIN 1635–45; DEMUR + -AGE

Denature • verb 1 take away or alter the natural qualities of. 2 make (alcohol) unfit for drinking by adding poisonous or foul-tasting substances. — DERIVATIVES

denaturation noun.

Denizen • noun 1 formal or humorous an inhabitant or occupant. 2 Brit. historical a foreigner allowed certain rights in their adopted country. — ORIGIN

from Old French deinz ‘within’.

Dentition • noun the arrangement or condition of the teeth in a particular species or individual. Denude • verb (often be denuded of) strip of covering or possessions; make bare. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

denudation noun.

Latin denudare, from nudare ‘to bare’.

Depilatory • adjective used to remove unwanted hair. • noun (pl. depilatories) a depilatory cream or lotion. Deprecate • verb 1 express disapproval of. 2 another term for DEPRECIATE (in sense 2). — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

deprecation noun deprecatory adjective.

originally in the sense ‘pray to ward off evil’: from Latin deprecari, from precari ‘pray’.

Depredate • verb to plunder or lay waste to; prey upon; pillage; ravage. — ORIGIN 1620–30; < LL dēpraedātus plundered (ptp. of depraedārī), equiv. to L dē- DE- + praed(ārī) to plunder (see PREY ) + -ātus -ATE

Deputation • noun a group of people who undertake a mission on behalf of a larger group. Dereliction • noun 1 the state of having been abandoned and become dilapidated. 2 (usu. dereliction of duty) shameful failure to fulfil one’s obligations. Desiccate • verb usu. desiccated remove the moisture from. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN Deskill

desiccation noun.

Latin desiccare ‘make thoroughly dry’.

• verb used with object) to remove any need of skill, judgment, or initiative in: jobs being deskilled by automation.

— ORIGIN DE- + SKILL

• adjective 1 lacking purpose or enthusiasm. 2 going from one thing to another erratically and intermittently: a desultory conversation. Desultory

— DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

desultorily adverb.

Latin desultorius ‘superficial’ (literally ‘relating to a vaulter’), from desilire ‘leap down’.

Detritus • noun debris or waste material. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

detrital adjective.

Latin, from deterere ‘wear away’.

Devastavit • noun 1 : mismanagement or waste of the assets in the estate of a deceased person by the fiduciary in charge of the estate (as the executor) 2 : a common-law writ seeking a remedy for devastavit — ORIGIN Medieval Latin, he/she has spoiled (someone's property)

• verb 1 transfer (power) to a lower level, especially from central government to local or regional administration. 2 (devolve on/to) (of duties or responsibility) pass to (a deputy or successor). 3 (devolve on/to) Law (of property) pass from one owner to (another), especially by inheritance. Devolve

— ORIGIN

Latin devolvere ‘roll down’.

Diametrical • adjective 1 (of opposites) complete; absolute. 2 of or along a diameter. — DERIVATIVES

diametric adjective diametrically adverb.

Diaphanous • adjective light, delicate, and translucent. — ORIGIN

Greek diaphanes, from dia ‘through’ + phainein ‘to show’.

Diatribe • noun a harsh and forceful verbal attack. — ORIGIN

Greek, ‘spending of time, discourse’.

Didactic • adjective intended to teach or give moral instruction. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

didactically adverb didacticism noun.

Greek didaktikos, from didaskein ‘teach’.

Diddle • verb informal cheat or swindle. — ORIGIN probably from Jeremy Diddler, a character in the farce Raising the Wind (1803) who constantly borrowed small sums of money.

Diffident • adjective lacking in self-confidence.

— DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

diffidence noun diffidently adverb.

Latin, from diffidere ‘fail to trust’.

Dilatory • adjective 1 slow to act. 2 intended to cause delay. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

dilatoriness noun.

Latin dilatorius, from dilator ‘delayer’.

Dillybag • noun Austral. an Aboriginal bag or basket made from woven grass or fibre. — ORIGIN

from an Aboriginal word meaning ‘coarse grass or reeds’ + BAG.

Din • noun a prolonged loud and unpleasant noise. • verb (dinned, dinning) (din into) instil (information) into by constant repetition. — ORIGIN

Old English.

Dint • noun an impression or hollow in a surface; a dent. — PHRASES — ORIGIN

by dint of by means of.

Old English, a blow with a weapon.

Diphtheria • noun a serious bacterial disease causing inflammation of the mucous membranes, especially in the throat. — ORIGIN

Greek diphthera ‘skin, hide’ (referring to the false membrane that forms in the throat).

Diphthong • noun a sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable (as in coin). — ORIGIN

Greek diphthongos, from di- ‘twice’ + phthongos ‘sound’.

Dipsomania • noun alcoholism. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

dipsomaniac noun.

from Greek dipsa ‘thirst’.

Dirigible • noun an airship. — ORIGIN

from Latin dirigere ‘to direct’.

Discomfit • verb (discomfited, discomfiting) make uneasy or embarrassed. — DERIVATIVES

discomfiture noun.

originally in the sense defeat in battle: from Old French desconfire, from Latin conficere ‘put together’. — ORIGIN

Disconsolate • adjective unable to be comforted or consoled; very unhappy. — DERIVATIVES

disconsolately adverb.

Discotheque • noun another term for DISCO (in sense 1). — ORIGIN

French (originally meaning ‘record library’), on the pattern of bibliothèque ‘library’.

Diseconomy • noun (pl. diseconomies) an economic disadvantage such as an increase in cost arising from an increase in the size of an organization. Disinflation • noun Economics reduction in the rate of inflation. — DERIVATIVES

disinflationary adjective.

Disinformation • noun information which is intended to mislead. Dissemble • verb hide or disguise one’s true motives or feelings. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

dissembler noun.

Latin dissimulare ‘disguise, conceal’.

Dissolute • adjective overindulgent in sensual pleasures. — ORIGIN

Latin dissolutus ‘disconnected, loose’, from dissolvere ‘dissolve’.

Distemper • noun a kind of paint having a base of glue or size, used on walls. • verb paint with distemper. — ORIGIN

from Latin distemperare ‘soak’.

• noun a disease of some animals, especially dogs, spread by a virus and causing fever. originally in the sense upset, derange: from Latin distemperare ‘soak, mix in the wrong proportions’. — ORIGIN

Distend • verb swell because of internal pressure. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

distended adjective distensibility noun distensible adjective distension noun.

Latin distendere, from tendere ‘to stretch’.

Dither • verb be indecisive. • noun informal 1 indecisive behaviour. 2 a state of agitation. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

ditherer noun dithery adjective.

variant of dialect didder; related to DODDER.

Ditty • noun (pl. ditties) a short simple song. — ORIGIN

Old French dite ‘composition’, from Latin dictare ‘to dictate’.

Diurnal • adjective 1 of or during the daytime. 2 daily; of each day. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

diurnally adverb.

Latin diurnalis, from dies ‘day’.

Divan • noun 1 a bed consisting of a base and mattress but no footboard or headboard. 2 a long, low sofa without a back or arms. originally denoting a legislative body, council chamber, or court in the Middle East: from Persian, ‘bench, court’. — ORIGIN

Divining Rod • noun a stick or rod used for dowsing. Dodder • verb be slow and unsteady. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

dodderer noun doddering adjective doddery adjective.

variant of obsolete dialect dadder; related to DITHER.

• noun a parasitic climbing plant with leafless stems that are attached to the host plant by means of suckers. — ORIGIN

related to Low German doder, dodder, High German toter.

Doff • verb remove (an item of clothing, especially a hat). — ORIGIN

contraction of do off.

Doily • noun (pl. doilies) a small ornamental mat made of lace or paper. — ORIGIN

from Doiley or Doyley, a 17th-century London draper.

Dolorous • adjective literary feeling great sorrow or distress. — DERIVATIVES

dolorously adverb.

Dolt • noun a stupid person. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

doltish adjective.

perhaps a variant of dulled, from DULL.

Donkey Vote • noun refers to the practice of numbering the candidates' boxes sequentially from top to bottom of the ballot-paper. Dorsal • adjective Anatomy, Zoology, & Botany on or relating to the upper side or back. Compare with VENTRAL.

— DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

dorsally adverb.

Latin dorsalis, from dorsum ‘back’.

Doss Brit. informal • verb 1 sleep in rough or improvised conditions. 2 spend time idly. • noun 1 archaic a bed in a cheap lodging house. 2 an easy task giving time for idling. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

dosser noun.

perhaps related to Latin dorsum ‘back’.

Dotty • adjective (dottier, dottiest) informal, chiefly Brit. slightly mad or eccentric. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

dottily adverb dottiness noun.

perhaps from obsolete dote ‘simpleton, fool’.

Douche • noun 1 a shower of water. 2 a jet of liquid applied to part of the body for cleansing or medicinal purposes. 3 a device for washing out the vagina as a contraceptive measure. • verb 1 spray or shower with water. 2 use a contraceptive douche. — ORIGIN

French, from Italian doccia ‘conduit pipe’.

Doughty • adjective (doughtier, doughtiest) archaic or humorous brave and resolute. — ORIGIN

Old English.

Dour • adjective very severe, stern, or gloomy. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

dourly adverb dourness noun.

probably from Scottish Gaelic, ‘dull, obstinate, stupid’.

Dowel • noun a headless peg used for holding together components. • verb (dowelled, dowelling; US doweled, doweling) fasten with a dowel. — ORIGIN

perhaps Low German.

Down-market • adjective appealing or catering to lower-income consumers; widely affordable or accessible. — ORIGIN 1970–75 Downwind

• adverb & adjective in the direction in which the wind is blowing.

Draggle • verb 1 make dirty or wet by trailing on the ground. 2 hang untidily. 3 archaic trail behind others.

— ORIGIN

from DRAG.

Dragnet • noun 1 a net drawn through water or across ground to trap fish or game. 2 a systematic search for criminals. Drake • noun a male duck. — ORIGIN

Germanic.

Dram • noun 1 chiefly Scottish a small drink of spirits. 2 another term for DRACHM. — ORIGIN

Latin dragma, from Greek drakhme ‘drachma’.

• noun the basic monetary unit of Armenia, equal to 100 luma. Dray • noun a low truck or cart without sides, for delivering barrels or other heavy loads. — ORIGIN

perhaps from an Old English word meaning dragnet; related to DRAW.

Dredge • verb 1 clean out the bed of (a harbour, river, etc.) with a dredge. 2 bring up or remove with a dredge. 3 (dredge up) bring (something unwelcome and forgotten) to people’s attention. • noun an apparatus for bringing up objects or mud from a river or seabed by scooping or dragging. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

dredger noun.

perhaps related to Dutch dregghe ‘grappling hook’.

• verb sprinkle (food) with sugar or other powdered substance. — ORIGIN

from obsolete dredge sweet confection, mixture of spices, from Old French dragie.

Dreg • noun 1 dregs, the sediment of liquids; lees; grounds. 2 Usually, dregs. the least valuable part of anything: the dregs of society. 3 a small remnant; any small quantity. — ORIGIN 1250–1300; ME < ON dreg yeast (pl. dreggjar dregs); c. OSw dräg dregs Droit •

noun 1 a legal right or claim. 2 droits, Finance, Rare. customs duties.

— ORIGIN 1470–80; < F < LL dīrēctum legal right, law (n. use of neut. of L dīrēctus DIRECT )

Droll • adjective amusing in a strange or quaint way. — DERIVATIVES — ORIGIN

drollery noun drollness noun drolly /drol-li/ adverb.

French, perhaps from Dutch drolle ‘imp, goblin’.

Drop Shipment • noun a shipment of goods made directly from the manufacturer to the retailer or consumer but billed through the wholesaler or distributor.

Dry Measure • noun a measure of volume for dry goods.

Dudgeon • noun (often in phrase in high dudgeon) deep resentment. — ORIGIN

of unknown origin.

Duffer • noun informal an incompetent or stupid person. — ORIGIN

from Scots dowfart stupid person.

• noun Austral. informal a person who steals and alters the brands on cattle. — ORIGIN

of unknown origin.

Dulcet • adjective often ironic (of a sound) sweet and soothing. — ORIGIN

Old French doucet, from Latin dulcis ‘sweet’.

Dumpy • adjective (dumpier, dumpiest) short and stout. Dun • adjective of a dull greyish-brown colour. • noun 1 a dull greyish-brown colour. 2 a horse with a sandy coat and a dark side stripe. — ORIGIN

Old English, probably related to DUSK.

• verb (dunned, dunning) make persistent demands on (someone) for payment of a debt. perhaps from obsolete Dunkirk privateer (with connotations of piratical demands), or from the name of Joe Dun, a well-known bailiff. — ORIGIN

Dunnart • noun a mouse-like marsupial with a pointed snout and prominent eyes, found in Australia and New Guinea. — ORIGIN

from an Aboriginal language.

Duopsony • noun the market condition that exists when there are only two buyers. — ORIGIN du(o)- + -opsony < Gk opsōnía purchasing of food, equiv. to óps(on) viands + ōn(eîsthai) to buy Duple •

adjective Music (of rhythm) based on two main beats to the bar.

— ORIGIN

Latin duplus, from duo ‘two’.

Durst • verb past tense of dare. Duty Solicitor • noun a solicitor whose services are available to a person either suspected of, or charged with, a criminal offence free of charge (pro bono) if that person does not have access to a solicitor of their own. Dynamo • noun (pl. dynamos) chiefly Brit. a machine for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy by rotating conducting coils in a magnetic field. — ORIGIN

abbreviation of dynamo-electric machine.

Dyne • noun Physics a unit of force that, acting on a mass of one gram, increases its velocity by one centimetre per second every second along the direction in which it acts. — ORIGIN

from Greek dunamis ‘force, power’.