diatribe(DY i TRYB) n. an abusive, bitter, ranting criticism or denouncing- Fidel Castro is renowned for his long diatribesagainst the U.S. government.
- Diatribestend to cause the listener to close his or her ears and mind after a
short length of time.
[Syn. denunciation]
diffidence(DIF i dins) n. lack of self-confidence marked by hesitation in speech - Stuttering is often an expression of diffidence.
- Diffidencein speech can often be overcome by overpreparing.
[Syn. shyness]
digress(di GRESS) vi. to momentarily or temporarily stray from the main subject - Max Schulman’s Dobie Gillis is famous for straying from his subject and
then going back to it with the phrase “but I digress.” - While explaining to her class how to find the areas of different quadrilaterals,
Mrs. Green digressedand told how much she had enjoyed that day’s lunch.
[-ed, -ing] [Syn. deviate]
diminutive(di MIN yoo tiv) adj. small of stature; much smaller than average;
tiny —n. 1. a very small person; 2. a word formed from another by adding a suffix
indicating smallness - Gail was diminutive,with the top of her head barely reaching Michael’s
chest. - The diminutiveof kitchen is kitchenette.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. small]
dirge(DOERJ) n.a slow, sad, funereal hymn or poem expressing grief; a lament - Dirgesare customary as part of certain religions’ funeral ceremonies.
- An elegy is a type of dirgewithout music.
[Syn. lament]
disabuse(dis uh BYOOZ) vt. to get rid of false ideas; to set straight; to free from
misconception - Part of growing up is to disabuseourselves of the notion that whatever we
need will be given to us. - It is just as important to disabuseourselves of the idea that good deeds are
always rewarded.
[-d, disabusing] [Syn. correct]
disburse(dis BOERS) vt. to pay out; to expend (a sum of money) - Inez disbursed$23.47 at the grocery store.
- On payday, your employer disbursesyour salary in the form of a paycheck.
[-d, dispersing] [Syn. expend]
discontent(DIS cuhn TENT) n. a dissatisfaction with a person, thing, or state
of affairs; a desire for something more or different —vt.to make discontent - Now is the winter of our discontentafter having shoveled all that snow.
- After 10 days of eating steak and potatoes, one becomes discontentwith
that diet.
D: GRE Words 271