determine(di TOER min) vt.1. to set limits to; to bound; define; 2. to settle a
dispute, question, etc.; to decide; 3. to come to a conclusion; 4. to assign direction to
- A chain-link fence determinesthe boundaries of many city playgrounds.
- A meeting between the two contenders should determineonce and for all
the true heavyweight champion. - The jury has to determinewhether the defendant is innocent, or guilty as
charged. - The prevailing winds will determinewhere the balloon goes.
[-d, determining] [Syn. decide, learn]
detract(dee TRAKT) vt.1. to take or draw away (from); 2. to belittle; disparage
—vi. to remove something desirable (from) - We must not detractstrength from his argument.
- Do not detractthe importance of following one’s heart.
- Frowning detractsfrom her beauty.
[-ed, -ing, -or n.]
development(di VEL uhp mint) n.1. a growing or expanding (in size,
strength, etc.); 2. a step or stage in growth, advancement, etc.; 3. an event or an
occurence; 4. a number of buildings on a large tract of land - Ned’s developmentof his muscles is impressive.
- Developmentof the Polaroid picture is easy to see, as the image gains in def-
inition before your eyes. - What a revolting developmentthis is!
- The new housing developmentwill occupy 40 acres.
[-al adj., -ally adv.]
diagnosis(DY uhg NOH sis) n.1. the act of finding or classifying a condition
by means of medical examination, lab tests, etc.; 2. a careful studying and analyz-
ing of the facts to understand or explain something; 3. a decision or opinion based
on such an analysis - The diagnosisof strep infection came after the throat culture returned from
the lab. - Before we can diagnoseyour business’s problems, we must analyze your
clientele, your expenditures, and your suntan. - Steve’s diagnosisof the cause of the computer’s strange graphics was the
Rhino virus, which put a horn on every image’s nose.
digression*(dy GRESH in) n.1. an act of straying from the main theme or idea
when talking or writing; 2. a temporary straying from the main theme - During Bill’s discussion of bridge designing came a 10-minute-long digres-
sionabout his love of chocolate milk. - Laura’s digressionon her childhood was barely noticed by her art history
students, most of whom were already asleep.
[(to) digress vi., -al adj.]
D: SAT Words 81