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cur·so·ry
Pronunciation: \ˈkərs-rē, ˈkər-sə-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Late Latin cursorius of running, from Latin currere
Date: 1601
1: hasty and usually superficial; quick a cursory check : hasty
<a cursory glance> synonyms see superficial
cur·tail
Pronunciation: \(ˌ)kər-ˈtāl\
Function: verb
Etymology: by folk etymology from earlier curtal to dock an animal's tail, from curtal, noun, animal with a docked tail, from Middle French courtault — more at curtal
Date: 1580
1: to make less by or as if by cutting off or away some part
<curtail the power of the executive branch> <curtail inflation>
synonyms see shorten
dain·ty
Pronunciation: \ˈdān-tē\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English deinte high esteem, delight, from Anglo-French deinté, from Latin dignitat-, dignitas dignity, worth
Date: 14th century
1 a : something delicious to the taste b : something choice or pleasing
daunt
Pronunciation: \ˈdont, ˈdänt\
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French danter, daunter, from Latin domitare to tame, frequentative of domare — more at tame
Date: 14th century
1: to lessen the courage of : cow, subdue
synonyms see dismay
daw·dle Pronunciation: \ˈdo-dəl\Function: verb Etymology: origin unknownDate: circa 16561 : to spend time idly 2 : to move lackadaisically 3: to spend fruitlessly or lackadaisically <dawdled the day away> synonyms see delay
After informing the president that the country was under terrorist attach. The president did not act for 7 minutes while he listened to the reading of My Pet Goat.
de·ba·cle
Pronunciation: \dē-ˈbä-kəl, di-, -ˈba-; ÷ˈde-bə-kəl\
Function: noun
Etymology: French débâcle, from débâcler to clear, from Middle French desbacler, from des- de- + bacler to block, Date: 1802
1 : a great disaster b : a complete failure : fiasco
Hurricane Katrina: The Debacle
de·co·rum
Pronunciation: \di-ˈkor-əm\
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin, from neuter of decorus
Date: 1568
1 : propriety and good taste in conduct or appearance2 : orderliness
de·cree
Pronunciation: \di-ˈkrē\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French decré, from Latin decretum, from neuter of decretus, past participle of decernere to decide, from de- + cernere to sift, decide — more at certain
Date: 14th century
1. An authoritative order having the force of law. 2. Law The judgment of a court of equity, admiralty, probate, or divorce.
de·cry
Pronunciation: \di-ˈkrī, dē-\
Function: verb
Etymology: French décrier, from Old French decrier, from de- + crier to cry Date: 1614
1 : to depreciate (as a coin) officially or publicly2 : to express strong disapproval of <decry the emphasis on capital punishment>
defer
Pronunciation: \di-ˈfər\
Function:verb
Etymology: Middle English deferren, differren, from Middle French
differer, from Latin differre to postpone, be different — more at differ
Date: 14th century
1 : put off, delay
2 : to postpone induction of (a person) into military service