daft: Silly, foolish or stupid. Dialect England and Scotland. From Old English “gedaefte”=meek and innocent. “Innocent” can mean “foolish.”
dagged: Drunk; under the influence of alcohol. From “dagged”=covered in dew < Old Norse “dogg”=dew, moisture
dagger: Short knife with pointed and edged blade, used as a weapon. Uncertain origin, perhaps “dag”=to stab. Related to Old French “dague.”
dam: Barrier built to stop water from flowing. Old English “fordemmen”=to close up < Germanic “dam”=stop, close.
damage: Physical harm that results in something being broken. Old French “damage” < Latin “damnum”=loss or hurt. Same root as curse “damn!”
dance: Move your feet and body in a way to matche the style and speed of music. Old French “danser” < ?Old High German “damson”=to stretch.
dance: Move your feet and body in a way to matche the style and speed of music. Old French “danser” < ?Old High German “damson”=to stretch.
dappled: Mark with rounded spots or cloudy patches of different color or shade. Origin uncertain, possibly Old Norse “depill”=a spot.
dark: Absent of light, or of skin, opposite of fair. From Old English “deorc”=without light -as of the night. #words #esl
dataveillance: The collection of (usually) personal data to monitor activity. Latin “datum”=something given + “vigilare”=to watch.
daub: Put paint or a soft substance on something haphazardly. From Latin “dealbare”=to whitewash/plaster < “de”=down + “albare”=to whiten.
Davies: Common Welsh version of “David”=beloved or dear. Greek “Davith” < Hebrew “dwd”=beloved.
dawn: Period when the sun rises in the morning. From Old English “dagung”= becoming day (“dag”=day); back-formed from later “dawning.”
dead: No longer alive. Old English “dead” < Germanic “*daudoz”=not alive.
deal: To share out playing cards among players during a game. Old English “daelan”=to divide.
deck: A pile of cards, each covering the other. Middle Dutch “dec”=cloak, covering, roof < Old Germanic “dhakjen”=to cover.
decorate: To add ornaments or anything to improve appearance. From Latin “decorare”=to beautify, adorn < “decus”=honor, embellishment.
defalcate: Take property entrusted to one’s care fraudulently. From Latin “defalcare”=to lop off < “de”=off + “falx”=a sickle.
defeat: A loss; failure to achieve a goal. Old French “desfait”=undone < Latin “disfacere”=to undo < “dis-”=opposite of + “facere”=to make.
define: To frame of describe something precisely. Middle English “definer” < Latin “definire” < “de” = completely + “finire”=to end.
delineate: Represented accurately or precisely. Latin “delineare” < “de”= methodically + “lineare”=to draw lines.
delude: Mislead or make someone believe something untrue. From Latin “deludere”=to mock < “de-”=down/fully + “ludere”=to play.
delusion: A false belief that is contrary to proof or reality. Latin “deludere”=to delude < “de”=to put down + “ludere”=to play.
delusion: False belief about yourself or situation you are in. From Latin “deludere”=to deceive < “de”=down + “ludere”=to play.
demon: Evil supernatural being, a tormentor. From Greek “daimon”=spirit, guide, lesser god.
demur: Take exception to; to make an objection. Old French “demorer” < Latin “demorari”=to delay < “de”=completely + “mora”=pause.
demure: Affectedly modest or shy esp. in a playful or provocative way. Old French “demourer”=mature < Latin “maturus”=ripe.
dendrophilia: Sexual arousal from trees. Greek “dendron”=tree + “philos”=loving.
denial: Refusal to satisfy a request or desire. From Latin “denegare” < “de-”=away + “negare”=refuse or say no.
denigrate: Cause to seem less serious; play down. Latin “denigrare”=to darken < “de”=down + nigrare=to blacken < “niger”=black.
denounce: Publicly declare to be wrong or evil. Old French “denoncier” < Latin “denuntiare”=give information < “nuntius”=messenger.
deplore: Feel or express strong disapproval of something. Latin “deplorare”=to weep bitterly < “de-”thoroughly + “plorare”=bewail, moan.
deracinate: To tear up by the roots. French “déraciner” < Latin “dis-”=removal + “radix”=root.
deride: To laugh at in contempt or scorn. Old French “derire” < Latin “deridere”=to laugh, scorn, scoff < “de-”=put down + “ridere”=to laugh.
desarcinate: To unload or unburden. Latin “sarcina”=bundle, burden + “de-”=prefix to mark the undoing of what follows.
describe: Say what something is like by giving details about it. From Latin “describo”=I copy off < “de-”=off +”scribere”=to write
descry: To catch sight of. Origin unclear – ?Old French “descrier”=to cry out, or ?confusion with Latin “describer”=perceive
desiccate: (adj) Lacking vitality or spirit. Latin “desiccatus”=dried-up < “desiccare”=to dry < “de-”=completely + “siccus”=dry.
designy: Making use of over-elaborate or pretentious design characteristics. Middle English “desain” < Latin “designare”=to mark with a sign
desire: To long or hope for strongly. From Old French “desirer” < Latin “de-”=from/of + “sidus”=heavenly body.
despise: To view with contempt or look down on. From Old French “despire” < Latin “despicere”=to look down < “de-”=down + “specere”=to look
destruction: Act or process of destroying something or of being destroyed. From Latin “de-”=opposite + “struere”=to build + “-ion”=state of.
detract: To diminish the value or importance of something. From Latin “detrahere”=to pull down < “de-”=down + “trahere”=to draw.
deuce: Card representing the “two.” Old French “deus”=two < Latin “duos”=two.
dextrophobia: Fear of things on the right side of the body. From Latin “dextro”=right + Greek “phobia”=fear.
dialogue: Conversation between two or more people. Latin “dialogus” < Greek “dialogos” < “dia”=through + “logos”=word/speech.
diamond: Precious stone; shape of a “squashed square. Old French “diamant” < Latin “adamant”=hard, untameable < “a-”=not + “daman”=to tame.
diaspora: People settled far from their ancestral homelands, usually referring to Jews. Greek “dia”=across + “speirein”=to scatter.
dictionary: Collection of words with definitions, sometimes with etymologies. From Latin “dictionarius”=related to words < “dictio”=word.
digress: To turn aside from the main topic of discussion. From Latin “digredi” < “dis”=aside + “gradi”=to step or walk.
dilatory: Slow to do something, or causing delay. From Latin “dilatorius”=a delayer > “differre”=to defer or put off until later.
dilemma: Situation where a difficult choice has to be made between two things. Latin “dilemma” < Greek “di”=twice + “limma”=assumption.
diligence: Careful and persistent work or effort. Latin “dilligentia” < “diligentem”=attentive, assiduous < “diligere”=to value or esteem.
dinar: Currency of Iraq. Arabic/Persian “dinar” < Latin “denarius”=Roman coin worth 10 asses < “deni”=every ten.
dinghy: Small boat carried on or towed behind a larger boat as alifeboat, or a small sailboat. From Hindi “dingi”=small boat.
dipsomania: Morbid, insatiable desire for alcohol. Greek “dipsa+=thirst + “mania”=madness.
dirham: Currency of United Arab Emirates. Arabic “dirhim” < Greek “drachma”=as much as one can hold in the hand (“drassesthi”=to grasp).
dirty: (a) Foul, unclean or sullied. (b) Morally unclean or smutty. From Middle English “drit”=excrement.
disciple: Believer/follower of a great teacher/leader. From Old English “discipul” < Latin “discipulus”=pupil < “dis”=apart + “capere”=take
discord: Lack of agreement or harmony between things. Old French “descord” < Latin “discordare” < “dis”=negative + “cor”=heart.
disjune: The first meal of the day; breakfast. Old French “desjun” < “des”=undoing + “jeûn”=fast < Latin “jejunus”=fasting.
dismal: Causing gloom or dejection; dreary; depressing. Old French “dis mal” < Latin “dies mali”=evil or unlucky days.
disorder: State of disorganization, untidiness, or mess. From Latin “dis-”=not/take away + “ordinare”=to regulate.
disparate: Fundamentally different or distinct in quality. From Latin “disparare”=to separate < “dis”=apart + “parare”=to prepare.
dissonant: discordant in sound; harsh-sounding, unmelodious. Latin “disonnare” < “dis-”=different + “sonare”=to sound.
distend: Swell from or as if from internal pressure. Latin “distendere” < “dis-”=apart + “tendere”=to stretch.
diverse: Different in character or quality; varied. From Latin “diversus”=turned different ways < “dis-”=aside + “vertere”=to turn.
Doc: Short for “doctor,” a teacher. Old French “doctor” < Latin “doctorem”=teacher < “docere”=to teach.
docent: One employed to tell visitors about exhibits at museums, art galleries, etc. Latin “docere”=to teach.
doggerel: Comic verse of irregular measure. Uncertain origin ?c17th “dog-rime”=bad or spurious rhymes < Old English “docga”=dog.
dogmatic: Characterized by assertion of unproved or unprovable principle. Greek “dogma”=belief, doctrine < “dokein”=to think/seem
doldrums: Listless, depressed, stuck in a rut. Also area near the equator where sailing ships were becalmed. From Old English “dol”=dull. 10/21/09
dollar: Unit of currency used in the USA. From Low German “daler” < shortened “Joachimstaler”=gulden (coin) from Joachimsthal in Bohemia.
dominion: Power or right to rule over people. From Latin “dominionem”=ownership < “dominus”=lord, master + “ionem”=suffix for “condition of”
donation: Something you give to a person or an organization in order to help them. From Latin “donare”=to present < “donum”=gift.
dopey: Slow or sleepy as if drugged. From c19th “dope”=drug mixture < “Dutch “doop”=thick dipping sauce < “doopen”=to dip.
dork: Slang for person who is stupid, clumsy, or socially inept (1972). Alteration of “dick,” slang for “penis.”
dotage: The state of being mentally impaired due to old age. Middle English “doten”=act foolishly + “-age”=noun-creating suffix.
doting: Action characteristic of a weak or enfeebled intellect. Middle English “doten”=crazy/silly: c.f. Middle High German “totzen”=to nap.
dove: [dohv] Past tense of “dive” (e.g. ‘he dove into the water’). Old English “dufan”=to dive, sink, duck.
dove: [duhv] Bird of the Columbidæ, or pigeon family, with a cooing voice. Old Norse “dufa” ?<”dufan”=to dive.
dove: Bird of the Columbidæ, or pigeon family, with a cooing voice. Old Norse “dufa” <”dufan”=to dive.
doze: To fall into a light sleep, usually used with “off.” Thought to be from Old Norse “dusa”=rest.
dragon: Mythical fire-breathing winged reptile. From Latin “draconem”=serpent < Greek “drako”=serpent, seafish < “derkesthai”=to see clearly
dream: Thoughts and images in the mind during sleep. Middle English “drem” and same root as Old Norse “draum and Old High German “traum.”
dreck: Something worthless or useless. From Yiddish “drek”=rubbish < Old English “threak” < possibly Greek “scat”=dung.
dreidel: Four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side. Yiddish “dreydl” < Middle High German “draejen”=to turn.
dreper: Killer or murderer. Old English “drepan”=to strike or kill. Compare with Old Norse “drepa” and Old High German “trefan”=to kill.
drivel: Speech judged to me useless or meaningless. From Old English “dreflian”=to drool from the mouth or nose.
drollic: Pertaining to puppet shows. French “drole” or “drolle”=a witty, waggish fellow; a buffon or jester. C18th=puppet show.
dross: Something worthless or useless. Originally used for the scum thrown off by smelting metals. From Old English “dros”=dregs.
drum: Instrument of tight skins over a frame played by hitting it. Middle Dutch or Low German “tromme”=imitative of the sound.
drummer: One who beats a drum. Middle High German “trumbel” and/or Middle Dutch “tromme”=loud sound (c.f. “trump).
dryad: A nymph who inhabits trees. Latin “dryad” < Greek “dryas”=wood nymph < “druos”=tree.
ducenarious: Pertaining to two hundred. Latin “ducenarius” < “duceni”=two hundred
duenna: Governess or chaperon. Spanish “duenna”=married lady or mistess < Latin “domina”=mistress.
dulocracy: Government by slaves; the rule of slaves Greek “doulos”=slave + “kratia”=rule.
duologue: Conversation between two people. C19th word modeled after “monologue” from Greek “dyo”=two + “logos”=word/speech.
dupe: To deceive, cheat, delude or make a fool of someone. From Middle French “duppe”=someone who allows himself to be cheated.
dupe: To delude or trick someone. From Latin “upupa”=hoopoe – a crested bird with a curved beak and reputed to be very stupid.
dysphemism: Harsh word used instead of a one e.g. “kill” for “beat” in “Our team will kill yours.” From Greek “dys”=bad + “pheme”=speaking.
