We observed the deferential respect which they paid to mothers.

They are deferential to women.

deficit (děf'-i-sit), n. A shortage, as of accounts or payments. They must make up the deficit.

She raised enough money to meet the deficit incurred by them.

We have ended the year with a deficit of ten thousand dollars.

What is the amount of the present deficit?

deflation (de-flā'-shun), n. The act of deflating; (removing the
air from); emptying of value.

There was a sudden deflation in those stocks and bonds.
Deflation is in direct opposition to inflation.

deflection (dē-filěk'-shŭn), n. Turning aside; turning from the
proper or usual course.

We had to bear with their deflections.

There was a deflection of the rays of light.

dégagé (dā-gå-zhā′), adj. French. Disengaged; unconven-
tional; unembarrassed; easy; unrestrained; free from con-
straint.

At the moment I am dégagé; what would you like to do?
His dégagé air was noticed by one of the members.

LESSON TWENTY-NINE.

Ignorance of words is often embarrassing, and creates amusement for others. A young girl at a social function was suffering from a severe headache, which nothing seemed to relieve. When asked if she had tried certain efficacious remedies, she replied in the affirmative. Finally a facetious young man asked if she had tried decapitation. "Yes," she replied, "I tried that, too." Poor girl, she did not know the meaning of the word. Her embarrassment and chagrin at the resulting burst of laughter must have made her wish to sink through the floor. The study of words will obviate such incidents.

degenerate (dē-jĕn'-ēr-āt), adj. Having become worse than one's former state; low; degraded or deteriorated.

Their degenerate appetites are satisfied with decayed flesh.

They have a degenerate son.

I cannot understand why we tolerate these degenerate times.

delectable (dē-lěk'-tȧ-b'l), adj. Delightful; pleasing, esp., as to the taste; charming.

In this delectable garden we might pass our lives.
We planned a delectable breakfast.

A delectable odor insinuated itself into his conscious

delectation (dē-lěk-tā'-shun), n. Great delight, pleasure or enjoyment.

I did it for my own delectation.

She posed for the delectation of her admirers.

They had little to offer for our delectation.

Here it was before me, as if written for my special delectation.

delegate (děl'-ē-gāt), n. also v. t. Representative; one sent to act for another; to entrust to another's care; to send as one's representative.

He was sent as a delegate.

Do not delegate this important duty to another.

delete (dē-lēt'), v. t. To dele (de'-lē); destroy; remove; omit; erase; expunge.

I have deleted many verses.

They decided to delete the articles.

When writing, it is always necessary to alter, add and delete.

deleterious (děl-ē-tē'-ri-ŭs), adj. Hurtful; having a tendency to destroy; pernicious; injurious; poisonous.

It is noxious and deleterious.

This influence is as deleterious as it is powerful.

These concoctions, though widely sold, are deleterious.
Its effect on morality is deleterious.

delineate (dē-lin'-e-at), v. t. To represent by a sketch or picture; trace out; describe; to set forth accuracy in words; depict; give a mental picture of.

This book delineates social customs.

These characters are most perfectly delineated.

delinquency (dē-lin'-kwěn-si), n. Failure of duty; offense.
For once she atoned for her delinquency by kindness.
I trust you will pardon my seeming delinquency.
They would waive every delinquency.

There was a delinquency in his tax payments.

de luxe (de-lüks'), French. (Lit., luxury.) Sumptuous; luxurious; (often used in semi-English phrases; as, train de luxe, theatre de luxe.)

An edition de luxe was immediately ordered.

The room was furnished in the most de luxe style.

demagogue (děm'-à-gŏg), n. A popular orator or leader; an artful orator or leader who stirs up popular prejudice; an unprincipled politician.

The demagogue refused to admit the rights of the upper classes.

The remarks of the man were not well received; he was known to be a demagogue.

demarcation (dē-mär-kā'-shun), n. Marking limits or boundaries, as between countries; settling and ascertaining of a limit; separation; discrimination; limitation.

The line of demarcation between our attitude and that of our adversaries is perfectly plain.

The point separating Canada from Alaska is called "Demarcation Point."

demi monde (děm'-i-mond; de-me-mônd'), n. Women of equivocal reputation. Alexandre Dumas, the younger, introduced the term demi monde (demi, half; monde, world) to apply to a class of women who comprise the half world.

She was a notorious type of the demi monde.

He turned from the demi monde to purer associations. demi tasse (de-mē-täs'); Eng., dĕm'-i-tas), French. (demi, half; tasse, cup.) A small cup of black coffee (small cup in which coffee is served).

The last course included a demi tasse.

demoralize (dē-mor'-ǎl-iz), v. t. To corrupt in morals; dishearten; deprave; to make untrustworthy in principle, spirit, efficiency, etc.; to deprive of morale.

Such a procedure would demoralize an army.

Their morals were demoralized by this experience.

de mortuis nil nisi bonum (de mor'-tu-is nil ni'-si bo'-num), Latin; Of the dead (say) nothing but good.

We all feel bound by the principle, de mortuis nil nisi bonum.

dénouement (dā-nōō'-män; dā-nōō-män′), n. French.

Outcome;

unraveling or solving of a plot; catastrophe, as, of a play. This dénouement was not unexpected.

The dénouement of this little drama has been determined in advance.

She was instrumental in the dénouement.

denudation (děn-u-dā'-shun; dē-nu-dā'-shun), n. State of being denuded; act of denuding.

The denudation of the forests has been greatly lamented. denude (dē-nūd'), v. t. To divest of covering; to make bare; strip; also fig.

This part of the country was denuded of its forests.
It was denuded of its falseness.

denunciation (dē-nun-shi-a'-shun; dē-nun-si-a'-shun), n. An act of denouncing; accusation; a threat of evil.

The denunciation was fully justified.

It was a denunciation of crime.

Deo volente (dē'-ō vō-lěn'-tē), Latin. God willing; with God's permission. (abbr., D. V.)

I shall, Deo volente, accomplish great things.

Deo volente, we shall enter the city tomorrow.

D. V., he will return from this perilous mission in a month.

LESSON THIRTY.

The acquisition of knowledge depends on the memory. Instruction is in vain if we forget what we read or hear. -Quintilian. depilation (děp-i-la'-shun), n. The process or act of removing hair from the skin.

Depilation is often followed by distressing results.

The practice of depilation, while extensive, is to be condemned when the wrong methods are used.

deplete (dē-plēt'), v. t. To unload or empty; to reduce or exhaust, as strength or resources; to lessen.

Tell him that your funds are depleted, and ask for more. On account of the drought, our water supply is greatly depleted.

The school attendance was further depleted by an epidemic.

deprecate (děp'-rē-kāt), v. t. To express disapproval of; to pray for the removal of; to plead earnestly against.

Both nations deprecated war.

I deprecate the ascription of any credit to me in the matter.

One may deprecate his own histrionic ability and yet be an actor.

We cannot deprecate too greatly this unnatural attitude.
Act of expressing disappro-

deprecation (děp-rē-kā ́-shun), n.

bation; an expression of disapprobation.

He waved his hand in deprecation of their enthusiastic praise.

deprecatory (děp’-rē-kā-tō-ri), adj. Serving to deprecate.
We saw the deprecatory glance.

I heard deprecatory utterances.
She made a deprecatory gesture.

depreciate (dē-prē'-shi-āt), v. t. also i. To lessen in estimation; to disparage; to lower in value.

Never depreciate yourself.

This tendency to depreciate others arises from jealousy.
The value of Italian money has depreciated.

depreciation (dē-prē-shĭ-ā'-shŭn), n. State of being depreciated; to lessen in price or value.

The word connotes contempt or depreciation.

There is a depreciation of value.

This causes a depreciation of character.

de profundis (dē prō-fun'-dis), Latin. Out of the depths; a phrase used in Latin prayers.

"Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord."Psalm CXXX (a special service for the dying).

The rich tones of the de profundis vibrated within the walls.

dereliction (dĕr-e-lik'-shun), n. Failure of duty; omission of an obligation or duty.

There is hardly a more definite dereliction than this.
Another was punished for his dereliction.

We sought the cause of this dereliction.

The dereliction was but slight, and it will not occur again.

derision (dē-rizh'-un), n. Mockery; ridicule.

His statements were received with derision.
She smiled in derision at their clumsiness.
His faults were made an object of derision.

Often derision stings one into action where nothing else will.

dernier (dûr'-ni-er; French, dĕr-nyā'), adj. (backward). Final; last; farthest; ultimate.

It proved to be the dernier resort.

Dernier ressort (dĕr-nyā' rẽ-sōr'), a French phrase, final resort.

dernier cri (dĕr-nyā' crē), French. Last or final cry or scream; the utmost extreme of a fashion.

derogate (dĕr'-ō-gāt), v. i. To lessen in value or influence; to detract from.

Such actions derogate from the dignity of womanhood. derogatory (dē-rog'-à-tō-ri) adj. Detracting from the dignity of a person or action; tending to derogate; (often used of unfitting conduct).

They regard as derogatory to the club any action of this

nature.

We find that it carries a derogatory implication.

We did not appreciate such derogatory remarks.