desecrate (děs'-ē-krāt), v. t. To violate the sanctity of; profane.

We felt that this sacred edifice had been desecrated. desiccate (děs'-i-kāt), v. t. also i. To dry up; dry thoroughly; often fig.

It was desiccated by heat and age.
He led a barren and desiccated life.

desideratum (dē-sid-er-a'-tum), n.

Latin.

desired; anything needed or desired. (dē-sid-er-ā'-tå).

A want felt and

Plural, desiderata

Comfort is a great desideratum among us.

Religious education is the great desideratum for our times.
The great desiderata are common sense and tact.

This great desideratum can never be attained.

designate (děs'-ig-nāt; děz'-ig-nāt), v. t. also adj. To make known; to mark out; specify; indicate; show; appointed or chosen.

A person whom I shall designate as the Senator from California.

The last Thursday of November was designated as a day to return thanks.

The designated size was sent.

despicable (děs’-pĭ-kȧ-b'l), adj. Deserving to be despised; contemptible.

It was a despicable thing to do.

The criticism made her seem utterly despicable.

despotism (děs'-pot-iz'm), n. The principles, power, spirit or government of a despot; tyranny; tyrannical control. The period was marked by bloody despotism. Under the despotism of the rulers, this ended.

destitute (děs'-ti-tūt), adj. Having no resources; not having necessities of life; lacking; poor.

We were by no means destitute of literary talents.
The old proverb is not destitute of truth.
They were kind to a destitute family.

LESSON THIRTY-ONE.

Memory, the daughter of Attention, is the teeming mother of Wisdom.-Tupper.

desuetude (děs'-we-tud), n. Disuse; discontinuance; inactivity; cessation of use.

Since then, however, she has been in a state of "innocuous desuetude."

In every age, customs fall into entire desuetude.

On account of age, able-bodied men are sometimes unable to obtain employment and sink into pathetic desuetude.

desultory (děs'-ŭl-tō-ri), adj. Passing from one thing to another; disconnected; not methodical; changeable.

The place echoed with desultory chatter.
She read the book in a desultory way.
She formed the habit of desultory reading.

Only a few desultory remarks broke the silence of the warm afternoon.

She carried on the desultory conversation.

deteriorate (dē-tē'-ri-ō-rāt), v. t. also i. To grow worse; degenerate.

It is thought that the brain deteriorates under the strain of continuous fatiguing exertion.

These flowers deteriorate if not cared for.

deterrent (dē-těr'-ěnt; dē-tûr'-ěnt), n. also adj.

That which prevents or deters; having the tendency to deter; hindering through fear.

This would be the best deterrent and only cure.

It has lost much of its deterrent influence.

détour (dē-tōōr'), French, da-tōōr'. Deviation from the most direct route; a roundabout way.

The bad roads made a detour of several miles necessary. We were often forced to make a detour to avoid obstacles.

detraction (dē-trăk'-shŭn), n. The act of disparaging or taking away from the reputation of another; slandering a person; to lower him in the estimation of others.

Many are guilty of detraction at one time or another.
This detraction had no effect on his reputation.

detrimental (dět-ri-měn'-tăl), adj. Harmful; hurtful.

The defect is not conspicuous enough to be detrimental to her looks.

de trop (de trō'), French. Too many; not wanted; too much; hence, in the way.

It is not pleasant to feel de trop in any gathering.

I saw that I was de trop, so I departed.

The attitude of the other guests made her feel de trop.

devastate (děv'-ȧs-tāt), v. t. Desolate; to lay waste.

Such a conflict will devastate the earth.
Many places were devastated by the war.

deviate (dē ́-vi-āt), v. i. To turn aside; stray; digress.
He unconsciously deviated from the truth.

These peculiarities of speech deviate from the correct form.

They would not deviate from the social conventionalities. deviation (dē-vi-ā'-shŭn), n. Turning aside.

It was accomplished without the slightest deviation.
It was a slight deviation from truth.

devious (de'-vi-us), adj. Winding; out of the right or common

course.

They had taken devious ways to the same end.

His devious methods accomplish nothing but delay.

devolve (dē-võlv'), v. t. also i. Pass or hand down from one to another; hand down.

These duties will devolve upon a few.

devotee (děv-ō-tē′), n. One especially devoted to religious ceremonies and duties; a religious fanatic; also used figuratively. Word of similar import, "votary."

The chant of the assembled devotees became more emotional.

This study has not many devotees.

He is a devotee of the card table.

dexterity (děks-těr'-i-ti), n. Adroitness; skill, readiness in mental or physical activity.

It was an exhibition of skill and dexterity.

She did it with incredible dexterity.

The unusual dexterity with which he performed the difficult operation was commented upon.

diadem (di'-à-dēm), n. Crown; regal dignity or power. We wear no diadem.

dialectical (di-à-lěk'-ti-kǎl), adj. Of or belonging to logical argument; phraseology; language; form of speech marked by peculiarities); provincial as to language.

His dialectical skill was remarkable.

It is dialectical cleverness.

dialectician (di-a-lěk-tish’-ăn), n. One versed in dialectics (that part of logic which teaches the rules of reasoning). skilled in disputation.

He is a distinguished dialectician.

diapason (di-à-pā'-zŏn),

One

n. The entire compass of an instrument or a voice; harmony; concord; complete range of tones. The full diapson of the orchestra brought great applause.

diaphanous (di-ăf'-à-nus), adj. Transparent; filmy.

We watched the dragonfly's diaphanous wings.

Her diaphanous draperies floated around her like a cloud.

LESSON THIRTY-TWO.

Such as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of thy mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts. -Marcus Aurelius (121-180 A. D.).

diatribe (di'-à-trib), n. A violent criticism; a discourse full of abuse or invective; a prolonged discussion.

We did not wish to listen to such a violent diatribe.

This would often elicit from his father an angry diatribe against officious women.

These venomous diatribes do great harm.

didactic (di-dǎk'-tik; di-dăk'-tik), adj. Fitted for instruction; intended to teach; instructive; edifying; expository.

The greater part of her work is didactic.

The essay was not intended to be didactic.

Didactic poetry we find to a wonderful degree in the Bible.

This is considered the most didactic method.

didymous (did'-i-mus), adj. Growing in pairs; twofold; growing double.

Thomas was called Didymus because he was a twin.
They called our attention to the didymous plants.

differentiate (dif-er-en'-shi-āt), v. t. also i. To mark by a difference; to distinguish by a difference; establish a difference between.

This might differentiate her a little from other people. How would you differentiate between natural sleep and induced sleep?

They do not differentiate between harmless jesting and ridicule.

In the course of time the species became markedly differentiated.

diffuse (di-fuz'), v. t. and i. To disseminate; spread; extend in all directions; widespread; scattered.

My mind clings to the sublime sentiment diffused through his plays.

Our language is rapidly being diffused over the entire world.

digress (di-grěs'; di-grěs'), v. i. To turn aside; to deviate from the subject of discourse; wandering from the subject.

The lecturer frequently digressed to express his own sentiment.

I will digress to elucidate another point.

digression (di-grěsh'-un; di-grěsh'-un), n. Act of digressing, as a part of a discourse deviating from its subject. Kindly pardon this digression.

His rambling digressions annoyed his hearers.

dilatory (dil'-à-tō-ri), adj. Slow; tardy; given to procrastination.

His dilatory conduct was scathingly condemned.

She is much too dilatory in her correspondence for me to waste time writing her.

dilemma (dĭ-lěm ́-à; dī-lěm’-à), n. A difficult predicament; trying position or choice.

She did it to escape an inevitable dilemma.
The dilemma was both amusing and pathetic.
They tried to avoid a political dilemma.

He was impaled on the horns of a dilemma.

dilettante (dil-ě-tăn’-tê; Italian, dê-lét-täntā), n. A lover of the fine arts; one who delights in promoting them; one who follows an art desultorily and for amusement. Word of similar import, "amateur."

A characteristic of the dilettante is that he pursues an art intermittently.

They encourage the amateur and the dilettante.

diminuendo (di-min-ū-ĕn'-dō; Italian, de-mē-nwěn'-dō), adj. Music. Gradually diminishing or lessening in volume. Then came a diminuendo passage.

As the song died away in the distance, the diminuendo effect was very sweet.

diplomacy (di-plō'-mȧ-si), n. Tact; dexterity in securing advantages; art or skill of conducting negotiations between nations.

This is modern diplomacy.

It was considered a clever act of diplomacy.

He has a talent for diplomacy.

disbursement (dis-bûrs'-měnt), n. Act of disbursing, or that which is disbursed; (money paid out; expended).

The treasurer gave an account of the disbursement of the funds.

discernible (di-zûr'-ni-b'l), adj. Capable of being discerned; perceivable.

The writing was scarcely discernible.

Capacity for greater achievement was discernible.

discernment (di-zûrn'-měnt), n.

cerning.

Perception; faculty of dis

He is a person of great discernment.

She had quick discernment and a good knowledge of literature.