Hot Words #8Hot Words #8

1. Cryptic (adj.)1. Cryptic (adj.)

Secret; having a hidden meaning.Secret; having a hidden meaning.

The conspicuous, The conspicuous, cryptic cryptic scribbling at the scribbling at the tomb’s entrance puzzled the tomb’s entrance puzzled the archeologists.archeologists.

2. Cursory (adj.)2. Cursory (adj.)

Without attention to details.Without attention to details.

A A cursory cursory glance at the difficult glance at the difficult homework assignment was enough to homework assignment was enough to destroy Marco’s composure.destroy Marco’s composure.

3. Dearth (n.)3. Dearth (n.)

Shortage.Shortage.

The The dearth dearth of citrus fruits led to a host of of citrus fruits led to a host of illnesses.illnesses.

4. Debilitate (v.)4. Debilitate (v.)

To weaken.To weaken.

Some doctors will not condone sauna Some doctors will not condone sauna baths because they can baths because they can debilitate debilitate a a person.person.

5. Decadence (n.)5. Decadence (n.)

Decay; decline.Decay; decline.

Many sermons tend to focus on moral Many sermons tend to focus on moral decadence decadence in our time.in our time.

6. Deference (n.)6. Deference (n.)

Great respect.Great respect.

Out of Out of deference deference to my father, we never to my father, we never smoked in the house.smoked in the house.

7. Deflate (v.)7. Deflate (v.)

To let the air out of; to reduce in size or To let the air out of; to reduce in size or importance.importance.

Whenever my aunt feels important, my Whenever my aunt feels important, my uncle steps in to uncle steps in to deflate deflate her lofty her lofty impression of herself.impression of herself.

8. Delineate (v.)8. Delineate (v.)

To describe in words; to sketch.To describe in words; to sketch.

When challenged to When challenged to delineate delineate Sam’s Sam’s crass behavior, we were speechless.crass behavior, we were speechless.

9. Demeanor (n.)9. Demeanor (n.)

Behavior.Behavior.

When the twins adopted a conciliatory When the twins adopted a conciliatory tone, Sal’s tone, Sal’s demeanor demeanor changed abruptly.changed abruptly.

10. Denunciation (n.)10. Denunciation (n.)

Expression of strong disapproval made Expression of strong disapproval made openly or publicly.openly or publicly.

When her theory couldn’t be When her theory couldn’t be corroborated, Professor Ludwig was corroborated, Professor Ludwig was open to open to denunciation denunciation from her peers.from her peers.