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