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| DECLARE | | v. (-ring) 1 announce openly or formally (declare war).
- pronounce (declared it invalid).
- (usu. Foll. By that) assert emphatically.
- acknowledge possession of (dutiable goods, income, etc.).
- (as declared adj.) Admitting to be such (declared atheist).
- (also absol.) Cricket close (an innings) voluntarily before the team is out.
- (also absol.) Cards name (the trump suit). declare oneself reveal one's intentions or identity. declarative adj. Declaratory adj. Declarer n. [latin clarus clear] | |
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| DECLINE | | —v. (-ning) 1 deteriorate; lose strength or vigour; decrease.
- (also absol.) Politely refuse (an invitation, challenge, etc.).
- slope or bend downwards, droop.
- gram. State the forms of (a noun, pronoun, or adjective). —n. - gradual loss of vigour or excellence.
- deterioration. [latin clino bend] | |
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| DECORUM | | n. Polite dignified behaviour. [as *decorous] | |
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| DEEDBOX | | n. Strong box for deeds etc. | |
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| DEEPFRY | | v. Immerse in boiling fat to cook. | |
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| DEFAULT | | —n. - failure to appear, pay, or act as one should.
- preselected option adopted by a computer program when no alternative is specified. —v. Fail to fulfil (esp. A legal) obligation. by default because of lack of an alternative or opposition. In default of because of the absence of. defaulter n. [french: related to *fail] | |
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| DEFENCE | | mechanism n. - body's resistance to disease.
- usu. Unconscious mental process to avoid anxiety.
- n. (us defense) 1 defending, protection.
- means of this.
- (in pl.) Fortifications.
- justification, vindication.
- defendant's case or counsel in a lawsuit.
- defending play or players. defenceless adj. Defencelessly adv. Defencelessness n. [related to *defend] | |
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| DEFENSE | | n. (brit. Defence) 1 defending, protection.
- means of this.
- (in pl.) Fortifications.
- justification, vindication.
- defendant's case or counsel in a lawsuit.
- defending play or players. defenceless adj. Defencelessly adv. Defencelessness n. [related to *defend] | |
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| DEFIANT | | adj. Showing defiance; disobedient. defiantly adv. | |
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| DEFICIT | | n. - amount by which a thing (esp. Money) is too small.
- excess of liabilities over assets. [french from latin: related to *defect] | |
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