cursory Pronunciation krsr krs Function adjective Etymology Late

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: 14 th century 1 a : something delicious to the taste b : something choice or pleasing

daunt Pronunciation: ˈdo nt, ˈdänt Function: transitive verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French danter, daunter, from Latin domitare to tame, frequentative of domare — more at tame Date: 14 th century 1: to lessen the courage of : cow, subdue synonyms see dismay

daw·dle Pronunciation: ˈdo -dəl Function: verb Etymology: origin unknown Date: circa 1656 1 : 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-ˈko r-əm Function: noun Etymology: Latin, from neuter of decorus Date: 1568 1 : propriety and good taste in conduct or appearance 2 : 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: 14 th 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 publicly 2 : 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: 14 th century 1 : put off, delay 2 : to postpone induction of (a person) into military service