📖 D — The English dictionary · page 22

desperately — Everyday, meaning 1: Very much, so much it hurts: she desperately wanted a puppy.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: In a wild way, because things are bad and there is little hope: he swam desperately for the shore.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Extremely, very badly: they were desperately poor; it was desperately cold.↗ Example: I desperately need a drink of water.↗ · The kitten clung desperately to the branch.↗ · Mole ran desperately through the Wild Wood.↗ · She desperately wanted to win.↗ · The family were desperately poor.↗ · He looked around desperately for his mum.↗ · Toad desperately wanted a motor car.↗ · We were desperately tired after the hike.↗ · And Pinocchio swam desperately with his arms, his body, his legs, his feet.↗

desperation — Everyday, meaning 1: Desperation is the feeling of having almost no hope, which makes you willing to try anything, even something risky.↗ Example: In desperation, the lost boy shouted for help.↗ · Out of desperation, Toad dressed up as a washerwoman.↗ · There was desperation in her voice.↗ · The hungry fox raided the bins in desperation.↗ · In desperation, he tried the last key.↗ · The team played with desperation in the final minutes.↗ · In desperation, he returned home and knocked at the door.↗

despise — Everyday, meaning 1: To despise someone or something is to hate it or look down on it as worthless or wrong.↗ Example: I despise cheating.↗ · The proud queen despised the poor farmer.↗ · "I despise you," the giant roared.↗ · And the LORD said unto Moses: 'How long will this people despise Me? and how long will they not believe in Me, for all the signs which I have wrought among them?↗ (Torah NUM.14.11, JPS 1917)↗ · I am innocent — I regard not myself, I despise my life.↗ (Writings JOB.9.21, JPS 1917)↗ · My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD, neither spurn thou His correction; (Writings PRO.3.11, JPS 1917)↗ · In vain dost thou make thyself fair; thy lovers despise thee, they seek thy life.↗ (Prophets JER.4.30, JPS 1917)↗

despised — Everyday, meaning 1: To despise someone or something is to dislike them very strongly and think they are worthless.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (adjective) Despised means hated and looked down on by others.↗ Example: The cruel king was despised by his people.↗ · She despised cheating of every kind.↗ · «He is despised and rejected of men.»↗ · The despised weasels took over Toad Hall.↗ · Toad felt despised by the whole world.↗ · Don't let anyone be despised for being different.↗ · "Which is the despised plant you so specially pity?"↗ · surely they shall not see the land which I swore unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that despised Me see it.↗ (Torah NUM.14.23, JPS 1917)↗ · And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.↗ (Torah GEN.16.4, JPS 1917)↗ · Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken His commandment; that soul shall utterly be cut off, his iniquity shall be upon him.↗ (Torah NUM.15.31, JPS 1917)↗ · Is this man Coniah a despised, broken image?↗ (Prophets JER.22.28, JPS 1917)↗ · And ye say: 'Wherein have we despised Thy name?'↗ (Prophets MAL.1.6, JPS 1917)↗ · Even urchins despised me; if I arise, they speak against me.↗ (Writings JOB.19.18, JPS 1917)↗

despising — Everyday, meaning 1: Hating or looking down on someone or something; the same sense as despise.↗ Example: He went on despising the new boy for no reason.↗ · Despising others will not make you happy.↗ · She kept despising the rules of the game.↗

despite — Everyday, meaning 1: Despite means without being stopped by something; even though something else is true.↗ Example: We played outside despite the rain.↗ · Despite being tired, she finished her homework.↗ · Despite the cold, the children swam in the sea.↗ · He was happy despite losing the match.↗ · Despite all our practice, we forgot the words.↗ · The bus came on time despite the snow.↗ · Despite the fact that it was late, Dad read us a story.↗ · Ferchar Mac Ro did not stop till he got the sons of Uisnech away with him, despite the suspicion of Deirdre.↗ · But the time of its composition and the name of its author have not yet been ascertained, despite of the most elaborate researches of renowned archaeologists.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)↗ · And yet, despite all the efforts of a large number of scholars of repute for more than a thousand years, the Sefer Yetzirah remains a sealed book.↗ (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914))↗ · I said: 'Surely thou wilt fear Me, thou wilt receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, despite all that I have visited upon her'; but they betimes corrupted all their doings.↗ (Prophets ZEP.3.7, JPS 1917)↗

despoil — Everyday, meaning 1: Old use: to rob a place or person of goods or treasure, often by force, and leave it damaged.↗ Example: The raiders despoiled the village.↗ · The dragon despoiled the castle of its treasure.↗ · Do not despoil the forest.↗ · They cut his provender in the field; and they despoil the vineyard of the wicked.↗ (Writings JOB.24.6, JPS 1917)↗ · For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.↗ (Writings PRO.22.23, JPS 1917)↗ · A son that dealeth shamefully and reproachfully will despoil his father, and chase away his mother.↗ (Writings PRO.19.26, JPS 1917)↗

despoiled — Everyday, meaning 1: To despoil is to rob a place or person of its valuable things, often by force, leaving them with nothing.↗ Example: The raiders despoiled the village of its food and gold.↗ · The giant's castle was despoiled by the brave knight.↗ · They despoiled the ship and left the sailors with nothing.↗ · The earth shall be utterly emptied, and clean despoiled; for the LORD hath spoken this word.↗ (Prophets ISA.24.3, JPS 1917)↗

despond — Everyday, meaning 1: To despond is to lose hope and feel very low, as if nothing will ever go right.↗ Example: Do not despond; we will find the lost key.↗ · He sat by the window, desponding over his lost ship.↗ · Even the bravest knight can despond after many defeats.↗

despondency — Everyday, meaning 1: Despondency is a feeling of low spirits and lost hope, being very sad and unwilling to try.↗ Example: Toad sank into despondency in his dark cell.↗ · After losing the final, the team was full of despondency.↗ · A kind word lifted her despondency.↗ · The rain added to our despondency.↗ · In his despondency he refused to eat.↗ · Christian fell into the Slough of Despond.↗

despondent — Everyday, meaning 1: Very sad and without hope, feeling that things will not get better.↗ Example: Mole grew despondent as the snow fell in the Wild Wood.↗ · The despondent farmer looked at his flooded field.↗ · She was despondent after failing the test.↗ · Toad became despondent in the dark prison.↗ · Don't be despondent — we can fix it.↗ · The team was despondent after the fifth defeat.↗ · He gave a despondent sigh.↗

despotic — Everyday, meaning 1: Despotic describes a ruler who has total power and uses it cruelly, without asking anyone else.↗ Example: The despotic king taxed everyone and punished anyone who complained.↗ · A despotic ruler does not listen to his people.↗ · The villagers hated their despotic lord.↗

dessert — Everyday, meaning 1: Dessert is the sweet food eaten at the end of a meal, like ice cream, pudding, fruit or cake.↗ Example: What's for dessert tonight?↗ · We had apple crumble for dessert.↗ · You can have dessert after you finish your vegetables.↗ · The dessert menu had five kinds of ice cream.↗ · She made a fruit salad for dessert.↗ · Grandma's chocolate pudding is my favourite dessert.↗ · A dessert spoon is bigger than a teaspoon.↗

destination — Everyday, meaning 1: A destination is the place someone or something is going to or being sent to.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A destination is a place that many people like to visit, such as a holiday town.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A destination can be the end or aim of something, like the goal you want to reach.↗ Example: The sign on the front of the bus shows its destination.↗ · We reached our destination after six hours in the car.↗ · Cornwall is a popular holiday destination.↗ · The parcel's destination is written on the label.↗ · The train is 40 km from its destination, travelling at 80 km an hour.↗ · Our final destination was Grandma's farm.↗ · The sat nav says we will arrive at our destination in ten minutes.↗ · For the explorers, the South Pole was the destination of a long and dangerous trip.↗ · Favoured by gentle breezes they soon reached their destination in the far west.↗

destine — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: To set aside something for a certain purpose or fate.↗

destined — Everyday, meaning 1: Destined means meant or fated to be something or to go somewhere, as if decided in advance.↗ Example: She was destined to become queen one day.↗ · "You are destined for great deeds," said the old wizard.↗ · The lost boy felt he was destined to find the magic sword.↗

destiny — Everyday, meaning 1: Destiny is what will happen to someone in the future, especially when it seems already decided by fate or a higher power.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Someone's destiny can be the important job or role they seem meant to have: «It was her destiny to be a doctor».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Destiny is also a power that some people believe controls the future (fate).↗ Example: The prophecy said it was his destiny to become king.↗ · You can shape your own destiny by working hard.↗ · She felt it was her destiny to help animals.↗ · In the film, the hero fought against his destiny.↗ · Some people believe destiny brings friends together.↗ · The two countries share a common destiny.↗ · This was my destiny; it is quite a blessing.↗ · But ye that forsake the LORD, that forget My holy mountain, that prepare a table for Fortune, and that offer mingled wine in full measure unto Destiny, (Prophets ISA.65.11, JPS 1917)↗

destitute — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: Having nothing; extremely poor, without food, money or help.↗ Example: Judge the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute.↗ (Writings PSA.82.3, JPS 1917)↗ · When He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute, and hath not despised their prayer.↗ (Writings PSA.102.18, JPS 1917)↗ · When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate and waste, a land destitute of that whereof it was full, when I shall smite all them that dwell therein, then shall they know that I am the LORD.↗ (Prophets EZK.32.15, JPS 1917)↗

destroy — Everyday, meaning 1: To destroy something means to damage it so badly that it is ruined or no longer exists.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To destroy can mean to completely beat someone in a game (informal).↗ Everyday, meaning 3: To destroy someone's hopes or plans means to end them.↗ Example: The fire destroyed the old barn.↗ · The storm destroyed many homes.↗ · Cutting down rainforests destroys animals' habitats.↗ · The dog destroyed my slippers.↗ · Bacteria are destroyed by boiling water.↗ · Our team destroyed them 10–0!↗ · The news destroyed his hopes of winning.↗ · Shred old letters to destroy your details.↗ · Shall we never be able to destroy him?↗ · And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.↗ (Torah NUM.24.19, JPS 1917)↗ · Peradventure ten shall be found there.'↗ And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.'↗ (Torah GEN.18.32, JPS 1917)↗ · Peradventure there shall be twenty found there.'↗ And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake.'↗ (Torah GEN.18.31, JPS 1917)↗ · They did not destroy the peoples, as the LORD commanded them; (Writings PSA.106.34, JPS 1917)↗ · The LORD said unto me: Go up against this land, destroy it.'↗ (Prophets 2KI.18.25, JPS 1917)↗ · Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise; why shouldest thou destroy thyself?↗ (Writings ECC.7.16, JPS 1917)↗

destroyed — Everyday, meaning 1: Destroyed is the past form of destroy, which means to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be used.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: As an adjective, destroyed means completely ruined.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Informally, destroyed means very upset or very tired, or beaten very badly in a game.↗ Example: The storm destroyed many houses.↗ · The forest was destroyed by fire.↗ · The castle was destroyed long ago.↗ · My sandcastle was destroyed by a wave.↗ · Many habitats are destroyed when forests are cut down.↗ · The earthquake destroyed the bridge.↗ · Our team got destroyed 10–0.↗ · Somebody ought to do something, or we shall all be destroyed."↗ · He that sacrificeth unto the gods, save unto the LORD only, shall be utterly destroyed.↗ (Torah EXO.22.20, JPS 1917)↗ · Also in Horeb ye made the LORD wroth, and the LORD was angered with you to have destroyed you.↗ (Torah DEU.9.8, JPS 1917)↗ · Moreover the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him; and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.↗ (Torah DEU.9.20, JPS 1917)↗ · Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.↗ (Prophets 2KI.10.28, JPS 1917)↗ · When the foundations are destroyed, what hath the righteous wrought?↗ (Writings PSA.11.3, JPS 1917)↗ · He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore-trees with frost.↗ (Writings PSA.78.47, JPS 1917)↗