Reverse Dictionary: DEST – DETQ

DESTINATION – nouns
– DESTINY destination …1887 Eng. dial.
 
DESTINE – verbs
– ORDAIN † to destine to a lot or fate …a1300
 
DESTINED – adjectives
– AUND, AWNED fated, destined, ordained …1747 Eng. dial.
– FATAL † allotted or decreed by fate or destiny; destined, fated …c1374
– OND † fated, destined, ordained …1775 Eng. dial.
– ONDE † fated, destined, ordained …1775 Eng. dial.
– ORDINATE † ordered, arranged, disposed; destined, appointed …1398
destined – person
– MORAL – a person destined for or to do something …1933 sl., chiefly Aust.
 
DESTINY – nouns
– KISMET fate, destiny
– SORT † destiny, hap, fate, fortune …c1405
 
DESTITUTE – adjectives
– BEGGARED impoverished; reduced to destitution …1599
– BESTEAD circumstanced, situated, generally in an evil sense; hence, destitute, forlorn; overcome, oppressed …1790 Sc. & Eng. dial.
– DEAD BROKE ruined, bankrupt, penniless; destitute …1842 Amer. colloq.
– EUCHRED exhausted, destitute, faulty …L19 Aust. sl.
– GELD † profitless, yielding no satisfaction, unsatisfying; also, destitute of …a1310
– GONE completely destitute and physically ruined because of crack cocaine addiction …1994 US sl.
– HAVELESS † without possessions, destitute, indigent, poor …c1000
– HAVENLESS † without possessions, destitute, indigent, poor …c1000
– MOTHERLESS BROKE penniless, completely broke, bankrupt, destitute …1898 Aust. sl.
– NACE pitiable, destitute, in great and abject want …1795 Sc.
– NEAR THE BONE destitute
– ON ONE’S EAR on one’s side after having fallen or been knocked down; hence, destitute …1910 Amer. sl.
– ON THE NAIL broke, destitute …1914 Amer. sl.
– ON THE ROCKS short of money; destitute; in financial trouble …1889 colloq.
– PEBBLE-BEACHED utterly penniless; very poor, destitute; in want of money …1886 sl.
– PENURIOUS extremely poor; destitute
– POOR AS JOB very poor, destitute …1553 
– POVERTY-POOR very poor, destitute …1911 Amer. dial.
– QUIT † destitute, deprived of …c1290
– SAKELESS lacking, destitute of …1821 Sc.
– SCABBERT destitute, down-and-out …1832 Sc.
– SKERE † destitute, devoid, of something …c1250
– SUCCOURLESS * without help, helpless; without resources or means of subsistence; destitute …1412-20
– TO THE CURB destitute, suffering from hard times …1989 US sl.
– UGIOVOUS destitute, having nothing left …Bk1905 Sc.
– UNBESEEN † unprovided, destitute, devoid …1390
– UNBOUND * unprovided, destitute …a1300
– WANE † destitute of …a800
destitute – nouns  (includes DESTITUTION)
– NACE the destitute, the needy …1871 Sc.
– NACENESS want, destitution …1913 Sc.
– PENURY extremely poverty, destitution …1400
– STRAWYARD a shelter, asylum or refuge for the destitute …1851-61 tramps’ sl.
destitute – person 
– BACHLE, BAGHAL a down-and-out person; an awkward person …Bk1997 Irish sl.
– DOWN-AND-OUT a person who without money, a job, or a place to live; a homeless or destitute person …1889 Amer. sl.
– DOWN-AND-OUTER a person who without money, a job, or a place to live; a homeless or destitute person …1924 Amer. sl.
– HARD-UP  a hard-up, poor, destitute, or impoverished person …1830 colloq.
– HAVE-NOTHING one who has nothing; a poor, impoverished, or destitute person; usually in plural …1755 colloq.
– LACK-ALL one who is in want of everything; a thoroughly destitute or poor person; a needy fellow …1850 
destitute – verbs
– BRING HADDOCK TO PADDOCK † to spend or lose everything; to come to destitution …1546
– COME TO WANT to be reduced to penury …1782 
– PERISH THE PACK to squander one’s fortune, to be or become destitute through extravagance, to be at the end of one’s resources …1808 Sc.
 
DESTROY – adjectives
– PERNICIOUS having the quality of destroying; tending to destroy, kill, or injure; destructive, ruinous; fatal …1521
destroy – nouns 
– BANE † that which causes death or destroys life …a1000
destroy – person 
– DECREATOR † one who uncreates, destroys, or annihilates …1678
– GRAUNCHER a person who crushes or destroys …NZ
– HIRED GUN a person hired to destroy the opposition, or some unwelcome party, on behalf of another
– LEESER, LESAR, LESER † a destroyer …c1380
– QUELMER † a destroyer …c1425
– VANDAL one who acts like a Vandal or barbarian; a wilful or ignorant destroyer of anything beautiful, venerable, or worthy of preservation …1663
destroy – verbs
– AMORTIZE † to deaden; to destroy …LME
– BANJAX to ruin or destroy, often as a result of incompetence …US colloq.
– BLAP to kill or destroy …1971 Amer. military sl.
– BLITZ to attack and defeat comprehensively; to crush, to overcome, to destroy …1940s sl., orig. US
– BLOW TO HELL AND GONE to utterly ruin or destroy …1865 Amer. sl.
– BOTTLE UP to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– BREAK A BUTTERFLY ON A WHEEL to use unnecessary force in destroying something fragile …1734
– BREAK THE NECK OF † to destroy, to finish, to bring to an end …1576
– BREAK THE WINGS OF A BUTTERFLY ON A WHEEL to use unnecessary force in destroying something fragile …1990
– BUMP to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– BUMP OFF to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– CABBAGE to destroy; to defeat …19C sl.
– CHAINSAW to destroy something; to cut something up severely …Bk2006 US sl.
– CHAW UP to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– CLEAN OUT to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– COOK to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– COOK SOMEONE’S GOOSE to ruin or destroy someone …1845 Amer. sl.
– DAMNIFY † to cause the loss of, to bring to destruction or ruin …1612
– DEFACE † to destroy, to demolish, to lay waste …1494
– DIDDLE to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– DISANNUL to abolish, to destroy, to do away with, to remove …1892 Eng. dial.
– DISH to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– DO to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– DO A DUMP ON to criticize someone or something; to destroy someone or something …Bk2006 US sl.
– DO FOR to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– DOLLYMOSH to demolish, to destroy, to entirely spoil …19C Eng. & Amer. dial.
– DO OVER to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– DO THE BUSINESS FOR to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– DO UP to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– DOUSE to extinguish, hence, to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– DOWSE to extinguish, hence, to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– DUMP ALL OVER to criticize someone or something; to destroy someone or something …Bk2006 US sl.
– EAT RAW to defeat; to destroy mercilessly …2003 Trinidad and Tobago
– EAT RAW WITHOUT SALT to defeat; to destroy mercilessly …2003 Trinidad and Tobago
– EAT UP to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– ENECATE † to kill outright, to destroy, to cause death …1657
– EUCHRE to destroy …1970s sl.
– EXFLUNCTICATE to demolish; to utterly destroy …1842 Amer. dial.
– EXTERMINE † to exterminate; to destroy utterly; to put an end to; to abolish …1539
– EXTERMISH to destroy completely, to exterminate, to abolish …1903 Amer. dial.
– FEAG † to destroy, to bring to ruin, to put an end to …1668
– FEAGUE † to destroy, to bring to ruin, to put an end to …1668
– FEGUE † to destroy, to bring to ruin, to put an end to …1668
– FINISH to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– FINISH OFF to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– FIX to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– FLATTEN to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– FOLD to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– FOLD UP to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– FULYIE to trample, overcome, destroy …LME Sc.
– GASTER † to destroy ..1609
– GRAUNCH to crush or destroy …19C NZ
– HAMSTRING to cripple, to destroy the activity or efficiency of …1641
– HAND SOMEONE HIS HEAD to destroy …1970s Amer. sl.
– HARELIP THE GOVERNMENT to disfigure, to destroy …1960 Amer. dial.
– HASH to spoil, to damage; to destroy; to make a mess of …1773 Sc.
– HONISH † to bring to disgrace; to dishonour, to insult; to destroy, to ruin, to put an end to …a1325
​- JAMRAG to render useless; to destroy, to knock to pieces …Bk1902 Eng. dial.
– JIGGER to break, to ruin, to destroy …1895 Eng. dial. & sl.
– JIMRAG to render useless; to destroy, to knock to pieces …Bk1902 Eng. dial.
– KIBOSH to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– KNOCK FOR A CRAPE to destroy …1925 US sl.
– KNOCK OFF to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– KNOCK TO FLINDERATION to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– KNOCK TO HELL AND GONE to utterly ruin or destroy …1863 Amer. sl.
– KNOCK TO SMITHEREENS to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– KO to knock out, to destroy …1921 US sl.
– LAY ALONG † to destroy, to overthrow, to kill …1599
– LAY OUT to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– LEESE † to destroy; to bring to ruin or perdition; to spoil …a1325
– MAKE A BONFIRE OF to destroy
– MAKE AWAY WITH to kill, to destroy, to murder …1892 Sc.
– MAKE DUCK SOUP OF to totally destroy ….L19 US sl.
– MAKE MINCEMEAT OF vb. to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– MALAFOOSTER to destroy, to wreck, to ruin …1950 Sc.
– MARGULLIE † to spoil, to destroy, to mangle; to mar any business …1721 Sc.
– MURDER to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– MURGULLIE to spoil, to destroy, to mangle; to mar any business …1721 Sc.
– NAPOO to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– NAUGHT † to destroy …1340
– OBLIVIATE to obliterate; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– OFF to kill or murder; to destroy …1930 sl., orig. African-American
– OF-FALL † to fall upon; to kill, to destroy …a1000
– PLAY HELL WITH to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– PLAY THE DEVIL WITH to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– PLAY WHALEY WITH to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– PUCKAROO, PUCKEROO, PUKAROO, PUKARU to break, to destroy, to ruin; to kill …1840 NZ sl.
​- PUT IN COLD STORAGE to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– PUT ON ICE to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– PUT ON THE EXTINGUISHER to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– PUT THE FINISHER ON to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– PUT THE FREEZE ON to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– PUT THE SETTLER ON to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– PUT THE SKIDS UNDER to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– QUAIL † to overpower, to destroy, to put an end to …1551
– QUELL † to kill, to slay, to put to death; to destroy a person or animal ..c897 now rare or obs.
– QUELM † to torment; to kill, to destroy …c825
– QUENCH * to destroy, to kill a person; to oppress or crush …c1200
– RACKTIFY to damage; to break down; to destroy …1922 Amer. dial.
– RACTIFY to damage; to break down; to destroy …1950 Amer. dial.
– RAP AND REND to snatch and tear; to waste, destroy property …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– RECTIFY to damage; to break down; to destroy …1909 Amer. dial.
– RIMRACK to injure, damage, or destroy, esp. by misuse …1841 Amer. dial.
– RUB OUT to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– SCATHE to injure, to damage, to destroy; to defame …1859 Sc. & Eng. dial.
– SCAW to spoil or destroy the appearance of, esp. in respect of colour; to make shabby or faded …1772 Sc.
– SCHTUP to destroy; to humiliate; to defeat …1930s sl,. orig. US
– SEND TO GLORY to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– SEW UP to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– SHATTER to ruin, to put an end to, to utterly destroy …L17
– SHEND to destroy or injure; to damage …arch.
– SHTUP to destroy; to humiliate; to defeat …1930s sl,. orig. US
– SPIFLICATE to crush, to destroy; to kill …1841 humorous or colloq.
– STONKER to render useless; to put of action, to thwart; also, to kill, to destroy; to defeat or outwit …1919 Aust. & NZ sl.
– STUPP to destroy; to humiliate; to defeat …1930s sl,. orig. US
– STYMIE to frustrate; to destroy …1920s sl.
– TAKE DOWN to destroy, to dispose of …L19 sl.
– TAKE OUT to kill, destroy, or defeat …sl.
– TEAR DOWN to destroy …1970s sl.
– TERRIFY to damage, to injure, to destroy …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– TO-BEAT † vb. to beat to pieces, to destroy by beating …c893
– TO-BREAK † to break to pieces; to shatter, to rupture; to break down, to destroy, to demolish …c888
– VAST † to lay waste; to destroy …1434
– WASH UP to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– WIPE OUT to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– WIPE UP to ruin; to destroy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– WRITE OFF to completely destroy or damage something so that it is beyond all hope of repair …1910s sl., orig. Royal Air Force
 
DESTROYED – adjectives
– ADNICHILATE annihilated, reduced to nothing, utterly destroyed …1388 arch. 
– ALL TO HELL utterly destroyed or ruined …1890 sl.
– BANED † ruined, destroyed; injured, hurt …1568
– BANJAXED demolished; destroyed; ruined, as a car …20C teen & high school sl.
– BEGUGGLED destroyed by mud, slime, etc …Bk1898 Sc.
– BLOOEY gone; destroyed …Bk2006 US sl.
– DEAD ruined; destroyed; …1400
– DOWN THE GURGLER ruined; irretrievably lost or destroyed; wasted; used of something that has not worked out …1981 Aust. sl.
– FRAGGED destroyed; ruined …Bk2006 US sl.
– GONE TO HELL utterly destroyed …19C sl.
– IMPERDIBLE †* not capable of being lost or destroyed …1661
– KABLOOEY destroyed, ruined …L20 N. Amer. colloq.
– ON TOP wrong; destroyed or defeated …1999 UK sl.
– PUCKAROO, PUCKEROO, PUKAROO, PUKARU useless, broken, out of order; destroyed, finished …1943 NZ sl.
​- SHOT TO SHIT completely ruined or destroyed …1968 sl., orig. US
destroyed – verbs 
– GO FOR A BURTON of a person or thing: to be missing, ruined, or destroyed …1946 sl.
– GO TO SHIT to be ruined or destroyed; to deteriorate; to go to pieces …1973 sl.
– SUFFER † to be killed or destroyed …1605
– TINE to be lost, ruined, or destroyed; to perish …1300s chiefly Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
– TURN TO SHIT to be ruined or destroyed; to deteriorate; to go to pieces …1988 sl.
 
DESTROYING – nouns
– KISS OF DEATH something that causes failure, destruction, etc. …informal
– MAKE-AWAY wilful waste, destruction …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– QUALE † death, destruction, mortality …c900
– VASTATION † the act of laying waste, devastating, or destroying; also, an instance of this …1545
 
DESTRUCTION – adverbs
– CAT-WEST into disarray, confusion, or destruction …1946 Amer. dial.
destruction – nouns 
– BALE-SITHE † death, destruction; evil-doing, mischief; evil fortune, calamity …a1000
– BALLYHACK ruin, destruction …1843 Amer. sl.
– BALLYWACK ruin, destruction …1934 Amer. sl.
– BALLYWRACK ruin, destruction …1934 Amer. sl.
– BANE † murder, death, destruction …c1175
– BLADDIN a spoiling, destruction …Bk1911 Sc.
– CASTLE-COME-DOWN † ruin, total destruction …1563-87
– CATALYSIS †* dissolution, destruction, ruin …1655
– DECAY † downfall, destruction, ruin …1535
– DECREATION † the undoing of creation; depriving of existence; annihilation, utter destruction …1647
– DUCK SOUP the total destruction of …L19 US sl.
– FATE an instrument of death or destruction …1700 poetic
– HASHRIE destruction from carelessness …Bk1902 Sc.
– IMMOLATION devotion to destruction or severe loss for the sake of something else …c1690
– KISS OF DEATH something that causes failure, destruction, etc. …informal
– LEESING † losing, loss; also, destruction, perdition …1362
– MAKE-AWAY wilful waste, destruction …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– NECK-BREAK † ruin, destruction …a1665 Sc.
– PAN-DESTRUCTION universal destruction …1884
– PANOLETHRY † general destruction or slaughter …1668
– QUALE † death, destruction, mortality …c900
– RACK AND MANGER † want of proper economy or management; waste and destruction …1687 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
– RACK AND REND rack and ruin; destruction …Bk1904 Eng. dial.
– RACKING † wrecking, destruction …1689
– SCOW a state of ruin or destruction …1825 Sc. 
– TINING † destruction …a1300
– VILLYAROO confusion, destruction, smithereens, a lost or scattered state …1912 Sc.
destruction – verbs
– CAST TO THE DOGS † to send to destruction or ruin; to throw out, to discard as worthless …1556
– GO LIKE WARD’S DUCKS to go to hell, destruction …1856 Amer. dial.
– GO TO THE BUGS † to go to destruction; to come to nothing …1828 Amer. dial.
– GO TO THE DOGS to go to destruction or ruin; to deteriorate shockingly …1619
– SEND TO THE DOGS to send to destruction or ruin; to throw out, to discard as worthless …1556
 
DESTRUCTIVE – adjectives
– BALE † actively evil, deadly, dire, pernicious, destructive, fatal, cruel, tormenting …a1000
– BALEFUL full of malign, deadly, or noxious influence; pernicious, destructive, noxious, injurious, mischievous, malignant …a1000
– CATAWAMPOUS fierce, unsparing, destructive …1856 sl., chiefly US
– CATAWAMPTIOUS adj. fierce, unsparing, destructive …1856 sl., chiefly US
– DEAD-DOING † ‘doing to death’; causing death; killing, murderous; destructive, fatal, mortal … 1590
– DEATHFUL full of death; fraught with death; mortal, fatal, destructive, deadly …a1240
– DESTROYFUL destructive …B1900 Eng. dial.
– DESTRUCTFUL destructive …1967 Amer. dial.
– DESTRUCTIONFU’ destructive, wasteful; full of destruction …B1900 Sc.
– DESTRUCTIOUS destructive, prone to destroy …1927 Amer. dial.
– DESTRUCTUOUS destructive, prone to destroy …1942 Amer. dial.
– EXITIABLE †* destructive, ruinous, hurtful …1607
– FATIFEROUS fate-bringing; deadly, mortal, destructive …1656
– FELLY † fell; cruel, destructive …1583 
– HASHING wasteful, destructive; overflowing, as of a flood …1812 Sc.
– HASHY slovenly, careless, destructive …Bk1902 Sc.
– PERNICIOUS having the quality of destroying; tending to destroy, kill, or injure; destructive, ruinous; fatal …1521
– SAIR destructive, harmful, injurious …1901 Sc.
– SCADLY greedy, greedy of; destructive …1888 Eng. dial.
– TRUCULENT exhibiting ferocity or cruelty; fierce, cruel, savage, barbarous, destructive …c1550 
– VANDALIC barbarously or ignorantly destructive …1666
– VANDALIQUE barbarously or ignorantly destructive …1666
– WRACKSOME †* destructive …1608
destructive – nouns
– EDACITY † corrosive quality, destructive power …1657
– TEAR-UP a period of violent destructive behaviour …1964 sl., orig. US
destructive – person 
– HASH a person who is wasteful, destructive, slovenly, or stupid and reckless …1655 Sc.
– MOLOCH a terrible or remorselessly destructive person; a cruel or ruthless person …1659
– RAMPER a noisy, stamping fellow; one who acts violently or destructively …Bk1905 Sc.
– TEAR-CAT one who causes a disturbance or trouble; a bully, swaggerer, a blustering person; a thug; a fierce or destructive person…1611
– TEARDOWN a fierce or destructive person …1834 Amer. dial.
– YOUNG TURK a naughty or unmanageable child; a troublesome, destructive boy …1859
 
 
DETACHED – verbs
– UNCLEAVE to become unfastened or detached …1596
 
DETAIL – adjectives
– PUNCTILIOUS extremely attentive to details, ceremony, or procedure; strict or exact in the observance of formalities or amenities …1625
detail – adverbs 
– PARCELLY † by parcels or portions; in detail, item by item …1469
– SUNDRY †* in detail …a1300
– TO A COCK’S HAIR to the last detail, accurately …1966 Amer. dial.
– TO A FROG’S HAIR to the last detail, accurately …1966 Amer. dial.
– TO A GNAT’S HAIR to the last detail, accurately …1940 Amer. dial.
– TO THE BONE to perfection; to the last detail …1967 Amer. dial.
– TO THE LAST HAIR ON A GNAT’S ASS to the last detail, accurately …1954 Amer. dial.
detail(s) – nouns
– ACCOUNTS news, details, information …1745 Sc.
– BUM-FLUFFERIES details; the small print …2001 UK sl.
– EERIES AND ORRIES particulars, details; ins and outs …1911 Sc.
– EERIORUMS particulars, details; fancy work, ornamentation …1880 Sc.
– INWARDS the ins and outs, the inner details of a case …1898 Eng. dial.
– ODDLINGS particulars, details …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– ODDLINS particulars, details …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– PARTICULARITIES details, small points, ‘ins and outs’ …1822 Sc.
– PARTICULARITY a personal or private trait or characteristic; an idiosyncrasy; a detail, a particular …1783 Sc.
– PARTICULE † a detail, an item, a particular …1731 Sc.
– RATTLE the ins and outs of anything; all the details …1891 Eng. dial.
– STRENGTH the essential facts; the pertinent details …1908 Aust. sl.
 
DETAILED – nouns
– VERBAL PROCESS † a detailed account or report …1681
 
DETAIN – verbs
– ABSENT † to keep away; to detain or withhold from being present …1530
– BELATE to make late, to detain beyond the usual time, to delay; to hinder …1642
– PUT THE ARM ON SOMEONE to detain or restrain by physical force; spec. to arrest …20C Amer. sl.
– RAIL to arrest or detain someone …1995 US sl.
– REMORATE †* to detain, delay, hinder, obstruct …1638
– TAIGLE to entangle, to impede, or to hinder in course or action; to keep back, to retard, to detain, to delay …1635 Sc.
– TARRY † to detain, to delay, to retard, to keep back a person or agent for a time; to keep waiting; to hold in check, to impede, to hinder …1340
– TEAGLE to entangle, to impede, or to hinder in course or action; to keep back, to retard, to detain, to delay …1635 Sc.
– TETHER BY THE TOOTH to attract by good feeding, to detain by eating …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
 
DETAINED – nouns
– TAMTARRIE † the state of being detained under frivolous pretenses; the state of being hindered …1773 Sc.
– TAMTARY † the state of being detained under frivolous pretenses; the state of being hindered …1773 Sc.
 
DETECT – verbs
– COME A TUMBLE to detect something; to understand something …1992 UK rhyming sl. for ‘rumble’
– COPPER to detect …20C tramps’ sl.
– DECIPHER † to find out, to discover, to detect …1528
– NAIL to detect …1889 Winchester College sl.
– PALL to detect…1851 UK sl.
– TAKE A PERSON TARDY † to overtake; to surprise; to come upon unprepared or unawares; hence, to detect, ‘catch’ in a crime, fault, error, etc. …1530
– TAKE TO to detect …1842 Eng. dial.
– UMBLE-CUM-STUMBLE to thoroughly understand, to detect, to suspect …1866
​- VENT † of animals, hounds, etc.: to become aware of, to detect or perceive, by means of the sense of smell …1576
 
DETECTION – verbs
– GET AWAY WITH THE BAGGAGE to escape detection in or to avoid the consequences of mischief or wrongdoing …1873 Amer. sl.
 
DETECTIVE – person  (also see POLICE)
– ACE a detective …1940s US sl.
– BADGE a police officer or detective who has a badge …1921 US sl.
– BADGE-MAN a detective …1926 US sl.
– BAG a police detective …1929 criminals’ sl.
– BEAGLE a spy; an informer; a policeman, a detective; also, a general term of contempt …Bk1891 sl.
– BIG MAN a Pinkerton detective …Bk1945 criminals’ sl.
– BIRD DOG an antique dealer or art dealer commissioned to find a specific object; a detective who specializes in finding missing persons; a business agent who hunts for prospective customers; a baseball scout who searches for promising athletes …1929 Amer. sl.
– BISHOP a private detective …1972 UK sl.
– BIZZIE, BIZZY a policeman; specifically, a CID officer, a detective …1904 sl.
– BULL a police officer; a private detective or guard …Bk1990 Amer. sl.
– BUSY a policeman; specifically, a CID officer, a detective …1904 Brit. sl.
– BUSYBODY a policeman; specifically, a CID officer, a detective …20C sl.
– COMPANY BULL a detective or guard who works for a private firm …Bk2006 US sl.
– D a police detective; a policeman in plain clothes …1879 sl., orig. Aust. & NZ
– DEE a detective; any police officer whatsoever …c1840 sl.
– DEMON a detective or policeman …1900 Aust. & NZ colloq. arch.
– DETEC a detective …L19 sl.
– DICK a detective …1908 sl.
– DOG a detective or police officer, esp. a plainclothesman …1867 US sl.
– DOOR-BASHER a private detective …1950s sl.
– EAGLE-EYE a detective …1919 Amer. criminals’ sl.
– ELBOW a police officer or detective …1899 US criminals’ sl.
– EYE a detective or a detective agency, esp. a private one …1901 sl.
– FINK a detective …1925 sl.
– FLY COP a detective, a plain-clothes policeman …1859 US sl.
– FUZZ a policeman or detective; the police …1929 sl., orig. US
– FUZZ MAN the police; a detective; a jail keeper …Bk1990 Amer. sl.
– FUZZY a police officer or detective …1942 US sl.
– FUZZY TAIL the police; a detective; a jail keeper …Bk1990 Amer. sl.
– GATHER a police officer; a detective …1999 UK criminals’ sl.
– GEORGIE a policeman; a detective …1929 UK sl.
– GHEE FROM DOWNTOWN a detective or the top police official in a large city …Bk1992 criminals’ sl.
– GIG a detective, or any intrusive person; one who cannot mind his own business, a nosy or inquisitive person; a busybody; an eavesdropper …1959 Aust. sl.
– GLUE a police detective …1950 US sl.
– GUM BOOT a police officer, esp. a detective or plainclothes officer …20C Amer. sl.
– GUMFOOT a police officer, esp. a detective or plainclothes officer; one known for wearing, silent, gum-rubber shoes …E20 Amer. sl.
– GUMHEEL a police officer, esp. a detective or plainclothes officer; one known for wearing, silent, gum-rubber shoes …E20 Amer. sl.
– GUMSHOE a detective or policeman …1906 US sl.
– GUMSHOE MAN a police officer, esp. a detective or plainclothes officer …20C Amer. sl.
– GUMSHOE WORKER a private detective …1908 US sl.
– HARNESS DICK a detective officer in uniform …1903 criminals’ sl.
– HAWK a detective …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– HAWKSHAW a detective …1903
– HEAVY a detective or investigator …1967 Aust. sl.
– HEAVY-FOOT a plain-clothes detective; a policeman; one who betrays himself by his large feet and heavy shoes …1934 US criminals’ sl.
– HESSIAN a Pinkerton detective …1925 criminals’ sl.
– HICK DICK a small-town policeman or detective …Bk1975 Amer. sl.
– HOT DUCK IN A CANOE a detective in an automobile …1935 US sl.
– JACK a policeman or detective in plain clothes; a military policeman …1889 sl.
– LAW a police officer, a sheriff, or other representative of the law; occasionally, a private detective …1910s sl.
– MOLL DICK a female detective …1926 criminals’ sl.
– MOUSER * a detective …1863
– NAB a police officer or detective …1813 US criminals’ & Black sl.
– NAILER a police officer or detective …c1863 sl.
– OFFICE MAN a headquarters detective …1901 US sl.
– OP a (private) detective …1926 sl.
– OPERATOR a private detective …1940s US sl.
– P. MAN a plain-clothes detective …1920s UK sl.
– PINK a member of the Pinkerton detective agency …1904 US sl.
– RICHARD a detective …1914 sl., chiefly US
– SCONE (AND STOPPER) a policeman, a detective …1940s rhyming Aust. sl. for ‘copper’
– SEARS ROEBUCK DETECTIVE a rural, incompetent detective …1927 Amer. dial.
– SHAMUS a police officer; a private detective …1925 US sl.
– SHARMUS a detective …1925 US sl.
– SHERLOCK a policeman or detective …1940s US criminals’ sl.
– SHERLOCKO a policeman or detective …1940s US criminals’ sl.
– SHOMMUS a detective …1925 US sl.
– SNATCHER a police detective …1948 US sl.
– SNITCHER a detective …1900s sl.
– SNOOP a detective …1920s US sl.
– SPARKS police detectives, or officers in plain clothes …Bk1992 US criminals’ sl.
– SPB a Special Branch Policeman; a British detective …Bk1992 UK police usage
– SPLIT a detective …L19 sl.
– STOOL a plain-clothes detective …1920s sl.
– TAILOR-MADE a plainclothes policeman or detective …Bk1975 Amer. sl.
– TEC a detective …1879 sl.
– TIN STAR a private detective …20C US sl.
– UNDERCOVER a plain-clothes detective or undercover agent …1930s sl.
– UNDER-COVER MAN 1. an informer to the police; a policeman, a detective on a special watching job …1931 US sl.
2. an employer’s detective spying on the employees …1931 US sl.
– UNDER-COVER OPERATIVE a detective, esp. a Federal …1924 US police sl.
– WIRE SPLIT a detective who concentrates on pickpockets …1930 pickpockets’ sl.
– WISE BULL a police detective …1924 criminals’ sl. 
detective – verbs
– GUMBOOT to work as a police officer or detective …20C Amer. sl.
– GUMFOOT to work as a police officer or detective …20C Amer. sl.
– GUMHEEL to work as a police officer or detective …20C Amer. sl.
– GUMSHOE to work as a police officer or detective …20C Amer. sl.
 
DETENTION – nouns
– CLINK detention …1919 school sl.
– D detention …M19 US criminals’ sl.
– SKID-BID a term in prison or in juvenile detention …1990s US prison sl.
 
DETER – verbs
– ABSTER †* to deter, to hinder, to frighten off …1542
– BLUFF to confuse, to mislead or deter by a show of confidence or superiority; to fob off …L18
– DARE to deter by threatening; to forbid …Bk1900 Eng. dial.
– FEAR † to deter from a course of conduct, etc. …c1380
 
DETERIORATE – verbs
– ABASTARD † to make or declare bastard or illegitimate; hence, to make spurious or degenerate; to debase, to corrupt, to deteriorate …1610
– ABASTARDIZE † to render bastard, spurious, or degenerate; to debase, to deteriorate …1580
– BASTARDIZE to make degenerate, to deteriorate, to debase ..1587
– BE SLIPPING to deteriorate in quality …1914 sl.
– DECAY † to cause to fall off or deteriorate …1529
– GO TO SHIT to be ruined or destroyed; to deteriorate; to go to pieces …1973 sl.
– GO TO THE BAD to deteriorate morally or physically; to become slovenly, careless, or immoral …c1960 Amer. dial.
– GO TO THE DOGS to go to destruction or ruin; to deteriorate shockingly …1619
– GO TO THE PACK to go to pieces; to lose a leading position; to deteriorate; to fall into disrepute … 1919 Aust. & NZ colloq.
– MAR † to become deteriorated; to spoil; to perish …c1230
– PAIR † to become or grow worse, to deteriorate, to fall off …c1320 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
– PEJORATE to make or grow worse; to deteriorate; to worsen …1653
– TURN TO SHIT to be ruined or destroyed; to deteriorate; to go to pieces …1988 sl.
 
DETERIORATING – adjectives
– ON THE BUM deteriorating …Bk1904 Amer. college sl.
 
DETERIORATION – nouns
– DECLENSION the state of declining or sinking into a lower of inferior condition; gradual diminution, deterioration, or decay; decline …1602
– OFF-FALLING a decline, a falling off, as in health and appearance, or in morals; a deterioration …1825 Sc.
– PAIRMENT † impairment; injury, deterioration …c1330 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
 
DETERMINATION – nouns
– ASS ability and determination; the actual ability and determination to carry out a promise, threat, etc., as opposed to an empty boast …1961 Amer. sl.
– BENSEL strong bent or determination; impetus of a body in motion …1513 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
– BESIGHT †* consideration, determination, ordinance …1258
– DECREET †* a decision, determination …c1400
– GAME FACE a look or manner characterized by single-minded dedication, determination, or seriousness …1950 US colloq.
– GET-UP energy, vigour, vitality, enterprise, determination …1841 sl., orig. US
– GET-UP-AND-GET energy, vigour, vitality, enterprise, determination …1870 sl., orig. US
– GET-UP-AND-GO energy, vigour, vitality, enterprise, determination …1907 sl., orig. US
– GUT CHECK a test of courage or determination …1968 US sl.
– GUTS BALL a ballgame such as baseball played with great aggressiveness and tenacity; hence, any action or actions requiring or demonstrating fortitude, extreme competitiveness, courage, determination, etc. …1962 Amer. sl.
– READ determination; resolve …B1900 Eng. dial.
– SAND courage; tenacity; stamina; pluck; determination; perseverance; obstinacy …1867 Amer. dial.
determination – verbs 
– HARELIP HELL to show great determination regardless of consequences ….1970 Amer. dial.
determination – interjections/phrases
– BY GEORGE! a mild exclamation of surprise, approval, determination, emphasis, etc. …1731
– PIKE’S PEAK OR BUST an expression of determination – formerly painted on ‘prairie schooners’ bound for Colorado …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
 
DETERMINATION, LACKING – adjectives
– LACKADAISY lackadaisical; lacking enthusiasm and determination …1792
 
DETERMINE – verbs
– CAST † to design, to purpose, to intend, to determine to do a thing …a1380
– DECERN † to decide, to determine a matter disputed or doubtful …c1425
– DECREE † to determine, to resolve, to decide to do something …1526 obs. or arch.
– DECREET † to decide, to determine, to resolve to do something …1582-8
– LOOK-SEE to investigate; to determine, to ascertain …1939 Amer. dial.
– ORDAIN † to determine, to settle, to resolve …1375
– ORDER † to settle, to determine …1523
– TAIL † to decide or determine in a specified way; to settle, to arrange, to fix a matter …c1315
– TAILYE † to determine, to settle, to appoint, to arrange …1375 Sc.
– TAILZIE † to determine, to settle, to appoint, to arrange …1375 Sc.
– TERMINE † to make a judgement about; to determine, to decide, to settle …a1325
 
DETERMINED – adjectives
– ADVISED † of persons: purposed, determined …c1325
– BENT † determined, resolute, devoted, inclined …1548
– BOUND determined …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– BRAIN-MAD determined; keenly bent on; hurried on with the greatest impetuosity …Bk1911 Sc.
– DEAD ON very fond of; determined to do something …M19 sl.
– DEAD-SET fully committed; determined …M19 sl.
– DEAD SET ON fascinated by, obsessed with, in love with, determined …L19 sl.
– DEE-TERMINED determined …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– DERN determined, earnest, eager; careful …1881 Eng. dial.
– DIERNED determined, enthusiastic …B1900 Eng. dial.
– DOUBLE-BOUND determined …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– FLAT-FOOTED. determined …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– FULL OF BEANS determined …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– FULL OF GUTS courageously determined or persevering …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– GRITTY courageously determined or persevering, courageous …Bk1905 Amer. sl.
– HAIR expert at something; determined …1936 Amer. dial.
– HARD AS NAILS determined …1862
– HARD-BOILED determined …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– HARD-SET determined, obstinate …1818
– HELLBENT unshakably or recklessly determined …1835 Amer. sl.
– HELLBENT FOR BREAKFAST recklessly determined …1924 Amer. sl.
– HELLBENT FOR ELECTION unshakably determined …1899 Amer. sl.
– HELL-BENT FOR LEATHER determined …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– HELL-BENT FOR LEXINGTON determined …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– HELL-FOR-CERTAIN determined …1976 Amer. dial.
– INTARMINED. determined …1860 Eng. dial.
– INTERMINED. determined …1860 Eng. dial.
– ONSTANDIN determined, unyielding, esp. in bargaining; importunate, stolidly persistent in trying to get one’s way …1866 Sc.
– POSSESSED determined …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– SET determined …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– SOT determined …1913 Amer. dial.
– STICK-AT-NOTHING determined …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– TARMINED aphetic form of determined …1857 Eng. dial.
determined – nouns
– NECESSITY † the fact of being inevitably fixed or determined …c1374
determined – person 
– GETTER – a go-getter; an enterprising or ambitious person; a determined person, one likely to succeed …Bk1975 Amer. sl.
– HARD-NOSE – an indefatigable person, who will struggle on no matter what the odds; a tough, determined person …1968 sl.
– SACKET a determined little fellow …1889 Sc. & Eng. dial.
– WAR-HORSE an aggressive or determined woman …Bk1934 US college sl.
determined – verbs 
– FLUMP to move determinedly …M19 sl.
– TEEL to be obstinately set or determined on doing anything …1873 Eng. dial.
 
DETERMINEDLY – adverbs
– BENTLY † determinedly, with set purpose …1645
– FULL STEAM AHEAD with determination Bk1990 Amer. sl.
– HEAD UP in a lively, impetuous, or determined manner …1854 Amer. dial.
– HEAD UP AND TAIL UP in a lively, impetuous, or determined manner …1854 Amer. dial.
– PICK AND MELL thoroughly; with determination; ‘hammer and tongs’ …Bk1905 Sc.
– WITH ALL SAIL SET in a quick and determined manner; hurriedly …1916 Amer. dial.
 
DETERMINING – adjectives
– DECRETORY † such as to decide the question; decisive, determinative …1674
– ORDINATIVE * having the character or function of ordering, determining, or regulating; of the nature of ordering …1605
 
DETEST – person
– ABOMINATOR one who abominates or thoroughly detests; an abhorrer or extreme hater …1671
detest, verbs
– ABSONATE † to avoid, to detest (a law term) …Bk1775
– BEHATE † to hold in hatred, to hate greatly, to detest …c1340
– DETESTATE †* to detest, to abhor, to abominate …1548
– DISGUST to detest, to be disgusted by …1913 Amer. dial.
– UG † to abhor, to loathe, to detest; to cause disgust or nausea  …a1340 obs. exc. Sc. & Eng. dial.
 
DETESTABLE – adjectives
– ABHORRIBLE †* to be abhorred, detestable …1633
– CARRION vile, loathsome, detestable; expressing disgust …1826
– EXECRABLE deserving to be execrated or cursed; abominable, detestable …1490
– INFERNAL detestable; fit only for Hell …1602 colloq.
– NEFAST * wicked, abominable, detestable, vile …1849
– UGGING adj. causing loathing or disgust; loathsome, detestable, frightful …1832 Sc.
– UNRUDE † base, detestable, diabolical, vile …Bk1905 Sc.
– WLATSOME † loathsome, detestable; disgusting, abominable, hateful …a1300
detestable – nouns 
– ASSHOLE OF CREATION a detestable place …1926 Amer. sl.
– ASSHOLE OF THE LAND a detestable place …1927 Amer. sl.
– ASSHOLE OF THE UNIVERSE a detestable place …1950 sl.
– ASSHOLE OF THE WORLD a detestable place …1959 Amer. sl.
detestable – person
– ACCURSED an accursed person; a detestable or hateful person …1340
– BAWBAG an ignorant, obnoxious, or otherwise detestable person, esp. a man; often used as a disparaging form of address …1999 Sc.
– GHOUL a person reputed to feed on corpses; a person whose habits are detestable …Bk1988
– KVETCH a detestable or unpleasant person, esp., a person who criticizes or complains a great deal …1936 US colloq., chiefly Jewish usage
– KVETCHER a detestable or unpleasant person, esp., a person who criticizes or complains a great deal …1968 US colloq.
– LICKSKILLET a contemptible or detestable person; a sycophant …1893 Amer. dial.
– LICK-SPITTLE a mean or abject parasite, sycophant, or toady; a servile flatterer; a contemptible, detestable, or fawning person …1796
– MOMSER, MOMZER an unpleasant or despicable person, usually male; a disliked person; a brute; a detestable man …1955 US sl.
– SHIT-SACK a detestable person; orig. an opprobrious name applied to nonconformists …1769 sl.
 
DETESTATION – nouns
– ABHORMENT † the action of abhorring; detestation …1576
detestation – phrases 
– I WOULDN’T BE SEEN CROSSING A FORTY-ACRE FIELD WITH HIM a phrase of detestation, contempt, or derision …L19 orig. Cockneys’ usage
 
DETESTED – adjectives
– DETESTATE † abominated, detested
– LONG-HEADED stubborn, obstinate, pigheaded; detested …1883 Amer. dial.
detested – person 
– ABOMINATE – a detested person …1691
– RUBBER KNACKERS – an unpleasant or detested man …20C Brit. sl.
– SATAN – * a term of abhorrence applied to a person; a diabolical person; a detested, devilish or hellish person …1596 
 
DETOUR – verbs
– FETCH A CIRCUMBENDIBUS to make a detour …1831