1901-1950

Question 1

estrange

Answer 1

v. to make hostile or indifferent, usually between two persons

Question 2

mortify

Answer 2

v. to humiliate; to fill with embarassment

Question 3

contravene

Answer 3

v. to act counter to; violate

Question 4

unscathed

Answer 4

adj. unharmed

Question 5

flamboyant

Answer 5

adj. extravagant; showy

Question 6

swagger

Answer 6

v. to walk in an arrogant manner

Question 7

watershed

Answer 7

n. a region that drains into a river, lake, or other body of water; a critical point that marks a division

Question 8

verbose

Answer 8

adj. wordy

Question 9

ostentatious

Answer 9

adj. showy; pretentious

Question 10

bilk

Answer 10

v. to swindle; to cheat

Question 11

oratory

Answer 11

n. public speaking, esp. marked by pompous rhetoric

Question 12

renown

Answer 12

n. fame or celebrity

Question 13

eccentric

Answer 13

adj. unconventional; odd

Question 14

parry

Answer 14

v. to deflect an attack

Question 15

tirade

Answer 15

n. an abusive speech

Question 16

auspicious

Answer 16

adj. showing signs of a favorable outcome; marked by favorable circumstances

Question 17

kowtow

Answer 17

v. to show servile deference; to touch the forehead to the ground as an act of respect

Question 18

hobbyhorse

Answer 18

n. a favorite pastime; a topic with which one is obsessed

Question 19

flabbergast

Answer 19

v. to overcome with astonishment

Question 20

dichotomy

Answer 20

n. a division into two contrasting or non- overlapping parts

Question 21

impasse

Answer 21

n. a dead- end

Question 22

erudite

Answer 22

adj. well- educated

Question 23

hackneyed

Answer 23

adj. made trite and commonplace by overuse; cliched

Question 24

indolent

Answer 24

adj. lazy

Question 25

penchant

Answer 25

n. a strong liking

Question 26

debacle

Answer 26

n. an overwhelming defeat or failure

Question 27

ascendant

Answer 27

adj. in a position of power or superiority

Question 28

dint

Answer 28

n. power; effort (almost always in the phrase “by dint of”)

Question 29

peremptory

Answer 29

adj. having the nature of a command; permitted no denial

Question 30

desultory

Answer 30

adj. lacking a plan or purpose; unmethodical

Question 31

complement

Answer 31

n. something that completes a whole or brings to perfection

Question 32

apotheosis

Answer 32

n. the ideal example; the elevation of a person to the rank of a god

Question 33

hyperbole

Answer 33

n. exaggeration

Question 34

fetter

Answer 34

v. to confine, restrain, or keep down

Question 35

n. chains; shackles

Answer 35

adj. genuine

Question 36

forestall

Answer 36

v. to prevent or delay beforehand

Question 37

exult

Answer 37

v. to rejoice greatly

Question 38

collaborate

Answer 38

v. to work together, esp. at an intellectual effort

Question 39

scourge

Answer 39

n. a cause of widespread suffering

Question 40

bereaved

Answer 40

adj. suffering the loss of a loved one

Question 41

concomitant

Answer 41

adj. accompanying (of events); existing or occurring concurrently

Question 42

n. something that exists or occurs concurrently

Answer 42

adj. covering a wide range of subjects; rambling

Question 43

monopoly

Answer 43

n. exclusive possession or control; a company or group having that control

Question 44

scrupulous

Answer 44

adj. conscientious and exact; having principles

Question 45

supercilious

Answer 45

adj. feeling or showing proud contempt; smug; arrogant

Question 46

manifesto

Answer 46

n. a public declaration of principles, often political

Question 47

gait

Answer 47

n. manner of moving on foot; rate or manner of proceeding

Question 48

diligent

Answer 48

adj. painstaking and steady

Question 49

bifurcate

Answer 49

v. to divide into two parts

Question 50

vignette

Answer 50

n. a small design or portrait; a brief scene (as from a movie) or literary sketch