2015 preliminaries Flashcards
Magellan
This word is from a Portuguese historical name.
(noun) a world traveler.
After visiting his fifth continent, Bryce felt he qualified as a modern _____.
loris
This word is from French, which perhaps formed it from Dutch.
(noun) either of two classifications of small nocturnal slow-moving lemurs.
The _____ is both arboreal and nocturnal.
Please pay careful attention to the definition and part of speech. This word has a homonym or could be
confused with a word that has a similar pronunciation.
profundity
This word is from Latin.
(noun) intellectual depth : penetrating knowledge : keen insight and understanding.
The _____ of Sasha’s remark about the nature of the universe quieted the lunchroom crowd.
assiduous
This word is from Latin.
(adjective) marked or characterized by constant unremitting attention or by persistent energetic
application.
Lucy was _____ in her preparation for the spelling bee, devoting an hour of each day to practice and
constantly searching for new words.
Please pay careful attention to the definition and part of speech. This word has a homonym or could be
confused with a word that has a similar pronunciation.
ritenuto
This word is from Italian, which formed it from Latin.
(adjective) held back in tempo — used as a direction in music usually indicating an abrupt
slowing down.
In the sight-reading competition, Jolie was surprised by the suddenly slow tempo of the _____ section of
the composition.
sargasso
This word is from Portuguese, which perhaps formed it from Latin.
(noun) a seaweed also known as gulfweed.
_____ was named by Portuguese sailors who found it in the sea of the same name.
ecotourism
This word is from an originally Greek part, a French part and an English combining form.
(noun) the practice of visiting natural habitats in a manner meant to minimize environmental
impact.
_____ has become very popular in Central American countries like Belize and Costa Rica.
voilà
This word is from French.
(interjection) — used to call attention, to express satisfaction or approval, or to suggest an
appearing as if by magic.
“_____!” said Andrew, placing a huge platter of cookies and fruit on the table.
metatarsal
This word is from two parts that went from Greek to Latin.
(adjective) of or relating to the part of the foot that forms the instep.
Arlo sustained a _____ injury when he dropped a hammer on his left foot.
farcical
This word is from Latin.
(adjective) receiving or meriting laughter or amused scorn as utterly without claim to serious
consideration or as laughably inept.
Shakespeare employed _____ characters in many of his plays to provide comic relief.
clairvoyance
This word is from French.
(adjective) the act or power professed by certain persons of discerning objects hidden from sight
or at a great distance.
Myra claimed she had the power of _____ when she found her missing keys, but in reality they had been
in her pocket the whole time.
Please pay careful attention to the definition and part of speech. This word has a homonym or could be
confused with a word that has a similar pronunciation.
tamborito
This word is from American Spanish.
(noun) a modern Panamanian couple dance with intricate footwork.
The _____, the national dance of Panama, is performed in formal costumes and often alongside a
percussion ensemble.
vicissitude
a change of luck
sybaritic
opulent luxury
eccentric
deviates from common usage in a
whimsical way
oblique
slanting in direction or position
rongeur
a surgeon
manifold
diversity or variety
inscrutable
not readily comprehensible
beaucoup
a lot of apple pie
phlebotomy
making an incision in a vein to draw blood
abrogate
annul or repeal
trenchant
sharply perceptive
calumny
slander
amenable
responsive to suggestion
hallux
a big toe
rhythmically
collateral
jibboom
