2022 Feb

Question 1

Betoken

Answer 1

To be a sign of

Indicate

Question 2

Istinja

Answer 2

Arabic term for cleaning of the private parts after urinating and/ or defecating

Question 3

Istibra

Answer 3

The period of sexual abstinence imposed on an unmarried female slave whenever she changed hands or her master liberated her or gave her in marriage

Question 4

In mothballs

Answer 4

Unused but kept in good condition for future use

E.g.,

It was no use keeping aircraft in mothballs without fully trained crews to fly them

Question 5

Skirr

Answer 5

To move rapidly, especially with a whirring sound

“Five dark birds rose skirring away”

Question 6

Welkin

Answer 6

The sky or heaven

Phrase:

To make the welkin sing

Def.: To make a very loud sound

“The crew made the welkin sing with its hurrahs”

Question 7

Napery

Answer 7

Household linen, especially tablecloths and napkins

Question 8

Tantivy

Answer 8

A rapid gallop or ride

Question 9

Sangfroid

Answer 9

Composure (coolness/ calmness under pressure)

Question 10

Layette

Answer 10

A set of clothing, apparel, linen, etc. for a newborn child

Question 11

Occlude

Answer 11

To obstruct

Block

Question 12

Telos

Answer 12

An ultimate object or aim

Question 13

Diluvial

Answer 13

relating to a flood or floods

Question 14

fardel

Answer 14

a bundle

Question 15

Bisque

Answer 15

a rich, creamy soup typically made with shellfish, especially lobster

Question 16

Canary in a coal mine

Answer 16

something which warns of the coming of greater danger or trouble by a deterioration in its health or welfare

Question 17

Graminivorous

Answer 17

(of an animal) feeding on grass

Question 18

Phosphene

Answer 18

a ring or spot of light produced by pressure on the eyeball or direct simulation of the visual system other than by light

Question 19

Argot

Answer 19

Jargon

Question 20

CLI

Answer 20

Command line interface (connects a user to a computer programme or operating system)

Question 21

Troglodyte

Answer 21

(especially in prehistoric times) a person who lived in a cave

a hermit

a person who is regarded as being deliberately ignorant or old-fashioned

a luddite

Question 22

Duplicitous

Answer 22

Deceitful

Question 23

Frabjous

Answer 23

Delightful

Joyous

Question 24

Trundle

Answer 24

To move or cause to move slowly and/ or heavily

Question 25

Humecter

Answer 25

To moisten

Question 26

Humectant

Answer 26

Retaining or preserving moisture

Question 27

Missive

Answer 27

A letter, especially a long or official one

Question 28

Palindrome

Answer 28

A word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backward as forward

E.g., madam / nurses run