3

Question 1

contrite

Answer 1

Feeling remorse, afflicted by guilt

Question 2

apostasy

Answer 2

Renouncing a political or religious belief

Question 3

sotto voce

Answer 3

under the breath. An undertone > > the wife began telling us sotto voce about the upcoming surprise party

Question 4

impassive

Answer 4

not showing emotion > the impassive passersby ignored the performers

Question 5

compunction

Answer 5

a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that follows doing something bad the pricking of the conscience > he had no compunction about behaving blasphemously

Question 6

plenary

Answer 6

unqualified or absolute > a plenary indulgence by the pope also, attended by everyone in a group that typically meets in smaller sub-groups > a plenary session of the European congress

Question 7

addlepated

Answer 7

lacking common sense having a muddied mind > he made the addlepated decision to build on loose soil

Question 8

gird

Answer 8

to encircle, secure or surround > the police were hoping for the best but girding for the worst

Question 9

cargo cult

Answer 9

film the gods must be crazy native people worshiping

Question 10

incongruous

Answer 10

Not congruous/consistent, incompatible > incongruous sight of a horse and carriage mixed in with cars on the streets of New York City

Question 11

rhapsody

Answer 11

A piece of music with some improvisation meant to express emotion A written or spoken expression of great enthusiasm An emotional utterance, an effusive composition Mnemonic: comes from Latin for a section recited from an epic poem

Question 12

diffident

Answer 12

Soft-spoken, reserved, lacking self-confidence Mnemonic: both diffident and confident have the root fidere, which is Latin for trust (fidelity, fiduciary). “how much trust do you have in yourself?”

Question 13

oblivion

Answer 13

the state of being oblivious – having forgotten or, destroyed > the oblivion of sleep came from greek mythology about a river that caused anyone who drank from it to forget. River of Oblivion in Paradise Lost

Question 14

chivy

Answer 14

To annoy or tease someone by repeated petty attacks or to move something by small incremental movements Or to harass or chase > she watched as he chivvied an olive from the jar with a knife

Question 15

irascible

Answer 15

easily angered > he’s an irascible man

Question 16

facile

Answer 16

superficial. a theory or argument that appears neat and comprehensive but only by ignoring true complexities of the issue or, having superficial and simplistic knowledge > a man of facile and shallow intellect something quick and fluent or effortless > a facile victor. > a facile liar

Question 17

allegory

Answer 17

is more general: it’s a symbol story or poem that reveals a hidden meaning

Question 18

wheelhouse

Answer 18

baseball term: a place or situation where one is advantageously at ease

Question 19

vicarious

Answer 19

apoplectic,Extremely angry to the point of stroke

Question 20

consigliere

Answer 20

An advisor, especially to a crime boss

Question 21

mandala

Answer 21

a symbol of the universe in buddhism and hinduism

Question 22

exigency

Answer 22

Urgency Pressing importance

Question 23

emenance grise

Answer 23

French for gray eminence. A person who unofficially has power over a particular sphere

Question 24

visceral

Answer 24

relating to deep inward feeling rather than outward appearance > a visceral fear of change

Question 25

phlegmatic

Answer 25

stolid and emotionless > phlegmatic son of the communist aristocracy

Question 26

sacrum

Answer 26

the center of gravity point at the hip two inches below the belly button

Question 27

salutary

Answer 27

Something typically unwelcome that produces beneficial effects > a salutary reminder of our origins

Question 28

partitive

Answer 28

referring to a part of a whole (e.g., some of the children or a slice of bread)

Question 29

insolent

Answer 29

showing a lack of respect

Question 30

petulant

Answer 30

childishly sulky or bad-tempered someone who is annoyed or angry but not justified in being so

Question 31

adamantine

Answer 31

Literary. Unbreakable

Question 32

halcyon

Answer 32

A period that’s idyllic, happy, peaceful > the halcyon days

Question 33

libidinal

Answer 33

Relating to the libido.

Question 34

detumescence

Answer 34

Declining from previous arousal

Question 35

disquisition

Answer 35

a detailed discussion on a subject.&raquo_space; he fell asleep to franklin’s disposition on the theory of colds

Question 36

unctuous

Answer 36

Speaking with excessive, polite but insincere praise. Plastic

Question 37

spleen

Answer 37

ill temper > a book full of spleen > to vent your spleen on others

Question 38

glowering

Answer 38

Scowl. Bear an angry or sullen expression

Question 39

insensate

Answer 39

Lacking awareness. Brutal. Foolish.

> an insensate boss who refuses to allow time off for funerals