#55 libel ~ luminous

Question 1

libel

/ˈlaɪbəl/

Answer 1

n. a written or published falsehood that injures the reputation of, or defames, someone
- The executive said that the newspaper had committed libel when it called him a striking, no-good, corrupt, incompetent, overpaid, lying, worthless moron. He claimed that the newspaper had libeled him, and that its description of him had been libelous. At the trial, the jury disagreed, saying that the newspaper’s description of the executive had been substantially accurate.

Question 2

slander

/ˈslændər/

Answer 2

v. to say sth. untrue that injures that person’s reputation

Question 3

litigate

/ˈlɪtɪˌgeɪt/

Answer 3

v. to try in court; to engage in legal proceedings
- His lawyers thought a lawsuit would be fruitless, but the client wanted to litigate. He was feeling litigious (/lɪˈtɪdʒəs/); that is, he was feeling in a mood to go to court.
- When the company was unable to recover its money outside of court, its only option was to litigate.
To litigate is to engage in litigation; a court hearing is an example of litigation.

Question 4

loquacious

/loʊˈkweɪʃəs/

Answer 4

adj. talking a lot or too much
- The child was surprisingly loquacious for one so small.
- Mary is so loquacious that Belinda can sometimes put down the telephone receiver and run a load of laundry while Mary is talking.
A loquacious person is one who is characterized by loquaciousness or loquacity.
- The English teacher’s loquacity in class left little time for any of the students to speak, which was fine with most of them.

Question 5

lucid

/ˈluːsɪd/

Answer 5

adj. clear; easy to understand
- The professor’s explanation of the theory of relativity was so astonishingly lucid that even I could understand it.
- Hubert’s remarks were few but lucid: He explained the complicated issue with just a handful of well-chosen words.
- The extremely old man was lucid right up until the moment he died; his body had given out but his mind was still going strong.

Question 6

elucidate

/ɪˈluːsɪˌdeɪt/

Answer 6

v. to make clear; to explain

Question 7

lugubrious

/lʊˈgubriəs, -ˈgyu-/

Answer 7

adj. exaggeratedly mournful
To be mournful is to be sad and sorrowful. To be lugubrious is to make a big show of being sad and sorrowful.
- Harry’s lugubrious eulogy at the funeral of his dog eventually made everyone start giggling.
- The valedictorian suddenly turned lugubrious and began sobbing and tearing her hair at the thought of graduating from high school.

Question 8

luminous

/ˈlumənəs/

Answer 8

adj. giving off light; glowing; bright
- The moon was a luminous disk in the cloudy nighttime sky.
- The snow on the ground appeared eerily luminous at night - it seemed to glow.
- The dial on my watch is luminous; it casts a green glow in the dark.