Advanced V

Question 1

phelegmatic

Answer 1

phlegmatic
adjective: showing little emotion

Arnold is truly noble, remaining reserved until an issue of significance arises, but Walter is simply phlegmatic: he doesn’t have the energy or inclination to care about anything.

Question 2

doleful

Answer 2

doleful
adjective: filled with or evoking sadness

No event is more doleful than the passing of my mother; she was a shining star in my life, and it brings me great sadness to think that she is now gone.

Question 3

disingenuous

Answer 3

disingenuous
adjective: not straightforward; giving a false appearance of frankness

Many adults think that they can lie to children, but kids are smart and know when people are disingenuous.

Question 4

gambit

Answer 4

gambit
noun: a maneuver or risk in a game or conversation, designed to secure an advantage

Randy played a gambit, telling his boss that he would leave at the end of the week if he didn’t get a raise.

Question 5

besotted

Answer 5

besotted
adjective: strongly affectionate towards

Even though her father did not approve, Juliet became besotted with the young Romeo.

adjective: very drunk

Never before have I seen my mom so besotted, and honestly, I hope it’s the last time she drinks so much.

Question 6

paragon

Answer 6

paragon
noun: model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal

Even with the rise of Kobe Bryant, many still believe that Michael Jordon is the paragon for basketball players.

noun: an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept

Some say that Athens was the paragon of democracy, but these people often forget that slaves and women were still not allowed to vote.

Question 7

debonair

Answer 7

debonair
adjective: having a sophisticated charm

James Bond is known for his good looks, high tech gadgets, and debonair manner.

Question 8

inchoate

Answer 8

inchoate
adjective: only partly in existence; imperfectly formed

Inchoate ideas about the relation of humans to other animals had been discussed since the Middle Ages but the modern theory really began with Darwin.

Question 9

baleful

Answer 9

baleful
adjective: threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

Movies often use storms or rain clouds as a baleful omen of evil events that will soon befall the main character

Question 10

apothegm

Answer 10

apothegm
noun: a short, pithy instructive saying

Winston Churchill is famous for many apothegms, but this might be his most famous: “It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”

Question 11

embryonic

Answer 11

embryonic
adjective: in an early stage of development

The Board of Directors is hoping to launch a new product soon, but planning for the Z7 is in an embryonic stage.

Question 12

chagrin

Answer 12

chagrin
noun: strong feelings of embarrassment

Much to the timid writer’s chagrin, the audience chanted his name until he came back on the stage.

verb: cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of

She never cared what others said about her appearance but was chagrined by the smallest comment from her mother.

Question 13

bemoan

Answer 13

bemoan
verb: express discontent or a strong regret

While the CFO carefully explained all the reasons for the cuts in benefits, after the meeting employees bemoaned the cuts as further evidence that management was against them.

Question 14

deign

Answer 14

deign
verb: do something that one considers to be below one’s dignity

The master of the house never deigned to answer questions from the servants.

Question 15

truculence

Answer 15

truculence
noun: defiant aggressiveness

When the boss confronted Aaron about his earlier remarks, Aaron responded with utter truculence, simply throwing a glass of water in the boss’ face and walking away.

Question 16

inanity

Answer 16

inanity
noun: total lack of meaning or ideas

Bill’s poem was nothing more than a list of impressive sounding words, so there was no point in trying to take meaning from the inanity.

Question 17

squelch

Answer 17

squelch
verb: suppress or crush completely

After the dictator consolidated his power, he took steps to squelch all criticism, often arresting any journalist who said anything that could be interpreted as negative about his regime.

Question 18

broadside

Answer 18

broadside
noun: a strong verbal attack

Political broadsides are usually strongest in the weeks leading up to a national election.

Question 19

browbeat

Answer 19

browbeat
verb: be bossy towards; discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner

During the interrogation, the suspect was browbeaten into signing a false confession.

Question 20

antic

Answer 20

antic
adjective: ludicrously odd

The clown’s antic act was too extreme for the youngest children, who left the room in tears.

This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Question 21

artifice

Answer 21

artifice
noun: cunning tricks used to deceive others

The mayoral candidates both spent much of the campaign accusing each other of artifices designed to mislead the voting public.

Question 22

recrudesce

Answer 22

recrudesce
verb: to break out or happen again

After years of gamblers anonymous, Tony thought he’d broken his compulsive slot machine playing, but it took only one trip to the Atlantic City for a full recrudescence–he lost $5k on the one armed bandit.

Question 23

unstinting

Answer 23

unstinting
adjective: very generous

Helen is unstinting with her time, often spending hours at the house of a sick friend.

Question 24

bristle

Answer 24

bristle
verb: react in an offended or angry manner

As we discussed the painting, I noticed the artist’s wife bristling at our criticisms, ready to defend her husband’s work.

Question 25

vitriol

Answer 25

vitriol
noun: abusive or venomous language used to express blame or bitter deep-seated ill will

His vitriol spewed forth from a deep-seated racism that consumed his whole life.

Question 26

objurgate

Answer 26

objurgate
verb: express strong disapproval of

The manager spent an hour objurgating the employee in the hopes that he would not make these mistakes again.

Question 27

appurtenant

Answer 27

appurtenant
adjective: supplying added support

In hiking Mt. Everest, sherpas are appurtenant, helping climbers both carry gear and navigate treacherous paths.

Question 28

chimera

Answer 28

chimera
noun: something desired or wished for but is only an illusion and impossible to achieve

Many believe that a world free of war is a chimera—a dream that ignores humanity’s violent tendencies.

Question 29

erastz

Answer 29

ersatz
adjective: not real or genuine; phony

The car dealer’s ersatz laughter was immediately followed by a price quote, one that Shelley found highly inflated.

Question 30

solicitude

Answer 30

solicitude
noun: a feeling of excessive concern

I walked to his house in the rain to make sure he had enough to eat while he was sick, but he seemed not to appreciate my solicitude.

Question 31

nettlesome

Answer 31

nettlesome
adjective: causing irritation or annoyance

Maria found her coworker’s cell phone nettlesome, because every few minutes it would buzz to life with another text message.

Question 32

anachronism

Answer 32

anachronism
noun: something that is inappropriate for the given time period (usually something old).

Dressed in 15th century clothing each day, Edward was a walking anachronism.

Question 33

hoary

Answer 33

hoary
adjective: ancient

Most workout gurus are young, fit people, whereas most yoga gurus are hoary men with long white beards.

Question 34

brook

Answer 34

brook
verb: put up with something or somebody unpleasant

While she was at the chalkboard, the teacher did not brook any form of talking–even a tiny peep resulted in afternoon detention.

This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Question 35

empiricism

Answer 35

empiricism
noun: any method that derives knowledge from experience, used in experimental science as a way to gain insight and knowledge

Empiricism does not always lead to knowledge; an experience or experiment may raise more questions than it answers.

Question 36

unprepossessing

Answer 36

unprepossessing
adjective: creating an unfavorable or neutral first impression

World leaders coming to meet Gandhi would expect a towering sage, and often would be surprised by the unprepossessing little man dressed only in a loincloth and shawl.

Question 37

untrammeled

Answer 37

untrammeled
adjective: not confined or limited

The whole notion of living untrammeled inspired the American Revolution and was enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Question 38

ineffable

Answer 38

ineffable
adjective: too sacred to be uttered; defying expression or description

While art critics can occasionally pinpoint a work’s greatness, much of why a piece captures our imaginations is completely ineffable.

Question 39

arrogate

Answer 39

arrogate
verb: seize and control without authority

Arriving at the small town, the outlaw arrogated the privileges of a lord, asking the frightened citizens to provide food, drink, and entertainment.

Question 40

languish

Answer 40

languish
verb: become feeble

Stranded in the wilderness for four days, the hiker languished, eating protein bars and nuts.

Question 41

philistine

Answer 41

philistine
adjective: smug and ignorant towards artistic and cultural values

Jane considered Al completely philistine, because he talked almost exclusively about video games; she was entirely unaware of how well read he really was.

Question 42

effervescent

Answer 42

effervescent
adjective: marked by high spirits or excitement

After the sales result, the manager was in an effervescent mood, letting several employees leave work early that day.

This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Question 43

reprisal

Answer 43

reprisal
noun: a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime

The Old Testament doctrine of “an eye for an eye” would seem to justify an immediate physical reprisal for any injury, but that interpretation neglects the many passages that value mercy and loving-kindness over revenge.

Question 44

exemplar

Answer 44

exemplar
noun: something to be imitated

Lena’s homework is on the wall because it is an exemplar of clean, neat, and thoughtful work.

Question 45

atavism

Answer 45

atavism
noun: a reappearance of an earlier characteristic; throwback

Much of the modern art movement was an atavism to a style of art found only in small villages through Africa and South America.

Question 46

meteoric

Answer 46

meteoric
adjective: like a meteor in speed or brilliance or transience

The early spectacular successes propelled the pitcher to meteoric stardom, but a terrible injury tragically cut short his career.

Question 47

empiricism

Answer 47

empiricism
noun: any method that derives knowledge from experience, used in experimental science as a way to gain insight and knowledge

Empiricism does not always lead to knowledge; an experience or experiment may raise more questions than it answers.

Question 48

pith

Answer 48

pith
noun: the most essential part of something

When Cynthia hears a speaker presenting a complex argument, she is always able to discard the irrelevant details and extract the pith of what the speaker is trying to convey.

This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study