Chap 2

Question 1

Languorous

Answer 1

Being lazy. Even in the L tropics, H was schooled in the fast-paced modern world.

Question 2

Obscure

Answer 2

Not discovered or known about. He did not operate in an obscure corner of the world.

Question 3

Commodity

Answer 3

A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper or coffee.

Question 4

Lingua Franca

Answer 4

a language that is adopted as a common language between speakers whose native languages are different. English, not Danish, functioned as the island’s lingua franca.

Question 5

Aversion

Answer 5

a strong dislike. Hamilton had an aversion towards commerce.

Question 6

Precocious

Answer 6

Having developed certain abilities or proclivities at an earlier age than usual. Nicholas Cruger returned to NY for 5 months and left his precocious clerk in charge.

Question 7

Tumultuous

Answer 7

Making a loud, confused noise. Or excited or disorderly.

Question 8

Peremptory

Answer 8

Insisting on immediate attention or obedience.

Question 9

Conundrum

Answer 9

a confusing and difficult problem or question.

Question 10

Fetid

Answer 10

smelling very unpleasant.

Question 11

Noisome

Answer 11

having an extremely offensive smell.

Question 12

effluvia

Answer 12

unpleasant or harmful odor.

Question 13

ambiguity

Answer 13

uncertainty or inexactness of meaning in a language.

Question 14

recidivist

Answer 14

a convicted criminal who reoffends

Question 15

milieu

Answer 15

a person’s social environment. He grew up in the American milieu.

Question 16

detestation

Answer 16

intense dislike. Hamiliton had a permanent detestation of slavery from his days on St. Croix

Question 17

abolitionist

Answer 17

a person who favors the abolition of a practice or institution. Especially slavery or capital punishment. Hamiliton engaged in abolitionist efforts to end slavery.

Question 18

despotism

Answer 18

the exercise of absolute power. my mom is a despot when it comes to what I should read.

Question 19

anarchy

Answer 19

a state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority. My mother fears that if I do not read history I will contribute to a state of moral anarchy.

Question 20

berth

Answer 20

a situation or position in an organisation or event. Because Hamilton read and wrote well he was freed from his humble berth and allowed to live a life of great privilege.

Question 21

diffident

Answer 21

modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence. He was diffident and lonely for the rest of his life because he did not read the books his mother told him to read when he was a mere boy of 14.

Question 22

presumptuous

Answer 22

failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate. It is quite presumptuous of her to think that she could simply watch TV all day and then be prepared for her test the next day.

Question 23

schizophrenic

Answer 23

a mentality or approach characterized by inconsistent or contradictory elements.

Question 24

philanderer

Answer 24

a man who has casual sexual relations with women.

Question 25

amorous

Answer 25

showing, feeling, or relating to sexual desire.

Question 26

nemesis

Answer 26

ones enemy or the thing that is one’s downfall. Burr was Hamilton’s nemesis.

Question 27

prodigious

Answer 27

remarkably great in extent, size, or degree. Due to his mother’s diligence in making sure she was well read, she had a prodigious knowledge of American history that served her well in her latter life.

Question 28

prefatory

Answer 28

a note before a book or letter. Knox wrote a prefatory note explaining the letter to the editor.

Question 29

bombastic

Answer 29

high-sounding language with little meaning, used to impress people.

Question 30

succour

Answer 30

give assistance or aid to. Succour the miserable and lay up a treasure in heaven.