Chapter 14

Question 1

felicitous

Answer 1

adj.

1. Admirably suited; apt: a felicitous comparison.
2. Exhibiting an agreeably appropriate manner or style: a felicitous writer.
3. Marked by happiness or good fortune: a felicitous life.

Question 2

ineffable

Answer 2

adj.

1. Incapable of being expressed; indescribable or unutterable: ineffable joy.
2. Not to be uttered; taboo: the ineffable name of God.

Question 3

parochial

Answer 3

adj.

1. Of, relating to, supported by, or located in a parish.
2. Of or relating to parochial schools.
3. Narrowly restricted in scope or outlook; provincial: parochial attitudes.

Question 4

utilitarian

Answer 4

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or in the interests of utility: utilitarian considerations in industrial design.
2. Exhibiting or stressing utility over other values; practica; useful: plain, utilitarian kitchenware.
3. Of, characterized by, or advocating utilitarianism.

Question 5

apathetic

Answer 5

adj.

1. Feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent.
2. Feeling or showing little or no emotion; unresponsive.

Question 6

disapprobation

Answer 6

n.

Moral disapproval; condemnation.

Question 7

martinet

Answer 7

n.

1. A rigid military disciplinarian.
2. One who demands absolute adherence to forms and rules; one who believes in strict discipline.

Question 8

apocryphal

Answer 8

adj.

1. Of questionable authorship or authenticity.
2. Erroneous; fictitious

Question 9

circumlocution

Answer 9

n.

1. The use of unnecessarily wordy language, especially in being vague or evasive.
2. A roundabout or evasive expression

Question 10

masochism

Answer 10

n.

1. The deriving of sexual gratification, or the tendency to derive sexual gratification, from being physically or emotionally abused.
2. The deriving of pleasure, or the tendency to derive pleasure, from being humiliated or mistreated, either by another or by oneself.
3. A willingness or tendency to subject oneself to unpleasant or trying experiences.

Question 11

parry

Answer 11

v.

1. To deflect or ward off (e.g. a fencing thrust).
2. To deflect, evade, or avoid: He skillfully parried the question with a clever reply.

Question 12

prolific

Answer 12

adj.

1. Producing offspring or fruit in great abundance; fertile: a prolific variety of grape.
2. Producing or characterized by abundant works or results: a prolific artist; a prolific period in a writer’s life.

Question 13

sluggard

Answer 13

n.

A slothful person; an idler.

Question 14

vacillate

Answer 14

v.

1. To be unable to choose between different courses of action or opinions; waver; hesitate.
2. To change between one state and another; fluctuate: The weather vacillated between sunny and rainy.

Question 15

circumscribe

Answer 15

v.
1. To draw a line around; encircle.
2.
a. To form or mark the limits of; delineate: The hedge circumscribes the property.
b. To limit narrowly; restrict; limit: Their plans were circumscribed by a lack of money.

Question 16

matriarchy

Answer 16

n.
1.
a. A social system in which the mother is head of the family.
b. A family, community, or society based on this system or governed by women.
2. The collection of women in positions of power, especially in such a social system or community. In all senses also called matriarchate.

Question 17

parsimonious

Answer 17

adj.

Excessively sparing or frugal.

Question 18

smelt

Answer 18

v.

To melt or fuse (ores) in order to separate the metallic constituents.

Question 19

vacuous

Answer 19

adj.
1.
a. Lacking intelligence; stupid or empty-headed.
b. Devoid of substance or meaning; vapid or inane: a vacuous comment.
c. Devoid of expression; vacant; empty: a vacuous stare.
2. Lacking serious purpose or occupation; idle: vacuous day

Question 20

circumspect

Answer 20

adj.

Heedful of circumstances and potential consequences; prudent; cautious.

Question 21

fitful

Answer 21

adj.

Occurring in or characterized by intermittent bursts, as of activity; irregular: a fitful sleep.

Question 22

inexorable

Answer 22

adj.

1. Impossible to stop, alter, or resist; inevitable: an inexorable fate; an inexorable law of nature.
2. Not capable of being persuaded by entreaty; relentless: an inexorable opponent.

Question 23

maverick

Answer 23

n.
A person who shows independence of thought and action, especially by refusing to adhere to the policies of a group to which he or she belongs; a loner.

Question 24

prosaic

Answer 24

adj.
1.
a. Consisting or characteristic of prose.
b. Matter-of-fact; straightforward.
2. Lacking in imagination and spirit; dull.

Question 25

smorgasbord

Answer 25

n.

1. A Swedish buffet meal featuring a varied number of cold dishes.
2. A varied collection: a smorgasbord of fashionable paranormal beliefs