Chapter 16

Question 1

soothsayer

Answer 1

n.

One who claims to be able to foretell events or predict the future; a seer.

Question 2

archetype

Answer 2

n.

1. An original model or type after which other similar things are patterned; a prototype e.g. Frankenstein, Dracula
2. An ideal example of a type; quintessence: an archetype of the successful entrepreneur.

Question 3

clemency

Answer 3

n.

1. A disposition to show mercy, especially toward an offender or enemy.
2. A merciful, kind, or lenient act.
3. Mildness, especially of weather.

Question 4

disinterested

Answer 4

adj.
1. Free of bias and self-interest; impartial: disinterested scientific opinion
2.
a. Not interested; indifferent
b. Having lost interest.

Question 5

ingénue

Answer 5

n.
1. A naive, innocent girl or young woman.
2.
a. The role of an ingénue in a dramatic production.
b. An actress playing such a role.

Question 6

mendacious

Answer 6

adj.

1. Lying; untruthful: a mendacious child.
2. False; untrue: a mendacious statement.

Question 7

paucity

Answer 7

n.

1. Smallness of number; fewness.
2. Scarcity; dearth: a paucity of natural resources.

Question 8

protean

Answer 8

adj.

1. Readily taking on varied shapes, forms, or meanings.
2. Exhibiting considerable variety or diversity: protean talent

Question 9

sophomoric

Answer 9

adj.

1. Of or characteristic of a sophomore.
2. Exhibiting great immaturity and lack of judgment: sophomoric behavior.

Question 10

venal

Answer 10

adj.
1.
a. Open to bribery; mercenary: a venal police officer.
b. Characterized by corrupt dealings, especially bribery: a venal arrangement between the police and the drug dealers.

Question 11

disparage

Answer 11

v.

1. To speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way.
2. To reduce in esteem or rank.

Question 12

ingrate

Answer 12

n.

An ungrateful person.

Question 13

mercenary

Answer 13

adj.

1. Motivated solely by a desire for monetary or material gain.
2. Hired for service in a foreign army.

Question 14

peccadillo

Answer 14

n.

A small sin or fault.

Question 15

soporific

Answer 15

adj.

1. Inducing or tending to induce sleep.
2. Drowsy.

Question 16

fly-by-night

Answer 16

adj.

1. Unreliable or unscrupulous, especially with regard to business dealings; disreputable: some fly-by-night startup
2. Of an impermanent or insubstantial nature: fly-by-night fashions in clothing.

Question 17

inimical

Answer 17

adj.

1. Injurious or harmful in effect; adverse: habits inimical to good health.
2. Unfriendly; hostile: a cold, inimical voice.

Question 18

mercurial

Answer 18

adj.

1. Having the characteristics of eloquence, shrewdness, swiftness, and thievishness attributed to the god Mercury.
2. Containing or caused by the action of the element mercury.
3. Quick and changeable in temperament; volatile: a mercurial nature.

Question 19

pedant

Answer 19

n.

One who ostentatiously exhibits academic knowledge or who pays undue attention to minor details or formal rules.

Question 20

venerate

Answer 20

v.

To regard with deep respect or reverence.

Question 21

artifice

Answer 21

n.
1.
a. Deception or trickery: artifice of the seller.
b. Something contrived or made up to achieve an end, especially by deceiving; a stratagem or ruse.
2.
a. Cleverness or ingenuity in making or doing something; art or skill: literary artifice
b. An artistic device or convention: artifices such as conceits and puns.

Question 22

coalesce

Answer 22

v.

1. To come or grow together into a single mass; merge: the material that coalesced to form stars.
2. To come together as a recognizable whole or entity: the stories that coalesced as the history of the movement.
3. To come together for a single purpose: The rebel units coalesced into one army to fight the invaders.

Question 23

dispassionate

Answer 23

adj.

Not influenced by strong feelings or emotions; impartial: a dispassionate reporter.

Question 24

forensic

Answer 24

adj.

1. Relating to, used in, or appropriate for courts of law or for public discussion or argumentation.
2. Relating to the use of science or technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law: a forensic laboratory.

Question 25

pedestrian

Answer 25

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or made for pedestrians: a pedestrian bridge.
2. Going or performed on foot: a pedestrian journey.
3. Undistinguished; ordinary; common; mundane; dull: pedestrian prose.