Chapter 19

Question 1

peremptory

Answer 1

adj.
1.
a. Subject to no further debate or dispute; final and unassailable: a peremptory decree.
b. Not allowing contradiction or refusal; imperative: The officer issued peremptory commands.
2. Offensively self-assured; imperious or dictatorial: a swaggering, peremptory manner.

Question 2

stevedore

Answer 2

n.

One who is employed in the loading or unloading of ships; dockworker.

Question 3

virtuoso

Answer 3

n.

1. A musician with masterly ability, technique, or personal style.
2. A person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.

Question 4

augment

Answer 4

v.
To make (something already developed or well under way) greater, as in size, extent, or quantity: Continuing rains augmented the floodwaters.

Question 5

droll

Answer 5

adj.

Amusingly odd or whimsically comical.

Question 6

galleon

Answer 6

n.
A large three-masted sailing ship with a square rig and usually two or more decks, used from the 15th to the 17th century especially by Spain as a merchant ship or warship.

Question 7

perfidy

Answer 7

n.

1. Deliberate breach of faith; calculated violation of trust; treachery.
2. The act or an instance of treachery.

Question 8

quandary

Answer 8

n.

A state of uncertainty or perplexity.

Question 9

gambol

Answer 9

v.

To leap about playfully; frolic.

Question 10

modicum

Answer 10

n.

A small amount of something

Question 11

perfunctory

Answer 11

adj.

1. Done routinely and with little interest or care; superficial; cursory: perfunctory greeting.
2. Acting with indifference; showing little interest or care.

Question 12

stoic/ stoical

Answer 12

adj.

Seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive: stoic resignation

Question 13

concatenate

Answer 13

v.

To connect or link in a series or chain.

Question 14

garble

Answer 14

v.

1. To mix up or distort to such an extent as to make misleading or incomprehensible; muddle: The report garbled all the historical facts.
2. To scramble (a signal or message), as by erroneous encoding or faulty transmission.

Question 15

momentous

Answer 15

adj.

Of utmost importance; of outstanding significance or consequence: a momentous occasion; a momentous decision.

Question 16

peripatetic

Answer 16

adj.

Walking about or from place to place; travelling on foot; nomadic.

Question 17

vitriolic

Answer 17

adj.

1. Of, similar to, or derived from a vitriol; corrosive.
2. Bitterly scathing; caustic; strongly attacking: vitriolic criticism.

Question 18

garish

Answer 18

adj.

Overly bright or ornamented, especially in a vulgar or tasteless way; gaudy.

Question 19

intrepid

Answer 19

adj.

Resolutely courageous; fearless.

Question 20

peripheral

Answer 20

adj.

1. Related to, located in, or constituting an outer boundary, edge or periphery.
2. Of minor relevance or importance.

Question 21

stolid

Answer 21

adj.
Having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; impassive: “the incredibly massive and stolid bureaucracy of the Soviet system”

Question 22

vivacity

Answer 22

n.

The quality or condition of being vivacious; liveliness.

Question 23

balk

Answer 23

v.

1. To stop short and refuse to go on: The horse balked at the jump.
2. To refuse obstinately or abruptly: She balked at the very idea of compromise.

Question 24

inveterate

Answer 24

adj.

1. Firmly and long established; deep-rooted: inveterate preferences.
2. Persisting in an ingrained habit; habitual: an inveterate liar.

Question 25

moratorium

Answer 25

n.

1. Law
   a. A lawful suspension of the payment of certain debts during a period of financial or civil distress.
   b. The period during which such a suspension occurs.
2. A suspension of an ongoing or planned activity: a moratorium on timber cutting.