Critical Words

Question 0

Word for :

reason or justification for existence

Answer 0

raison d’être

Question 1

Word for :

“satisfaction or pleasure felt in misfortune of others”

Answer 1

schadenfreude

Question 2

Word for :

if all other relevant things, factors, or elements remain unaltered

Answer 2

ceteris paribus

Question 3

Word for :

a policy that allows businesses to operate with very little interference from the government

Answer 3

laissez faire

Question 4

Word for :
: a political principle or policy directed toward the incorporation of irredentas within the boundaries of their historically or ethnically related political unit

Answer 4

irredentism

Question 5

Word for :

government by the mob: mob rule

Answer 5

ochlocracy

Question 6

Word for :

the representation or assumption of a future act or development as if presently existing or accomplished

Answer 6

prolepsis

Question 7

Word for :

something that has been done and cannot be changed

Answer 7

fait accompli

Question 8

Word for :
: the act of no longer caring for, using, or doing something : the act of abandoning something
: the condition of being no longer cared for
law : failure to do your job or duty : failure to do what you should do

Answer 8

dereliction

Question 9

Word for :
: a Christian festival held on January 6 in honor of the coming of the three kings to the infant Jesus Christ
: a moment in which you suddenly see or understand something in a new or very clear way

Answer 9

epiphany

Question 10

Word for :
to regard (something abstract) as a material or concrete thing

Answer 10

reify

Question 11

Word for :
: ambiguity of speech, especially from uncertainty of the grammatical construction rather than the meaning of word
: a sentence or phrase (as “nothing is good enough for you”) that can be interpreted in more than one way

Answer 11

amphibology

Question 12

Word for :

1. to suggest or hint slyly: He insinuated that they were lying.
2. to instill or infuse subtly or artfully, as into the mind: to insinuate doubts through propaganda.
3. to bring or introduce into a position or relation by indirect or artful methods: to insinuate oneself into favor.

Answer 12

insinuate

Question 13

Word for :

1. appealing to one’s prejudices, emotions, or special interests rather than to one’s intellect or reason.
2. attacking an opponent’s character rather than answering his argument.

Answer 13

ad hominem

Question 14

Word for:
a reduction to an absurdity; the refutation of a proposition by demonstrating the inevitably absurd conclusion to which it would logically lead.

Answer 14

reductio ad absurdum

Question 15

Word for:

1. something claimed by a sovereign or superior as a prerogative.
2. a charge on bullion brought to the mint to be coined.
3. the difference between the cost of the bullion plus minting expenses and the value as money of the pieces coined, constituting a source of government revenue.

Answer 15

seigniorage

Question 16

Word for:
—noun
physical beauty; comeliness.

Answer 16

pulchritude

Question 17

Word for:
-Noun
1.the distribution of light and shade in a picture.
2.Painting. the use of deep variations in and subtle gradations of light and shade, especially to enhance the delineation of character and for general dramatic effect: Rembrandt is a master of chiaroscuro.
a woodcut print in which the colors are produced by the use of different blocks with different colors.
3.a sketch in light and shade.

Answer 17

chiaroscuro

Question 18

Word for:
—noun
moderation; discretion; prudence.
(Compare, hubris)

Answer 18

sophrosyne

Question 19

Word for:
noun
: a feeling of fear that causes you to hesitate because you think something bad or unpleasant is going to happen

Answer 19

"trepidation"
from trepid=timorous, fearful
other forms: 
trepidant=timid, trembling,
trepidatious=: feeling trepidation : apprehensive;
trep·i·da·tious·ly adverb

Question 20

Word for:

—adjective

1. characterised by or given to pretentious or conspicuous show in an attempt to impress others: an ostentatious dresser.
2. (of actions, manner, qualities exhibited, etc.) intended to attract notice: Lady Bountiful’s ostentatious charity.

Answer 20

ostentatious

Question 21

—adjective

1. easily seen or noticed; readily visible or observable: a conspicuous error.
2. attracting special attention, as by outstanding qualities or eccentricities: He was conspicuous by his booming laughter.

Answer 21

conspicuous

Question 22

Word for:
—adverb
1.near in space, time, or relation: The time draws nigh.
2.nearly; almost; (often followed by on or onto ): nigh onto twenty years.
—adjective
1.near; approaching: Evening is nigh.
2.short or direct: to take the nighest route.
3.(of an animal or vehicle) being on the left side: to be astride the nigh horse.
Archaic. parsimonious; stingy.
—preposition

near.
—verb (used without object), verb (used with object)

Archaic. to approach.
—Related forms
un·nigh, adjective

Answer 22

nigh (nahy)

Question 23

Word for:
intransitive verb
: to show that you believe you are more intelligent or better than other people
: to do something that you usually do not do because you believe you are too important to do it
Full Definition
1 a : to descend to a less formal or dignified level : unbend
b : to waive the privileges of rank
2 : to assume an air of superiority
Examples
I will not condescend to answer the sore loser’s charge that I cheated in order to win the race
wealthy people who tend to be condescending toward their poor relations
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French condescendre, from Late Latin condescendere, from Latin com- + descendere to descend.
First use: 14th century

Answer 23

con·de·scend\ˌkän-di-ˈsend\

Question 24

Word for:
a composite German word that describes processes of dealing with the past, which is perhaps best rendered in English as “struggle to come to terms with the past”.
It is a key term in the study of post-1945 German literature and culture.

Answer 24

Vergangenheitsbewältigung

is a composite German word that describes processes of dealing with the past (Vergangenheit = past; Bewältigung = coming to terms with, mastering, wrestling into submission)

Question 25

Word for: noun
: a young and successful person who is sometimes shocking and does things in a way that is very different from normal

1
a : a child whose inopportune remarks cause embarrassment
b : a person known for shocking remarks or outrageous behaviour

2
: a usually young and successful person who is strikingly unorthodox, innovative, or avant-garde

Answer 25

en·fant ter·ri·ble \äⁿ-fäⁿ-te-ˈrēblə\