Direct Hits Science & Social Sciences Vocabulary 8

Question 1

Catalyst

Answer 1

in chemistry, a catalyst is a subtance (such as an enzyme) that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction at some temperature, but without itself being transformed or consumed by the reaction. In everyday usage a catalyst is any agent that provokes or triggers change.

Question 2

Caustic

Answer 2

in chemistry, a caustic substance is one that burns or destroys organic tissue by chemical action. Hydrofluoric acid and silver nitrate are examples of caustic substances. In everday usage, a caustic comment is one that hurts of burns.

Question 3

Crystallize

Answer 3

in chemistry, crystallization is the process by which cystals are formed. In everdya isage, to crystallize means to give a definite form to an idea or plan.

Question 4

Innate

Answer 4

inorn; natural

Question 5

Succint

Answer 5

concise

Question 6

Osmosis

Answer 6

in chemostry, osmosis refers to the diffusion of a fluid through a sem-permeable membrance until there is an equal concentration of fluid on both sides of the membrane. In everyday usage, osmosis refers to a gradual, often unconcious process of assimilation.

Question 7

Assimilating

Answer 7

absorbing and integrating

Question 8

Sedentary

Answer 8

in ecology, animals that are sedentary remain or live in one area. In everyday usage, sedentary means settles and therefore accustomed to sitting or doing little exercise.

Question 9

Corpulent

Answer 9

overweight, obese

Question 10

Virulent

Answer 10

in medical science, virulent refers to a disease or toxin that is ectremely infectious, malignant, or poisnous. In everyday usage, virulent refers to language that is bitterly hostile, hateful, and antagonistic.

Question 11

Empirical

Answer 11

in science, empirical means originating in or based on direct observation and experience. empiral data can then be used to support of reject a hypothesis. In everyday language, empirical means to be guided by practical expericne, not theory.

Question 12

Daunting

Answer 12

intimidating

Question 13

Entomology

Answer 13

the sceintific study of insects

Question 14

Mystified

Answer 14

confused

Question 15

Surmise

Answer 15

deduce, theorize

Question 16

Etymology

Answer 16

a branch of linguistics concerned with the history and derivation of words.

Question 17

Gestate

Answer 17

in science, gestate means to carry within the uterus from conception to delivery. In everyday language, gestate means to concieve and dvelop in the mind.

Question 18

Cathartic

Answer 18

purgative, either physically or emtionally; cleansing

Question 19

Encompass

Answer 19

include

Question 20

Denouement

Answer 20

ending, resolution

Question 21

Paradigm

Answer 21

in science, a paradigm is a framework or model of thought

Question 22

Refuted

Answer 22

proved false

Question 23

Entrepreneur

Answer 23

a person who organizes and manages a business or enterprise

Question 24

Lucarative

Answer 24

very profitable

Question 25

Extravagant

Answer 25

excessive and therefore lacking restraint

Question 26

Avarice, Cupidity

Answer 26

excessive desire for wealth; greed; covetousness

Question 27

Glut, Plethora, Surfeit

Answer 27

a surplus or excess of something

Question 28

Destitute, Impoverished, Indigent

Answer 28

very poor, lacking basic resources

Question 29

Affluent, Opulent

Answer 29

very rich, having abundant rsources

Question 30

Munificent

Answer 30

very generous

Question 31

Philanthropic

Answer 31

generous to socially useful purposes because of a love of humanity

Question 32

Parismonious

Answer 32

excessively cheap with money; stingy

Question 33

Depreciation

Answer 33

any decrease of loss in vlaue by age, wear, or market conditions

Question 34

Remunerate

Answer 34

to compensate; to make payment for; to pay a person

Question 35

Accord

Answer 35

a formal concurrence, agreement, or harmony of minds

Question 36

Enlighten, Edify

Answer 36

to inform, instruct, illuminatte, and thus remove darkness and ignorance

Question 37

Erudite

Answer 37

learned, literate, authoritative

Question 38

Appeasement

Answer 38

the policy of granting concessions to maintain peace

Question 39

Nullify

Answer 39

to make null; declare invalid

Question 40

Triumvirate

Answer 40

a group or association of three leaders

Question 41

Pretext

Answer 41

an excuse; an alleged cause

Question 42

Watershed

Answer 42

critical point that marks a change of course; a turning point

Question 43

Consensus

Answer 43

a general agreement

Question 44

Autocrat, Despot

Answer 44

a ruler or other person with unlimited power and authority

Question 45

Manifesto

Answer 45

a public declaration of beliefs, policies, or intentions

Question 46

Enfranchise

Answer 46

to endow with the rights of citizenship, especially the right to vote

Question 47

Disenfranchise

Answer 47

to deprive of some privilege or right, especially the right to vote

Question 48

Coerce

Answer 48

to force to act or think in a certain way by use of pressure, threats, or torture; to compel

Question 49

Egalitarian

Answer 49

favoring social equality; believing in a society in which all people have equal political, economic, and civil rights

Question 50

Demarcation

Answer 50

the settling or marking of boundariess or limits, as a line of demarcation

Question 51

Heresy

Answer 51

false beliefs

Question 52

Stigmatized

Answer 52

branded

Question 53

Ameliorate

Answer 53

to make a situation better

Question 54

Exacerbate

Answer 54

to make a situation worse

Question 55

Desiccated

Answer 55

thoroughly dried out; lifeless, totally arid

Question 56

Contiguous

Answer 56

sharing an edge or boundary; touching

Question 57

Archipelago

Answer 57

chain of islands

Question 58

Proximity

Answer 58

two objects are very near in space of time

Question 59

Pertinent

Answer 59

relevant; to the point; clearly illustrative of a major point

Question 60

Predecessor

Answer 60

someting that followed or came before

Question 61

Complicity

Answer 61

association or participation in a wrongful act

Question 62

Exonerate, Exculpate

Answer 62

to free from guilt or blame

Question 63

Indisputable

Answer 63

not open to question ; undeniable; irrefutable

Question 64

Precedent

Answer 64

an act or instance that is used as an example in dealing with sibsequent similar instances

Question 65

cede, ceed, cess

Answer 65

to go

Question 66

Cede

Answer 66

to admit a point in an argument

Question 67

Accede

Answer 67

to go along with, to agree to

Question 68

Concede

Answer 68

to yield to, agree to a loss in an election

Question 69

Intercede

Answer 69

to go between two litigants

Question 70

Precede

Answer 70

to go before

Question 71

Recede

Answer 71

to go back

Question 72

Secede

Answer 72

to go arpat, to leave a group, like the Union

Question 73

Exceed

Answer 73

to go beyond the ordinary

Question 74

Accession

Answer 74

a going to, like an accession to the throne

Question 75

Recession

Answer 75

a going back, a decline in the economy

Question 76

Unprecedented

Answer 76

without previous example, never known before

Question 77

Malfeasance

Answer 77

misconduct or wrongdoing, especially by a public official; intentionally performing an act that is illegal

Question 78

Blatantly

Answer 78

unmistakably

Question 79

Misfeasance

Answer 79

performing a perfectly legal act, but in a mistaken or erroneous manner

Question 80

Nonfeasance

Answer 80

failure to act when the position one occupies requires one to act

Question 81

Probity

Answer 81

integrity and uprightness; honesty; high moral standards