Dubliners Text Set 4

Question 1

Usury(n)

Answer 1

The fact or practice of lending money at interest;esp. in later use, the practice of charging, taking, or contracting to receive, excessive or illegal rates of interest for money on loan.

Question 2

Sententiously(adv)

Answer 2

In asententiousmanner;terselyandpithily.

Question 3

Superfluity (n)

Answer 3

1. A superfluous amount or quantity of something; an excessive amount or overabundant supply.
2. In plural. Possessions or provisions which are surplus to requirements; surplus goods; leftovers. Obsolete.

Question 4

Obdurately(adv)

Answer 4

In an obdurate manner; hard-heartedly, unyieldingly;

Question 5

Transept(n)

Answer 5

The transverse part of a cruciform church considered apart from the nave; also, each of the two subdivisions or arms of this (the north and south transepts).

Question 6

Surplice (n)

Answer 6

A loosevestmentof white linen having wide sleeves and, in its amplest form, reaching to the feet, worn (usually over acassock) by clerics, choristers, and others taking part in church services.

Question 7

Palaver(n + v)

Answer 7

N. colloquial. Chiefly British. A fuss, a commotion; a tedious or unnecessarily drawn-out process, a rigmarole.
V. transitive. To praise over-highly, flatter; to cajole. Also (occasionally) intransitive: to wheedle, use flattery. Now rare.

Question 8

Scintillate(v)

Answer 8

1. intransitive. To emit sparks or small flashes of light; to sparkle.
2. intransitive. figurative. Of a person, or his or her writing, speech, etc.: to be brilliant; to shine, to sparkle.

Question 9

Tumid (adj)

Answer 9

1. Swollen; characterized by swelling.

2. figurative esp. of language or literary style: ‘Swelling’, inflated, turgid, bombastic.

Question 10

Embrasure (n)

Answer 10

1. Embrace
2. A slanting or bevelling in the sides of an opening to a wall for a window or door, so that the inside profile of the window is larger than that of the outside.

Question 11

Heliotrope(n)

Answer 11

A name given to plants of which the flowers turn so as to follow the sun; in early times applied to the sunflower, marigold, etc.; now, a plant of the genus Heliotropium. Also figurative.

Question 12

Fatuous (adj)

Answer 12

Of persons, their actions, feelings, utterances, etc.: Foolish, vacantly silly, stupid,besotted.