Essential Words XIII

Question 1

Officious

Answer 1

Excessively eager in giving unwanted advice or intruding where one is not wanted; meddlesome, pushy

Question 2

Offset

Answer 2

Counteract, compensate for; a counterbalance

Question 3

Onerous

Answer 3

Burdensome, oppressive, hard to endure

Question 4

Opaque

Answer 4

Not translucent; not allowing light, heat, etc. to pass through; dark, dull, unclear, or stupid

Question 5

Optimal or optimum

Answer 5

Best, most desirable or favorable

Question 6

Orthodox

Answer 6

Adhering to a traditional, established faith, or to anything customary or commonly accepted

Question 7

Oscillate

Answer 7

Swing back and forth; waver, change one’s mind

Question 8

Outstrip

Answer 8

Surpass, exceed; be larger or better than; leave behind

Question 9

Overshadow

Answer 9

Cast a shadow over, darken; dominate, make to seem less important

Question 10

Paradigm

Answer 10

Model or pattern; worldview, set of shared assumptions, values, etc.

Question 11

Paradox

Answer 11

Contradiction, or seeming contradiction that is actually true

Question 12

Pariah

Answer 12

Social outcast, untouchable

Question 13

Partial

Answer 13

Biased, prejudiced, favoring one over others; having a special liking for something or someone.

Question 14

Partisan

Answer 14

Devoted to a particular group, cause, etc.; fervent supporter of a group, party, idea, etc.; guerilla fighter

Question 15

Patent

Answer 15

Obvious, apparent, plain to see; a letter from a government guaranteeing an inventor the rights to his or her invention

Question 16

Pathological

Answer 16

Relating to or caused by disease; relating to compulsive bad behavior

Question 17

Patronizing

Answer 17

Condescending, having a superior manner, treating as an inferior

Question 18

Paucity

Answer 18

Scarcity, the state of being small in number

Question 19

Peccadillo

Answer 19

Small sin or fault

Question 20

Pedestrian

Answer 20

Ordinary, dull, commonplace

Question 21

Penchant

Answer 21

Liking or inclination (usually penchant for)

Question 22

Perfidious

Answer 22

Disloyal, treacherous, violating one’s trust

Question 23

Peripheral

Answer 23

Relating to or making up an outer boundary or region; not of primary importance, fringe

Question 24

Permeate

Answer 24

Spread or penetrate throughout

Question 25

Pervasive

Answer 25

Tending to spread throughout

Question 26

Philanthropy

Answer 26

Efforts to improve the well-being of humankind, generally through giving money

Question 27

Phony

Answer 27

Fake, counterfeit; insincere, not genuine

Question 28

Pious

Answer 28

Devout; religiously reverent and dutiful

Question 29

Pith

Answer 29

Core, essence; significance or weight

Question 30

Placate

Answer 30

Satisfy or calm down (an angry or dissatisfied person), esp. by conciliatory gestures

Question 31

Placid

Answer 31

Peaceful, calm, tranquil

Question 32

Plastic

Answer 32

Able to be shaped or formed; easily influenced

Question 33

Plausible

Answer 33

Believable; having the appearance of truth

Question 34

Plummet

Answer 34

Plunge, fall straight down

Question 35

Polarized

Answer 35

Divided into sharply opposed groups

Question 36

Ponderous

Answer 36

Heavy; bulky and unwieldy; dull, labored

Question 37

Posthumous

Answer 37

Happening or continuing after death

Question 38

Potentate

Answer 38

Ruler, person of great power

Question 39

Pragmatic

Answer 39

Practical; dealing with actual facts and reality

Question 40

Preamble

Answer 40

Introductory statement, preface

Question 41

Precarious

Answer 41

Unstable, insecure, dangerous

Question 42

Precursor

Answer 42

Something that comes before, esp. something that also announces or suggests something on its way

Question 43

Predisposed

Answer 43

Having an inclination or tendency beforehand; susceptible

Question 44

Preempt

Answer 44

Prevent; take the place of, supplant; take before someone else can

Question 45

Presumptive

Answer 45

Based on inference or assumption; providing reasonable grounds for belief

Question 46

Presumptuous

Answer 46

Too bold or forward; going beyond that which is proper

Question 47

Pretentious

Answer 47

Claiming or demanding a position of importance or dignity, esp. when unjustified; showing off, creating a deceptive, false show or worth

Question 48

Principled

Answer 48

Having high moral standards

Question 49

Pristine

Answer 49

In an original, pure state; uncorrupted

Question 50

Probity

Answer 50

Honesty, integrity