fancy words 1

Question 1

dastard

Answer 1

a dishonourable or despicable man.

Question 2

hoodwink

Answer 2

verb [with object]
deceive or trick: staff were hoodwinked into thinking the cucumber was a sawn-off shotgun.

Question 3

quibble

Answer 3

noun
1 a slight objection or criticism about a trivial matter: the only quibble about this book is the price.
2 archaic a play on words; a pun.

verb [no object]
argue or raise objections about a trivial matter: they are always quibbling about the amount they are prepared to pay.

Question 4

luminosity

Answer 4

noun (plural luminosities) [mass noun]
luminous quality: acrylic colours retain freshness and luminosity.

Question 5

mores

Answer 5

the essential or characteristic customs and conventions of a society or community: an offence against social mores.

Question 6

petal

Answer 6

noun
1 each of the segments of the corolla of a flower, which are modified leaves and are typically coloured.
2 Northern English informal used as a friendly form of address, especially to a woman or child: well done petal! | no petal, it’s bedtime for you two.

Question 7

incinerate

Answer 7

verb [with object]
destroy (something, especially waste material) by burning: waste packaging is to be incinerated rather than buried in landfills.

Question 8

whiplash

Answer 8

noun
1 the flexible part of a whip or something resembling it.
* used with reference to something resembling a blow with a whip: he cringed before the icy whiplash of Curtis’s tongue.
2 [mass noun] injury caused by a severe jerk to the head, typically in a car accident: suffering from whiplash, he spent weeks with his neck in a collar.

verb
1 [with object] jerk or jolt (someone or something) suddenly, typically so as to cause injury: the force of impact had whiplashed the man’s head.
2 [no object, with adverbial of direction] move suddenly and forcefully, like a whip being cracked: he rammed the yacht, sending its necklace of lights whiplashing from the bridge.

Question 9

discombobulate

Answer 9

verb [with object] humorous
disconcert or confuse (someone): this attitude totally discombobulated Bruce.

Question 10

reproach

Answer 10

verb [with object]
express to (someone) one’s disapproval of or disappointment in their actions: critics reproached him for his failure to tackle the deficiency | [with direct speech] : ‘You know that isn’t true,’ he reproached her.
* (reproach someone with) accuse someone of: his wife reproached him with cowardice.
* archaic censure or rebuke (an offence).

noun [mass noun]
the expression of disapproval or disappointment: he gave her a look of reproach | [count noun] : a farrago of warnings and pained reproaches.
* (a reproach to) a thing that makes the failings of (someone or something else) more apparent: his elegance is a living reproach to our slovenly habits.
* (Reproaches) (in the Roman Catholic Church) a set of antiphons and responses for Good Friday representing the reproaches of Christ to his people.

PHRASES
beyond reproach (also above reproach)
such that no criticism can be made; perfect: his integrity is beyond reproach.

Question 11

flintlock

Answer 11

noun
an old-fashioned type of gun fired by a spark from a flint.
* the lock on a flintlock gun.

Question 12

grovel

Answer 12

verb (grovels, grovelling, grovelled; US grovels, groveling, groveled) [no object]
lie or crawl abjectly on the ground with one’s face downwards: he grovelled at George’s feet.
* act in an obsequious way in order to obtain someone’s forgiveness or favour: they criticized leaders who grovelled to foreign patrons.

Question 13

rive

Answer 13

verb (past rived; past participle riven | ˈrɪv(ə)n | )
literary split or tear apart violently: the party was riven by disagreements over Europe | figurative : he was riven with guilt.
* archaic split or crack (wood or stone): the wood was riven with deep cracks.
* [no object] archaic (of wood or stone) split or crack: I started to chop furiously, the dry wood riving and splintering under the axe.

Question 14

bespectacled

Answer 14

adjective
wearing glasses: a bespectacled, studious youth | she was thin and bespectacled.

Question 15

avowed

Answer 15

adjective [attributive]
that has been asserted, admitted, or stated publicly: an avowed atheist | they came to power with the avowed aim of promoting religious toleration.

Question 16

succour

Answer 16

noun [mass noun]
assistance and support in times of hardship and distress: the wounded had little chance of succour.
* (succours) archaic reinforcements of troops.

verb [with object]
give assistance or aid to: prisoners of war were liberated and succoured.

Question 17

crevice

Answer 17

noun
a narrow opening or fissure, especially in a rock or wall: many creatures hide in crevices in the rock.

Question 18

chortle

Answer 18

verb [no object]
laugh in a noisy, gleeful way: he chortled at his own pun.

noun
a noisy, gleeful laugh: Thomas gave a chortle.

Question 19

scatterbrain

Answer 19

noun
a person who tends to be disorganized and lacking in concentration: she struck me as a bit of a scatterbrain.

Question 20

profligacy

Answer 20

noun [mass noun]
1 reckless extravagance or wastefulness in the use of resources: there is no conceivable justification for such fiscal profligacy | [count noun] : his financial prudence corrected the profligacies of Nero.
2 licentious or dissolute behaviour: the emperor’s sexual profligacy | an era of extreme decadence and profligacy.

Question 21

declaim

Answer 21

verb [reporting verb]
utter or deliver words in a rhetorical or impassioned way, as if to an audience: [with object] : she declaimed her views | [no object] : a preacher declaiming from the pulpit | an opportunity to declaim against the evils of society.

Question 22

unwitting

Answer 22

adjective
1 (of a person) not aware of the full facts: an unwitting accomplice.
2 not done on purpose; unintentional: we are anxious to rectify the unwitting mistakes made in the past.

Question 23

dissension

Answer 23

disagreement that leads to discord: these issues caused bitter dissension in the party | [count noun] : the mill was the cause of a dissension in 1620.

Question 24

innocuous

Answer 24

adjective
not harmful or offensive: it was an innocuous question.

Question 25

longshoreman

Answer 25

a docker

Question 26

eke

Answer 26

verb [with object] (eke something out)
make an amount or supply of something last longer by using or consuming it frugally: the remains of yesterday’s stew could be eked out to make another meal.

• manage to make a living with difficulty: many traders barely eked out a living.

Question 27

wry

Answer 27

adjective (wryer, wryest or wrier, wriest)
1 using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humour: a wry smile | wry comments.
2 (of a person’s face or features) twisted into an expression of disgust, disappointment, or annoyance.
3 archaic (of the neck or features) distorted or turned to one side: a remedy for wry necks.

Question 28

levity

Answer 28

noun (plural levities) [mass noun]
the treatment of a serious matter with humour or lack of due respect: as an attempt to introduce a note of levity, the words were a disastrous flop.

Question 29

imprimatur

Answer 29

noun
an official licence issued by the Roman Catholic Church to print an ecclesiastical or religious book: the imprimatur for this edition was granted by Cardinal O’Casey.

• a person’s authoritative approval: the original LP enjoyed the imprimatur of the composer.

Question 30

inutile

Answer 30

useless; pointless.

Question 31

hothouse

Answer 31

noun
a heated greenhouse in which plants that need protection from cold weather are grown: [as modifier] : hothouse plants.
* an environment that encourages rapid growth or development, especially in a stifling or intense way: [as modifier] : the hothouse atmosphere of the college.
verb [with object]
educate or teach (a child) to a high level at an earlier age than is usual: a school that had a reputation for hothousing its girls.

Question 32

snarky

Answer 32

adjective (snarkier, snarkiest) informal, mainly North American
critical or mocking in an indirect or sarcastic way: snarky remarks.
* bad-tempered or irritable: Bobby’s always a bit snarky before his nap.

Question 33

respite

Answer 33

noun [mass noun]
a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant: the refugee encampments will provide some respite from the suffering | [in singular] : a brief respite from the heat.
* a short delay permitted before an unpleasant obligation is met or a punishment is carried out: a Letter of Licence, by which creditors agreed to postpone claims, brought only temporary respite.

verb [with object]
rare postpone (a sentence, obligation, etc.): the execution was only respited a few months.
* archaic grant a respite to (someone, especially a person condemned to death): some poor criminal … from the gibbet or the wheel, respited for a day.

Question 34

haggard

Answer 34

adjective
1 looking exhausted and unwell, especially from fatigue, worry, or suffering: she was pale and haggard | Alex’s haggard face.
2 (of a hawk) caught for training as a wild adult of more than twelve months. Compare with passage hawk.

noun
a haggard hawk.

Question 35

obtuse

Answer 35

adjective
1 annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand: he wondered if the doctor was being deliberately obtuse.
* difficult to understand, especially deliberately so: some of the lyrics are a bit obtuse.
2 (of an angle) more than 90° and less than 180°: an obtuse angle of 150°.
3 not sharp-pointed or sharp-edged; blunt: it had strange obtuse teeth.

Question 36

billow

Answer 36

noun
a large undulating mass of something, typically cloud, smoke, or steam.
* archaic a large sea wave.

verb [no object, with adverbial of direction]
(of fabric) fill with air and swell outwards: her dress billowed out around her.
* (of smoke, cloud, or steam) move or flow outward with an undulating motion: smoke was billowing from the chimney.

Question 37

apron (apron strings)

Answer 37

noun
1 a protective garment worn over the front of one’s clothes and tied at the back: a striped butcher’s apron | [as modifier] : I reached into my apron pocket.
* a garment similar to an apron that is worn as part of official dress, as by a bishop or Freemason.
* a sheet of lead worn to shield the body during an X-ray examination.

2 a small area adjacent to another larger area or structure: a tiny apron of garden.
* a hard-surfaced area on an airfield used for manoeuvring or parking aircraft: the pilot was instructed to park on the main apron.
* (also apron stage) a projecting strip of stage for playing scenes in front of the curtain.
* US an area of asphalt where the drive of a house meets the road.
* the narrow strip of a boxing ring lying outside the ropes.
* Geology an extensive outspread deposit of sediment, typically at the foot of a glacier or mountain.
3 [often as modifier] an endless conveyor made of overlapping plates: apron feeders bring coarse ore to a grinding mill.

PHRASES
tied to someone’s apron strings
too much under someone’s influence and control: we have all met sturdy adults who are tied to mother’s apron strings.

Question 38

circumspect

Answer 38

wary and unwilling to take risks: the officials were very circumspect in their statements.

Question 39

accord

Answer 39

verb
1 [with object] give or grant someone (power, status, or recognition): the powers accorded to the head of state | [with two objects] : the national assembly accorded the General more power.
2 [no object] (accord with) (of a concept or fact) be harmonious or consistent with: his views accorded well with those of Merivale.

noun
an official agreement or treaty: opposition groups refused to sign the accord | a peace accord.
* [mass noun] agreement or harmony: the government and the rebels are in accord on one point.

Question 40

shaggy

Answer 40

adjective (shaggier, shaggiest)
(of hair or fur) long, thick, and unkempt: the mountain goat has a long, shaggy coat.
* having long, thick, unkempt hair or fur: a huge shaggy Alsatian.
* having a covering resembling rough, thick hair.

Question 41

attenuate

Answer 41

verb | əˈtɛnjʊeɪt | [with object]
1 reduce the force, effect, or value of: this research provides a glimmer of hope that coral reefs can attenuate the effects of ocean acidification.
* reduce the amplitude of (a signal, electric current, or other oscillation): the filter must severely attenuate frequencies above 10 Hz.
* reduce the virulence of (a pathogenic organism), especially when preparing a vaccine: the first live vaccine was insufficiently attenuated and produced a significant disease.

2 reduce in thickness; make thin.
adjective | əˈtɛnjʊət | rare
reduced in force, effect, or physical thickness: the doctrines of Christianity became very attenuate and distorted.

Question 42

tot

Answer 42

tot1 | tɒt |
noun
1 a very young child: dancing classes for tiny tots.
2 mainly British a small amount of a strong alcoholic drink such as whisky or brandy: a tot of brandy.
3 (tots) US short for tater tots: the burger came with a side of tots.

tot2 | tɒt |
verb (tots, totting, totted) [with object] (tot something up) mainly British
add up numbers or amounts: she totted up some figures.
* accumulate something over a period of time: he has already totted up 89 victories.

tot3 | tɒt |
verb (tots, totting, totted) [no object] British informal
salvage saleable items from dustbins or rubbish heaps: there was only a bent figure of a man totting among the refuse.

Question 43

preen

Answer 43

verb [no object]
(of a bird) tidy and clean its feathers with its beak: reed buntings preened at the pool’s edge | [with object] : the pigeon preened her feathers.
* (also preen oneself) (of a person) devote effort to making oneself look attractive and then admire one’s appearance: adolescents preening in their bedroom mirrors.
* (preen oneself) congratulate or pride oneself: it did not prevent them from preening themselves on their achievement.

Question 44

loincloth

Answer 44

noun
a single piece of cloth wrapped round the hips, typically worn by men in some hot countries as their only garment.

Question 45

dalliance

Answer 45

noun
a casual romantic or sexual relationship: Jack was not averse to an occasional dalliance with a pretty girl | [mass noun] : MPs have the opportunity for dalliance, as they are away from home for much of the week.
* a period of brief or casual involvement with something: Berkeley was my last dalliance with the education system.

Question 46

outreach

Answer 46

noun | ˈaʊtriːtʃ | [mass noun]
the extent or length of reaching out: the loving outreach of God to the world.
* an organization’s involvement with or influence in the community, especially in the context of religion or social welfare: the growth of evangelistic outreach | [as modifier] : outreach centres.

verb | ˌaʊtˈriːtʃ | [with object]
reach further than: their pack outreached and outwitted the Welsh team.
* [no object] literary stretch out one’s arms: they stood with earnest eyes, and arms outreaching.

Question 47

thespian

Answer 47

adjective
relating to drama and the theatre: thespian talents.

noun
an actor or actress: an ageing thespian.

Question 48

foreshorten

Answer 48

1 portray or show (an object or view) as closer than it is or as having less depth or distance, as an effect of perspective or the angle of vision: seen from the road, the mountain is greatly foreshortened.

2 prematurely or dramatically shorten or reduce (something) in time or scale: our experience is that it is usually a mistake to try to foreshorten the process | (as adjective foreshortened) : Leicestershire won by 133 runs in a foreshortened contest.

Question 49

contraption

Answer 49

noun
a machine or device that appears strange or unnecessarily complicated, and often badly made or unsafe: repairing stereos and making contraptions out of spare electronic bits.

Question 50

abjure

Answer 50

verb [with object] formal
solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim): MPs were urged to abjure their Jacobite allegiance.

Question 51

spoilsport

Answer 51

noun
a person who behaves in a way that spoils others’ pleasure, especially by not joining in an activity: ‘Don’t be a spoilsport, Sidney.’.

Question 52

insuperable

Answer 52

adjective
(of a difficulty or obstacle) impossible to overcome: insuperable financial problems.

Question 53

shithousery

Answer 53

A Chiefly British term for underhanded conduct or gamesmanship in a sport, with the intention of gaining an advantage. Typically refers to association football.

Question 54

hasp

Answer 54

noun
a slotted hinged metal plate forming part of a fastening for a door or lid, fitted over a loop and secured by a pin or padlock: the hut was always locked by a large padlock securing a hasp.
* a slotted hinged plate on a trunk or suitcase with a projecting piece which is secured by the lock.

verb [with object] archaic
lock (a door, window, or lid) by securing the hasp over the loop of the fastening: she went to the window and hasped it.

Question 55

obsequious

Answer 55

adjective
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree: they were served by obsequious waiters.

Question 56

prolate

Answer 56

adjective Geometry
(of a spheroid) lengthened in the direction of a polar diameter. Often contrasted with oblate1.

Question 57

artefactual

Answer 57

denoting or relating to an object made by a human being, typically one of cultural or historical interest: rich artefactual material from campaigns of excavation.

Question 58

equipoise

Answer 58

noun [mass noun]
balance of forces or interests: this temporary equipoise of power.
* [count noun] a counterbalance or balancing force: capital flows act as an equipoise to international imbalances in savings.

verb [with object]
balance or counterbalance (something): as a piece of language it is as delicately equipoised as any.

Question 59

hairline

Answer 59

noun
1 the edge of a person’s hair, especially on the forehead.
2 [as modifier] very thin or fine: a hairline fracture | a hairline crack.

Question 60

debacle

Answer 60

noun
a sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco: the only man to reach double figures in the second-innings debacle.

Question 61

bellow

Answer 61

verb [no object]
(of a person or animal) emit a deep loud roar, typically in pain or anger: he bellowed in agony.
* [reporting verb] shout something with a deep loud roar: [with object] : he bellowed out the order | [with direct speech] : ‘Not sausage and mash again!’ he bellowed.
* [with object] sing (a song) loudly and tunelessly: a dozen large men were bellowing ‘Jerusalem’.

noun
a deep roaring shout or sound: a bellow of rage.

Question 62

broach

Answer 62

verb [with object]
1 raise (a difficult subject) for discussion: he broached the subject he had been avoiding all evening.
2 pierce (a cask) to draw out liquid: he watched a pot boy broach a new cask.
* open and start using the contents of (a bottle or other container): boxed wines will remain in good condition for up to four months once broached.
3 [no object] (of a fish or sea mammal) rise through the water and break the surface: the salmon broach, then fall to slap the water.

Question 63

stymie

Answer 63

verb (stymies, stymieing, stymied) [with object] informal
prevent or hinder the progress of: the changes must not be allowed to stymie new medical treatments.

Question 64

contrite

Answer 64

adjective
feeling or expressing remorse at the recognition that one has done wrong: a contrite tone.

Question 65

jaunt

Answer 65

noun
a short excursion or journey made for pleasure: her regular jaunts to Europe.

verb [no object]
go on a short journey for pleasure: they went jaunting through Ireland.

Question 66

jot

Answer 66

verb (jots, jotting, jotted) [with object]
write (something) quickly: when you’ve found the answers, jot them down.

noun [usually with negative]
a very small amount: you didn’t care a jot | I have yet to see one jot of evidence.

Question 67

demijohn

Answer 67

noun
a bulbous narrow-necked bottle holding from 3 to 10 gallons of liquid, typically enclosed in a wicker cover.

Question 68

bona fides

Answer 68

noun [mass noun]
a person’s honesty and sincerity of intention: why would you cast aspersions on my bona fides?
* [treated as plural] informal documentary evidence showing that a person is what they claim to be; credentials: he set about checking Loretta’s bona fides.

Question 69

freight

Answer 69

noun
1 [mass noun] goods transported in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft: a decline in the amount of freight carried by rail.
* the transport of goods by truck, train, ship, or aircraft: the truck-based system can outperform air freight at distances of up to seven hundred miles.
* a charge for transport by freight: a bill indicating that the freight has been paid.
2 US a freight train: I can hear the regular wail of the twelve o’clock freight from my house.
3 a load or burden: these warm winds deposit their freight of moisture in showers of rain.

verb [with object]
1 transport (goods) in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft: the metals had been freighted from the city.
2 (be freighted with) be laden or burdened with: each word was freighted with anger.

Question 70

oleaginous

Answer 70

adjective
1 rich in, covered with, or producing oil; oily: fabrics would quickly become filthy in this oleaginous kingdom.
2 exaggeratedly and distastefully complimentary; obsequious: candidates made oleaginous speeches praising government policies.

Question 71

coalesce

Answer 71

verb [no object]
come together to form one mass or whole: the puddles had coalesced into shallow streams.
* [with object] combine (elements) in a mass or whole: his idea served to coalesce all that happened into one connected whole.

Question 72

anterior

Answer 72

1 mainly Anatomy nearer the front, especially in the front of the body, or nearer to the head or forepart: the veins anterior to the heart. The opposite of posterior.

2 formal coming before in time; earlier: an incident anterior to her troubles.

Question 73

disabuse

Answer 73

verb [with object]
persuade (someone) that an idea or belief is mistaken: he quickly disabused me of my fanciful notions.

Question 74

insidious

Answer 74

adjective
proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very harmful effects: sexual harassment is a serious and insidious problem.

Question 75

pontificate

Answer 75

verb | pɒnˈtɪfɪkeɪt | [no object]
1 express one’s opinions in a pompous and dogmatic way: he was pontificating about art and history.
2 (in the Roman Catholic Church) officiate as bishop, especially at Mass: he pontificated at three Christmas Masses.

noun | pɒnˈtɪfɪkət |
(in the Roman Catholic Church) the office or period of office of a pope or bishop: Pope Gregory VIII enjoyed only a ten-week pontificate.

Question 76

ladle

Answer 76

noun
a large long-handled spoon with a cup-shaped bowl, used for serving soup or sauce: she dipped the ladle into the casserole dish.
* a container for transporting molten metal in a foundry.

verb [with object and adverbial]
serve (soup, stew, or sauce) with a ladle: she ladled out onion soup.
* provide (information, advice, etc.) lavishly or overgenerously: he was ladling out his personal philosophy of life.

Question 77

edgewise

Answer 77

adverb mainly North American
with the edge uppermost or towards the viewer: 40-feet long slabs of steel, mounted edgewise one atop the other.

PHRASES
get a word in edgewise
[usually with negative] mainly North American contribute to a conversation with difficulty because the other speaker talks almost without pause: I didn’t get a word in edgewise for an hour.

Question 78

ungainly

Answer 78

adjective
(of a person or movement) awkward; clumsy: an ungainly walk.

Question 79

sublate

Answer 79

assimilate (a smaller entity) into a larger one: fragmented aspects of the self the subject is unable to sublate.

Question 80

penumbra

Answer 80

noun (plural penumbrae | pɪˈnʌmbriː | or penumbras)
1 the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object.
* Astronomy the shadow cast by the earth or moon over an area experiencing a partial eclipse.
* Astronomy the less dark outer part of a sunspot, surrounding the core.
2 a peripheral or indeterminate area or group: an immense penumbra of theory surrounds any observation.

Question 81

iniquitous

Answer 81

adjective
grossly unfair and morally wrong: an iniquitous tax | these awards remain an iniquitous system.

Question 82

rank (2)

Answer 82

adjective
1 (of vegetation) growing too thickly and coarsely: clumps of rank grass.
2 having a foul or offensive smell: breathing rank air.
* informal very unpleasant: the tea at work is nice but the coffee’s pretty rank.
3 [attributive] (especially of something bad or deficient) complete and utter (used for emphasis): rank stupidity | a rank outsider.

Question 83

gauntlet
(take up the gauntlet)
(throw down the gauntlet)

Answer 83

a strong glove with a long, loose wrist.

take up the gauntlet
accept a challenge: Washington had no choice but to take up the gauntlet.

throw down the gauntlet
issue a challenge: he threw down the gauntlet to cabinet colleagues.

Question 84

felicitous

Answer 84

adjective
well chosen or suited to the circumstances: a felicitous phrase.
* pleasing and fortunate: the view was the room’s only felicitous feature.

Question 85

pizzazz

Answer 85

noun [mass noun] informal
an attractive combination of vitality and glamour: a summer collection with pizzazz.

Question 86

bounteous

Answer 86

adjective archaic
generously given or giving; bountiful: the earth yields a bounteous harvest.

Question 87

spay

Answer 87

verb [with object]
sterilize (a female animal) by removing the ovaries: the animals must be spayed or neutered before they are given up for adoption.

Question 88

prepend

Answer 88

verb [with object]
add (something) to the beginning of something else: you forgot to prepend ‘I personally believe’ to the statements you are making.
* Computing attach (a piece of data) to the beginning of another: in this case, you must prepend the server name to the database name, separated by a period.

Question 89

acquiesce

Answer 89

accept something reluctantly but without protest: Sara acquiesced in his decision.

Question 90

concatenate

Answer 90

link (things) together in a chain or series: some words may be concatenated, such that certain sounds are omitted.

concatenation - a chain of things

Question 91

reticent

Answer 91

not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily: she was extremely reticent about her personal affairs.

Question 92

delinquent

Answer 92

adjective
1 (typically of a young person) tending to commit crime, particularly minor crime: delinquent teenagers.
2 formal failing in one’s duty.
* North American in arrears: delinquent accounts.

noun
a delinquent person: juvenile delinquents.

Question 93

olfaction

Answer 93

noun [mass noun] technical
the action or capacity of smelling; the sense of smell.

Question 94

sordid

Answer 94

adjective
1 involving immoral or dishonourable actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt: the story paints a sordid picture of bribes and scams.
2 dirty or squalid: the overcrowded housing conditions were sordid and degrading.

Question 95

trite

Answer 95

(of a remark or idea) lacking originality or freshness; dull on account of overuse: this point may now seem obvious and trite.

Question 96

bandwagon

Answer 96

noun
1 used in reference to an activity, cause, etc. that is currently fashionable or popular and attracting increasing support: the environmental bandwagon is feeling mighty crowded | concerns over the risk posed by this emerging technology threaten to derail the bandwagon.
2 (especially formerly) a wagon used for carrying a band in a parade or procession: the colourful bandwagon was later purchased for use in circus parades.

Question 97

lassitude

Answer 97

noun [mass noun]
a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy: she was overcome by lassitude and retired to bed.

Question 98

inoculate

Answer 98

verb [with object]

immunize (someone) against a disease by introducing infective material, microorganisms, or vaccine into the body: most of the troops had been inoculated against anthrax | the country will have enough vaccine stockpiled to inoculate the entire population | figurative : students are inoculated against the notion that history can be turned in its course by individuals.

• introduce (an infective agent) into an organism: the microorganism can be inoculated into laboratory animals.
• introduce (cells or organisms) into a culture medium: 0.5 ml of the specimen was inoculated into each tissue culture flask.

Question 99

mystagogue

Answer 99

a teacher or propounder of mystical doctrines.

Question 100

stampede

Answer 100

noun
a sudden panicked rush of a number of horses, cattle, or other animals: the herd was fleeing back to the high land in a wild stampede.
* a sudden rapid movement or reaction of a mass of people in response to a particular circumstance or stimulus: a stampede of bargain hunters.
* [often in names] (in North America) a rodeo: the Calgary Stampede.

verb [no object]
(of horses, cattle, or other animals) rush wildly in a sudden mass panic: the nearby sheep stampeded as if they sensed impending danger.
* [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of people) move rapidly in a mass: the children stampeded through the kitchen, playing tag or hide-and-seek.
* [with object] cause (people or animals) to stampede: the raiders stampeded 200 mules | figurative : don’t let them stampede us into anything.

Question 101

implode

Answer 101

verb
collapse or cause to collapse violently inwards: [no object] : both the windows had imploded | [with object] : the plasma implodes the fuel.
* [no object] end or fail suddenly or dramatically: can any amount of aid save the republic from imploding? | he lost money when the market imploded.

Question 102

enthral

Answer 102

verb (enthrals, enthralling, enthralled) [with object]
1 capture the fascinated attention of: she had been so enthralled by the adventure that she had hardly noticed the cold.
2 (also inthrall) archaic enslave: it is as hard and dangerous to inthrall a people that would live free.

Question 103

dapper

Answer 103

adjective
neat and trim in dress and appearance (typically used of a man): he looked very dapper in a dark silk suit.

Question 104

leach

Answer 104

verb [with adverbial of direction]
(with reference to a soluble chemical or mineral) drain away from soil, ash, or similar material by the action of percolating liquid, especially rainwater: [with object] : the nutrient is quickly leached away | [no object] : pesticides and fertilizers that leach into rivers.
* [with object] subject (soil, ash, etc.) to a leaching process: ash is readily leached.

Question 105

tether

Answer 105

verb [with object]
1 tie (an animal) with a rope or chain so as to restrict its movement: the horse had been tethered to a post.
2 use (a smartphone) in order to connect a computer or other device to the internet: check if Wi-Fi access is free in the lobby or tether your phone.

noun
a rope or chain with which an animal is tied to restrict its movement: regulations banning neck and girth tethers for sows.

Question 106

outhouse

Answer 106

noun
a building such as a shed or barn that is built on to or in the grounds of a house.
* mainly North American an outside toilet.

verb [with object]
store or accommodate away from the main storage or accommodation area: books outhoused in the annex take longer to deliver.

Question 107

dour

Answer 107

adjective
relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance: a hard, dour, humourless fanatic.

Question 108

jouissance

Answer 108

ˈʒwiːsɒ̃s, French ʒwisɑ̃s |
noun [mass noun] formal
physical or intellectual pleasure, delight, or ecstasy.

Question 109

warily

Answer 109

adverb
cautiously; carefully: they walk warily down the street, terrified of being caught.
* in a way that shows a lack of trust; suspiciously: she looked at him warily.

Question 110

soteriology

Answer 110

the doctrine of salvation.

Question 111

smelt

Answer 111

verb [with object]
extract (metal) from its ore by a process involving heating and melting: coal was used to smelt the steel for the tinplate.

• extract a metal from (ore) by smelting: the ores are smelted in a blast furnace.

Question 112

knell

Answer 112

noun [in singular]
the sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral.
* used in reference to an announcement, event, or sound that warns of the end of something: emails and text messages are sounding the knell for the written word.

verb [no object]
(of a bell) ring solemnly, especially for a death or funeral.
* [with object] proclaim (something) by or as if by a knell.

Question 113

gleeful

Answer 113

adjective
exuberantly or triumphantly joyful: she gave a gleeful chuckle.

Question 114

precocious

Answer 114

adjective
(of a child) having developed certain abilities or inclinations at an earlier age than is usual or expected: a precocious, solitary boy.
* (of behaviour or ability) having developed at an earlier age than is usual or expected: a precocious talent for computing.
* (of a plant) flowering or fruiting earlier than usual.

Question 115

prod

Answer 115

verb (prods, prodding, prodded) [with object]
poke with a finger, foot, or pointed object: he prodded her in the ribs | [no object] : she took up a fork and prodded at the food.
* stimulate or persuade (someone who is reluctant or slow) to do something: they attempted to prod the central bank into cutting interest rates.

noun
1 a poke with a finger, foot, or pointed object: he gave the wire netting an experimental prod.
* an act of stimulating or reminding someone to do something: you need a gentle prod to remind you that life is only what you make it.
2 a pointed implement, typically one discharging an electric current and used as a goad: a cattle prod.

Question 116

imputation

Answer 116

noun
1 a charge or claim that someone has done something undesirable; an accusation: there are grounds for inquiring into the imputations of misconduct against him.
* [mass noun] Theology the action or process of ascribing righteousness, guilt, etc. to someone by virtue of a similar quality in another: the writings of the apostles tell us that imputation of the righteousness of Christ is given to us if we receive Christ.
2 [mass noun] Finance the assignment of a value to something by inference from the value of the products or processes to which it contributes: the imputation of interest will increase her taxable income.

Question 117

sequela

Answer 117

(plural sequelae | sɪˈkwiːliː | ) (usually sequelae) Medicine
a condition which is the consequence of a previous disease or injury: the long-term sequelae of infection.

Question 118

propound

Answer 118

put forward (an idea or theory) for consideration by others: he began to propound the idea of a ‘social monarchy’ as an alternative to Franco.

Question 119

parity

Answer 119

parity1 | ˈparɪti |
noun [mass noun]
1 the state or condition of being equal, especially as regards status or pay: parity of incomes between rural workers and those in industrial occupations.

parity2 | ˈparɪti |
noun [mass noun]
the fact or condition of having borne children: the relationship between breast cancer and parity was investigated.
* the number of children previously borne: very high parity (six children or more).

Question 120

lustrous

Answer 120

adjective
having lustre; shining: large, lustrous eyes.

Question 121

waylay

Answer 121

verb (past and past participle waylaid) [with object]
stop or interrupt (someone) and detain them in conversation or trouble them in some other way: he waylaid me on the stairs.

Question 122

peeve

Answer 122

peeve | piːv |
verb [with object]
annoy or irritate: that was the one thing that peeved him.

noun
a cause of annoyance: another peeve of mine is these so called reality shows.

Question 123

homespun

Answer 123

adjective
1 simple and unsophisticated: homespun philosophy.
2 (of cloth or yarn) made or spun at home.
* denoting a coarse handwoven fabric similar to tweed.

noun [mass noun]
homespun cloth: clad in homespun.

Question 124

conjugal

Answer 124

adjective
relating to marriage or the relationship between a married couple: conjugal loyalty.

Question 125

decry

Answer 125

verb (decries, decrying, decried) [with object]
publicly denounce: they decried human rights abuses.

Question 126

sodden

Answer 126

adjective
saturated with liquid, especially water; soaked through: his clothes were sodden.
* [in combination] having drunk an excessive amount of a particular alcoholic drink: a whisky-sodden criminal.

verb [with object] archaic
saturate (something) with water: the rains have soddened the earth.

Question 127

rejuvenate

Answer 127

verb [with object]
give new energy or vigour to; revitalize: the exercise and fresh air rejuvenated me | a new challenge may be just what he needs to rejuvenate his career | the Central Bank announced bold stimulus measures to rejuvenate the economy.
* restore a youthful appearance to: exfoliation rejuvenates the skin.
* Geology restore (a river or stream) to a condition characteristic of a younger landscape: the streams, rejuvenated by the earlier retreat of the sea, have cut sharp V-shaped canyons in their lower courses.

Question 128

noose

Answer 128

noun
a loop with a running knot, tightening as the rope or wire is pulled and used to trap animals or hang people: he began to choke as the noose tightened about his throat | a hangman’s noose | figurative : the West is exploring ways to tighten the economic noose.
* (the noose) death by hanging: he earned a reprieve from the noose.

verb [with object]
put a noose on (someone): she was noosed and hooded, then strangled by the executioner.
* catch (an animal) with a noose: the animal was eventually noosed and sedated by dog handlers.
* form (a rope) into a noose: Gomez had noosed a coil of rope around his neck.

Question 129

heed

Answer 129

verb [with object]
pay attention to; take notice of: he should have heeded the warnings.

noun [mass noun]
careful attention: if he heard, he paid no heed | we must take heed of the suggestions.

Question 130

elan

Answer 130

energy, style, and enthusiasm: they performed with uncommon elan onstage.

Question 131

athleisure

Answer 131

casual, comfortable clothing designed to be suitable both for exercise and everyday wear: athleisure is perfect for travelling | [as modifier] : the company was a pioneer of the athleisure trend that has swept the fashion world.

Question 132

angular

Answer 132

adjective
1 having angles or sharp corners: angular chairs | Adam’s angular black handwriting.
* (of a person or part of their body) lean and having a prominent bone structure: her angular face.

Question 133

ominous

Answer 133

adjective
giving the worrying impression that something bad is going to happen; threateningly inauspicious: there were ominous dark clouds gathering overhead.

Question 134

bespoke

Answer 134

made for a particular customer or user: a bespoke suit | bespoke kitchens | bespoke software systems | group tours and bespoke itineraries.

• making or selling bespoke goods, especially clothing: the bespoke tailors of Savile Row.

Question 135

linchpin

Answer 135

noun
1 a person or thing vital to an enterprise or organization: nurses are the linchpin of the National Health Service.
2 a pin passed through the end of an axle to keep a wheel in position.

Question 136

legalese

Answer 136

noun [mass noun] informal
the formal and technical language of legal documents: the typed pages were full of confusing legalese.

Question 137

ossify

Answer 137

verb (ossifies, ossifying, ossified) [no object]
1 turn into bone or bony tissue: these tracheal cartilages may ossify.
2 become rigid or fixed in attitude or position; cease developing: our political system has ossified.

Question 138

follow suit

Answer 138

follow suit
(in bridge, whist, and other card games) play a card of the suit led.
* conform to another’s actions: Spain cut its rates by half a per cent but no other country has followed suit.

Question 139

leer

Answer 139

verb [no object]
look or gaze in a lascivious or unpleasant way: bystanders were leering at the nude painting.

noun
a lascivious or unpleasant look: he gave me a sly leer.

Question 140

infatuation

Answer 140

noun
an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone or something: he had developed an infatuation with the girl | I hope this is merely a passing infatuation | [mass noun] : the thrill of infatuation.

Question 141

poltroon

Answer 141

noun archaic or literary
an utter coward: come on, you poltroons!

Question 142

hamstring (verb)

Answer 142

verb (past and past participle hamstrung) [with object]
cripple (a person or animal) by cutting their hamstrings.
* severely restrict the efficiency or effectiveness of: we were hamstrung by a total lack of knowledge.

Question 143

scrawny

Answer 143

adjective (scrawnier, scrawniest)
(of a person or animal) unattractively thin and bony: he had a scrawny physique and a protuberant Adam’s apple | she was small and scrawny and the sinews in her neck stood out.
* (of vegetation) meagre or stunted: straggly trees and occasional tufts of scrawny grass.

Question 144

muffle

Answer 144

verb [with object]
1 wrap or cover for warmth: everyone was muffled up in coats and scarves.
2 cover or wrap up (a source of sound) to reduce its loudness: (as adjective muffled) : the soft beat of a muffled drum.
* make (a sound) quieter or less distinct: his voice was muffled | figurative : the trade unions fear their voice within the party is being muffled.

noun [usually as modifier]
a receptacle in a furnace or kiln in which things can be heated without contact with combustion products: a muffle furnace.

Question 145

cabal

Answer 145

a secret political clique or faction: a cabal of dissidents.
* archaic a secret intrigue.

Question 146

putrid

Answer 146

1 (of organic matter) decaying or rotting and emitting a fetid smell: a butcher who sold putrid meat.
* of or characteristic of rotting matter: the putrid smells from the slaughterhouses.

2 informal very unpleasant; repulsive: the cocktail is a putrid pink colour.

Question 147

gruff

Answer 147

adjective
(of a voice) rough and low in pitch: she spoke with a gruff, masculine voice.
* abrupt or taciturn in manner: Robert’s gruff, no-nonsense approach.

Question 148

skulduggery

Answer 148

noun
underhand, unscrupulous, or dishonest behaviour or activities: a firm that investigates commercial skulduggery.

Question 149

straggler

Answer 149

noun
a person in a group who becomes separated from the others, typically because of moving more slowly: a few stragglers lingered, talking as they slipped on their coats | figurative : we can expect to see a flow of legal pressures pushing stragglers towards sustainability.
* something that grows or spreads irregularly or apart from others of its kind: these small trees are the remnant stragglers of their species | I use wax on my chin and lip about once a week, and pluck stragglers in between.

Question 150

roughhouse

Answer 150

verb | ˈrʌfhaʊs | [no object]
act in a boisterous, violent manner: they roughhouse on street corners.
* [with object] handle (someone) roughly or violently: he had them roughhoused by his servants.
noun | ˈrʌfhaʊs |
a violent disturbance: I shouldn’t like to be up against you in a roughhouse.

Question 151

resultant

Answer 151

adjective [attributive]
occurring or produced as a result of something: restructuring and the resultant cost savings.

noun technical
a force, velocity, or other vector quantity which is equivalent to the combined effect of two or more component vectors acting at the same point: the resultant of mechanical forces pulling in different directions.

Question 152

encumber

Answer 152

restrict or impede (someone or something) in such a way that free action or movement is difficult: she was encumbered by her heavy skirts | they had arrived encumbered with families.

Question 153

luminance

Answer 153

noun [mass noun] Physics
the intensity of light emitted from a surface per unit area in a given direction.
* the component of a television signal which carries information on the brightness of the image.

Question 154

bona fide

Answer 154

adjective
genuine; real: she was a bona fide expert.

adverb mainly Law
without intention to deceive: the court will assume that they have acted bona fide.

Question 155

pander

Answer 155

verb [no object] (pander to)
gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire or taste or a person with such a desire or taste): newspapers are pandering to people’s baser instincts.
noun
dated a pimp.
* archaic a person who assists the immoral desires or evil designs of others: the lowest panders of a venal press.

Question 156

weal

Answer 156

noun
a red, swollen mark left on flesh by a blow or pressure: she slapped his cheek and a bright red weal sprang up on it.

• Medicine an area of the skin which is temporarily raised, typically reddened, and usually accompanied by itching.

verb [with object]
mark with a weal: his neck was wealed and raw.

Question 157

wince

Answer 157

verb [no object]
make a slight involuntary grimace or shrinking movement of the body out of pain or distress: he winced at the disgust in her voice.

noun
an instance of wincing.

Question 158

trenchant

Answer 158

adjective
1 vigorous or incisive in expression or style: the White Paper makes trenchant criticisms of health authorities.
2 archaic or literary (of a weapon or tool) having a sharp edge: a trenchant blade.

Question 159

bagatelle

Answer 159

1 [mass noun] a game in which small balls are hit and then allowed to roll down a sloping board on which there are holes, each numbered with the score achieved if a ball goes into it, with pins acting as obstructions.

2 a thing regarded as too unimportant or easy to be worth much consideration: dealing with these boats was a mere bagatelle for the world’s oldest yacht club.

3 a short, light piece of music, especially one for the piano.

Question 160

keepsake

Answer 160

noun
a small item kept in memory of the person who gave it or originally owned it: she was wearing the medal he gave her as a keepsake.

Question 161

sagacious

Answer 161

adjective
having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement; wise or shrewd: they were sagacious enough to avoid any outright confrontation.

Question 162

gusto

Answer 162

1 enjoyment and enthusiasm in doing something: Hawkins tucked into his breakfast with gusto.
* [in singular] archaic a relish or liking: he had a particular gusto for those sort of performances.

Question 163

soar

Answer 163

verb [no object]
fly or rise high in the air: the bird spread its wings and soared into the air | figurative : when she heard his voice, her spirits soared.
* maintain height in the air without flapping wings or using engine power: the gulls soared on the summery winds.
* increase rapidly above the usual level: the cost of living continued to soar.

Question 164

foreground

Answer 164

noun (the foreground)
the part of a view that is nearest to the observer, especially in a picture or photograph: the intricate garden depicted in the foreground.
* the most prominent or important position or situation: issues which have occupied the political foreground in recent years.

verb [with object]
make (something) the most prominent or important feature: sexual relationships are foregrounded and idealized.

Question 165

turpitude

Answer 165

noun [mass noun] formal
depraved or wicked behaviour or character: acts of moral turpitude.

Question 166

cower

Answer 166

verb [no object]
crouch down in fear: children cowered in terror as the shoot-out erupted.

Question 167

gossamer

Answer 167

noun [mass noun]
a fine, filmy substance consisting of cobwebs spun by small spiders, seen especially in autumn.
* a light, thin, and insubstantial or delicate material or substance: [as modifier] : a fine gossamer fabric that clung to her skin.

Question 168

gurn

Answer 168

verb [no object]
1 British pull a grotesque face.
2 (usually girn) Scottish & Northern English complain peevishly.

Question 169

contretempts

Answer 169

a minor dispute or disagreement: she had occasional contretemps with her staff.

• an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence: the hotel had to deal with more than one contretemps before the end of the night.

Question 170

displeasure

Answer 170

noun [mass noun]
a feeling of annoyance or disapproval: he started hanging around the local pubs, much to the displeasure of his mother.
verb [with object] archaic
annoy; displease: not for worlds would I do aught that might displeasure thee.

Question 171

non sequitur

Answer 171

a conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement: his weird mixed metaphors and non sequiturs.

Question 172

boon

Answer 172

noun
1 [usually in singular] a thing that is helpful or beneficial: the route will be a boon to many travellers.
2 archaic a favour or request.

Question 173

indelible

Answer 173

(of ink or a pen) making marks that cannot be removed: an indelible marker pen.

• not able to be forgotten: the story made an indelible impression on me.

Question 174

didicoi

Answer 174

noun (plural didicois) British, often offensive
a Romani, Traveller, or other person from an itinerant community, in particular one who is not of pure Romani descent.

Question 175

welkin

Answer 175

noun literary
the sky or heaven.

Question 176

inchoate

Answer 176

adjective
1 just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary: a still inchoate democracy.
* confused or incoherent: inchoate proletarian protest.
2 Law (of an offence, such as incitement or conspiracy) anticipating or preparatory to a further criminal act.

Question 177

ruckus

Answer 177

noun
a row or commotion: a child is raising a ruckus in class | [mass noun] : there’s enough ruckus over identity cards.

Question 178

disingenious

Answer 178

adjective
not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does: he was being somewhat disingenuous as well as cynical.

Question 179

tangential

Answer 179

adjective
1 relating to or along a tangent: a tangential line.

2 diverging from a previous course or line; erratic: tangential thoughts.
* hardly touching a matter; peripheral: the reforms were tangential to efforts to maintain a basic standard of life.

Question 180

sombre

Answer 180

adjective
1 dark or dull in colour or tone: the night skies were sombre and starless.
2 having or conveying a feeling of deep seriousness and sadness: he looked at her with a sombre expression.

Question 181

gust

Answer 181

noun
a sudden strong rush of wind.
* a sudden burst of something such as rain, sound, or emotion: gusts of rain and snow flurried through the open door.

verb [no object]
(of the wind) blow in gusts: the wind was gusting through the branches of the tree.

Question 182

meander

Answer 182

verb [no object, with adverbial of direction]
(of a river or road) follow a winding course: a river that meandered gently through a meadow.
* wander at random: kids meandered in and out.
* [no object] (of language, thought, etc.) proceed aimlessly or with little purpose: a stylish offbeat thriller which occasionally meanders.

noun (usually meanders)
a winding curve or bend of a river or road: the river flows in sweeping meanders.
* [in singular] an indirect or aimless journey: a leisurely meander round the twisting coastline road.
* an ornamental pattern of winding or interlocking lines.

Question 183

frenetic

Answer 183

adjective
fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way: a frenetic pace of activity.

Question 184

preternatural

Answer 184

adjective
beyond what is normal or natural: autumn had arrived with preternatural speed.

Question 185

behest

Answer 185

a person’s orders or command: they had assembled at his behest.

Question 186

sheath

Answer 186

noun (plural sheaths | ʃiːðz, ʃiːθs | )
a close-fitting cover for the blade of a knife or sword.
* a structure in living tissue which closely envelops another: the fatty sheath around nerve fibres.
* a protective covering around an electric cable.
* (also sheath dress) a woman’s close-fitting dress.
* mainly British a condom.

Question 187

boardwalk

Answer 187

noun
a wooden walkway across sand or marshy ground.
* North American a promenade along a beach or waterfront, typically made of wood.

Question 188

ebullience

Answer 188

noun [mass noun]
the quality of being cheerful and full of energy; exuberance: the ebullience of happy children.

Question 189

discotheque

Answer 189

noun
a club or party at which people dance to recorded pop music.

Question 190

hand-wringing

Answer 190

the excessive display of concern or distress: this is no time for more hand-wringing about bias in the media |

[modifier] : now that tax season is over, hand-wringing season has begun as many business owners worry about whether an audit may be in their future.

Question 191

beatitude

Answer 191

supreme blessedness: the expression of beatitude the religious sometimes adopt.

• (the Beatitudes) the blessings listed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3–11).
• (His/Your Beatitude) a title given to patriarchs in the Orthodox Church.

Question 192

drolly

Answer 192

adverb
in a curious or unusual way that provokes dry amusement: monkeys were drolly portrayed in human roles | Will drolly expressed his scepticism.

Question 193

falter

Answer 193

verb [no object]
lose strength or momentum: the music faltered, stopped, and started up again | her smile faltered and then faded.
* speak hesitantly: [with direct speech] : ‘A-Adam?’ he faltered.
* move unsteadily or hesitantly: he faltered and finally stopped in mid-stride.

Question 194

astroturf

Answer 194

verb (usually astroturf) [with object]
1 cover (a sports field or other area) with a layer of Astroturf: the garden has been astroturfed for ease of maintenance | (as adjective astroturfed) : astroturfed tennis courts.
2 disguise (an orchestrated marketing or public relations campaign) in such a way as to present it as having arisen from unsolicited public comments: there’s a suspicion that he astroturfed the campaign behind the scenes | they alleged that the petition could have been astroturfed.

Question 195

malinger

Answer 195

verb [no object]
pretend to be ill in order to escape duty or work: while some thought I was malingering, they couldn’t see the pain I dealt with | the doctor concluded he was malingering.

Question 196

gyrate

Answer 196

verb
move or cause to move rapidly in a circle or spiral: [with object] : the dog yelped frenetically, wildly gyrating her tail.
* dance in a wild or suggestive manner: strippers gyrated to rock music on a low stage

Question 197

ignominious

Answer 197

adjective
deserving or causing public disgrace or shame: the party risked ignominious defeat.

Question 198

vespertine

Answer 198

adjective technical or literary
relating to, occurring, or active in the evening.

Question 199

centrefold

Answer 199

noun
the two middle pages of a magazine, often taken up by a single illustration or feature: pull-out-and-keep centrefolds on superior quality paper | [as modifier] : a centrefold poster.
* an illustration on a centrefold, typically a picture of a naked or scantily clad model.

Question 200

foregoing

Answer 200

adjective [attributive]
just mentioned or stated; preceding: the foregoing analysis of the economic class structure.
noun (the foregoing) [treated as singular or plural]
the things just mentioned or stated.

Question 201

dawdle

Answer 201

verb [no object]
waste time; be slow: she mustn’t dawdle—she had to make the call now.
* [with adverbial of direction] move slowly and idly in a particular direction: Ruth dawdled back through the wood.

Question 202

interdiction

Answer 202

1 the action of prohibiting or forbidding something: the interdiction of the slave trade.

2 the action of intercepting and preventing the movement of a prohibited commodity or person: the interdiction of arms shipments | [as modifier] : drug interdiction operations.

• Military the action of impeding an enemy force, especially by bombing lines of communication or supply: battlefield air interdiction | [count noun] : air, ground, and naval interdictions.

Question 203

fiend

Answer 203

noun
1 an evil spirit or demon.
* (the fiend) archaic the Devil.
* a very wicked or cruel person: Britain’s most notorious sex fiend.
2 informal an enthusiast or devotee of a particular thing: a football fiend.

Question 204

lunkhead

Answer 204

noun informal
a slow-witted person.

Question 205

slight (verb, noun)

Answer 205

adjective
1 small in degree; inconsiderable: a slight increase | a slight ankle injury | the chance of success is very slight.
* (especially of a creative work) not profound or substantial; rather trivial or superficial: a slight romantic comedy.
2 (of a person or their build) not sturdy; thin or slender: she was slight and delicate-looking.

verb [with object]
1 insult (someone) by treating or speaking of them without proper respect or attention: he was desperate not to slight a guest.
2 archaic raze or destroy (a fortification): a Council determined whether the Fort should be kept or slighted.

noun
an insult caused by a failure to show someone proper respect or attention: an unintended slight can create grudges | he was seething at the slight to his authority.

PHRASES
not in the slightest
not at all: he didn’t mind in the slightest.
the slightest —
[usually with negative] any — whatsoever: I don’t have the slightest idea.

Question 206

aporetic

Answer 206

characterized by an irresolvable internal contradiction or logical disjunction: the aporetic conflict of law and morality.

• Rhetoric expressing doubt: aporetic dialogues.

Question 207

gaunt

Answer 207

adjective
(of a person) lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age: a tall, gaunt woman in black.
* (of a building or place) grim or desolate in appearance: gaunt tenement blocks

Question 208

defrock

Answer 208

verb [with object]
deprive (a person in holy orders) of ecclesiastical status: he had left his diocese one step ahead of a move to defrock him | (as adjective defrocked) : a defrocked French Catholic priest.
* deprive (someone) of professional status or membership of a prestigious group: the Supreme Court found him in contempt of the tribunal and defrocked him as an appeals court judge.

Question 209

proptitious

Answer 209

giving or indicating a good chance of success; favourable: the timing for such a meeting seemed propitious.

• archaic favourably disposed towards someone: there were points on which they did not agree, moments in which she did not seem propitious.

Question 210

dilate on

Answer 210

PHRASAL VERBS
dilate on
(dilate on something) speak or write at length on a subject: the faithful could hear the minister dilate on the role religion could play.

Question 211

sheen

Answer 211

noun [in singular]
a soft lustre on a surface: black crushed velvet with a slight sheen | figurative : he seemed to shine with that unmistakable showbiz sheen.

verb literary
shine or cause to shine softly: [with object] : men entered with rain sheening their steel helms | [no object] : her black hair sheened in the sun.

Question 212

clout

Answer 212

noun
1 informal a heavy blow with the hand or a hard object: a clout round the ear.
2 [mass noun] informal influence or power, especially in politics or business: I knew she carried a lot of clout.
3 archaic a piece of cloth or article of clothing.
4 Archery a target twelve times the usual size, placed flat on the ground with a flag marking its centre and used in long-distance shooting.
* a long-distance shot that hits a clout.
5 short for clout nail.

verb [with object]
1 informal hit (someone or something) hard: I clouted him round the head.
2 archaic mend with a patch: he helps the women clout their pans.

Question 213

untenable

Answer 213

adjective
(especially of a position or view) not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection: this argument is clearly untenable.

Question 214

budge

Answer 214

verb [usually with negative]
make or cause to make the slightest movement: [no object] : the queue in the bank hasn’t budged | [with object] : I couldn’t budge the door.
* [no object] (budge up or US budge over) informal make room for another person by moving: budge up, boys, make room for your uncle.
* [usually with modal] change an opinion: [no object] : he wouldn’t budge on his decision.

Question 215

sequester

Answer 215

verb [with object]
1 isolate or hide away: she is sequestered in deepest Dorset | the artist sequestered himself in his studio for two years.
2 another term for sequestrate: their property was sequestered by Parliament.
3 Chemistry form a chelate or other stable compound with (an ion, atom, or molecule) so that it is no longer available for reactions: non-precipitating water softeners use complex phosphates to sequester calcium and magnesium ions | (as adjective sequestering) : the organic sequestering agent EDTA.

noun US
a general cut in government spending: if the budget deal hadn’t gone through, there would have been a sequester of at least $100 billion.

Question 216

subservient

Answer 216

adjective
prepared to obey others unquestioningly: she was subservient to her parents.
* less important; subordinate: he expected her career to become subservient to his.
* serving as a means to an end: the whole narration is subservient to the moral plan of exemplifying twelve virtues in twelve knights.

Question 217

candour

Answer 217

noun [mass noun]
the quality of being open and honest; frankness: a man of refreshing candour.

Question 218

venal

Answer 218

adjective
showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery; corrupt: local customs officers are notoriously venal | their generosity had been at least partly venal.

Question 219

nimble

Answer 219

adjective (nimbler, nimblest)
quick and light in movement or action; agile: with a deft motion of her nimble fingers.
* (of the mind) able to think and understand quickly: her mind was so nimble and she was so quick to learn.

Question 220

vetting

Answer 220

noun [mass noun]
the process of carefully and critically examining something: we need a thorough vetting of the issues related to crude oil supplies.
* the process of investigating someone thoroughly, especially in order to ensure that they are suitable for a job requiring secrecy, loyalty, or trustworthiness: the vetting of people who work with children.

Question 221

garrulity

Answer 221

excessive talkativeness, especially on trivial matters: the character’s comic garrulity.

garrulous

Question 222

panoply

Answer 222

noun
an extensive or impressive collection: a deliciously inventive panoply of insults.
* a splendid display: I leaned forward to take in the full panoply of tourist London.
* historical or literary a complete suit of armour.

Question 223

append

Answer 223

verb [with object]
add (something) to the end of a written document: the results of the survey are appended to this chapter.

Question 224

behove

Answer 224

verb [with object] (it behoves someone to do something) formal
it is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something: it behoves the House to assure itself that there is no conceivable alternative.
* [with negative] it is appropriate or suitable; it befits: it ill behoves Opposition Members to decry the sale of arms to friendly countries.

Question 225

asinine

Answer 225

adjective
extremely stupid or foolish: Lydia ignored his asinine remark.

Question 226

demagogue

Answer 226

demagogue | ˈdɛməɡɒɡ |
noun
a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument: a gifted demagogue with particular skill in manipulating the press.
* (in ancient Greece and Rome) a leader or orator who espoused the cause of the common people: the Athenian demagogues had definite and valuable functions within the state.

verb [with object] US
rhetorically exploit (an issue) for political purposes in a way calculated to appeal to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people: he seems more interested in demagoguing the issue in media interviews than in dialogue | [no object] : they routinely leap to conclusions that are not supported by any evidence and start demagoguing and fearmongering.

Question 227

puny

Answer 227

adjective (punier, puniest)
small and weak: white-faced, puny children.
* poor in quality, amount, or size: the army was reduced to a puny 100,000 men.

Question 228

omniscience

Answer 228

noun [mass noun]
the state of knowing everything: the notion of divine omniscience | his reputation for near omniscience and infallibility.

Question 229

vociferous

Answer 229

expressing or characterized by vehement opinions; loud and forceful: he was a vociferous opponent of the takeover

Question 230

posse

Answer 230

noun
1 US historical a body of men summoned by a sheriff to enforce the law.
* (also posse comitatus | ˌkɒmɪˈteɪtəs | ) British historical the body of men above the age of fifteen in a county (excluding peers, the clergy, or the infirm), whom the sheriff could summon to repress a riot or for other purposes. [comitatus from medieval Latin, ‘of the county’.]
2 informal a group of people who have a common characteristic or occupation: tea was handed round by a posse of mothers.
* a group of young people who socialize together, especially to go to clubs or raves: the followers of the so-called Techno phenomenon, the vibed-up whistle posse.

Question 231

ooze

Answer 231

verb
1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of a fluid) slowly trickle or seep out of something: blood was oozing from a wound in his scalp | honey oozed out of the comb.
* [no object] slowly exude or discharge a viscous fluid: her mosquito bites were oozing and itching like mad.
2 [with object] give a powerful impression of (a quality): she oozes a raunchy sex appeal.

noun
1 [mass noun] the sluggish flow of a fluid: I picked a fruit and watched the ooze of fig milk from the stem.
2 an infusion of oak bark or other vegetable matter, used in tanning.

Question 232

whirl

Answer 232

verb
move or cause to move rapidly round and round: [no object] : leaves whirled in eddies of wind | [with object] : I whirled her round the dance hall.
* move or cause to move rapidly: [no object, with adverbial of direction] : Sybil stood waving as they whirled past | figurative : a kaleidoscope of images whirled through her brain.
* [no object] (of the head, mind, or senses) seem to spin round: Kate made her way back to the office, her mind whirling.

noun
1 [in singular] a rapid movement round and round.
* frantic activity of a specified kind: the event was all part of the mad social whirl.
2 [with adjective or noun modifier] a specified kind of sweet or biscuit with a spiral shape: a hazelnut whirl.

give something a whirl
informal give something a try.

in a whirl
in a state of confusion: Laura’s mind was in a whirl.

Question 233

histrionic

Answer 233

adjective
1 excessively theatrical or dramatic in character or style: a histrionic outburst.
* Psychiatry denoting a personality disorder marked by shallow volatile emotions and attention-seeking behaviour.
2 formal of or concerning actors or acting: histrionic talents.

noun
1 (histrionics) melodramatic behaviour designed to attract attention: by now, Anna was accustomed to her mother’s histrionics.
2 (histrionics) archaic dramatic performances; the theatre: he loved the theatre and everything which savoured of histrionics.
3 archaic an actor.

Question 234

scrounge

Answer 234

seek to obtain (something, typically food or money) at the expense or through the generosity of others or by stealth: he had managed to scrounge a free meal | we stopped scrounging for cigarettes | [no object] : we didn’t scrounge off the social security.

• (often scrounge something up) North American search for or obtain by searching.

Question 235

receptacle

Answer 235

noun
1 a hollow object used to contain something: fast-food receptacles.
2 North American an electrical socket.
3 mainly Zoology an organ or structure which receives a secretion, eggs, sperm, etc.
4 Botany an enlarged area at the apex of a stem on which the parts of a flower or the florets of a flower head are inserted.
* a structure supporting the sexual organs in some algae, mosses, and liverworts.

Question 236

contrition

Answer 236

noun [mass noun]
the state of feeling remorseful and penitent: to show contrition for his crime he offered to do community service.
* (in the Roman Catholic Church) the repentance of past sins during or after confession: prayers of contrition.

Question 237

sequestrate

Answer 237

verb [with object]
take legal possession of (assets) until a debt has been paid or other claims have been met: the power of courts to sequestrate the assets of unions.
* take forcible possession of (something); confiscate: in November 1956 the property was sequestrated by the authorities.
* legally place (the property of a bankrupt) in the hands of a trustee for division among the creditors: (as adjective sequestrated) : a trustee in a sequestrated estate.
* declare (someone) bankrupt: two more poll tax rebels were sequestrated.

Question 238

skedaddle

Answer 238

verb [no object] informal
depart quickly or hurriedly; run away: when he saw us, he skedaddled.

Question 239

anathema

Answer 239

1 [mass noun] something or someone that one vehemently dislikes: racial hatred was anathema to her | [in singular] : the usual norms of decorum are an anathema to him.

2 a formal curse by a pope or a council of the Church, excommunicating a person or denouncing a doctrine: the Pope laid special emphasis on the second of these anathemas.
* literary a strong curse: the sergeant clutched the ruined communicator, muttering anathemas.

Question 240

fastidious

Answer 240

adjective
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail: she dressed with fastidious care.
* very concerned about matters of cleanliness: the child seemed fastidious about getting her fingers dirty.

Question 241

rostrum

Answer 241

noun (plural rostra | ˈrɒstrə | or rostrums)
1 a raised platform on which a person stands to make a public speech, receive an award or medal, play music, or conduct an orchestra: speaker after speaker stepped up to the rostrum | the winner’s rostrum | the composer moved from keyboard to rostrum.
* a raised platform supporting a film or television camera: [as modifier] : a rostrum camera.
2 mainly Zoology a beaklike projection, especially a stiff snout or anterior prolongation of the head in an insect, crustacean, or cetacean: these beetles are very easily recognized by the rostrum or beak.

Question 242

enumerate

Answer 242

verb [with object]
mention (a number of things) one by one: there is not space to enumerate all his works.
* formal establish the number of: 6,079 residents were enumerated in 241 establishments.

Question 243

dross

Answer 243

1 something regarded as worthless; rubbish: there are bargains if you have the patience to sift through the dross.

2 foreign matter, dregs, or mineral waste, in particular scum formed on the surface of molten metal: alchemists tried to create gold from dross.

Question 244

laggard

Answer 244

noun
a person who makes slow progress and falls behind others: staff were under enormous pressure and there was no time for laggards.

adjective
slower than desired or expected: a bell to summon laggard children to school.

Question 245

ingénue

Answer 245

an innocent or unsophisticated young woman, especially in a play or film.

Question 246

verisimilitude

Answer 246

the appearance of being true or real: the detail gives the novel some verisimilitude.

Question 247

pawnbroker

Answer 247

noun
a person who lends money at interest on the security of an article pawned.

Question 248

carrion

Answer 248

the decaying flesh of dead animals: a crow wheeled over the hills in search of carrion.

Question 249

shaft

Answer 249

noun
1 a long, narrow part or section forming the handle of a tool or club, the body of a spear or arrow, or similar: the shaft of a golf club | the shaft of a feather.
* an arrow or spear.
* a column, especially the main part between the base and capital.
* a long cylindrical rotating rod for the transmission of motive power in a machine.
* each of the pair of poles between which a horse is harnessed to a vehicle: the shafts of a horse-drawn wagon.
2 a ray of light or bolt of lightning: a shaft of sunlight.
* a sudden flash of a quality or feeling: a shaft of inspiration.
* a remark intended to be witty, wounding, or provoking: he directs his shafts against her.
3 a long, narrow, typically vertical hole that gives access to a mine, accommodates a lift in a building, or provides ventilation.
4 vulgar slang a man’s penis.
* (the shaft) North American informal harsh or unfair treatment: the executives continue to raise their pay while the workers get the shaft.

verb
1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of light) shine in beams: brilliant sunshine shafted through the skylight.
2 [with object] vulgar slang (of a man) have sex with.
* informal treat (someone) harshly or unfairly: I suppose she’ll get a lawyer and I’ll be shafted.

Question 250

aegis

Answer 250

noun
1 [in singular] the protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organization: the negotiations were conducted under the aegis of the UN.
2 (in classical art and mythology) an attribute of Zeus and Athene (or their Roman counterparts Jupiter and Minerva) usually represented as a goatskin shield.

Question 251

gratuitous

Answer 251

adjective
1 done without good reason; uncalled for: gratuitous violence.
2 given or done free of charge: solicitors provide a form of gratuitous legal advice.

Question 252

burly

Answer 252

adjective (burlier, burliest)
(of a person) large and strong; heavily built: I saw a burly figure approaching | a big, burly man.

Question 253

indomitable

Answer 253

adjective
impossible to subdue or defeat: a woman of indomitable spirit.

Question 254

fulsome

Answer 254

adjective
1 complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree: the press are embarrassingly fulsome in their appreciation.
2 of large size or quantity; generous or abundant: the fulsome details of the later legend.

Question 255

covet

Answer 255

verb (covets, coveting, coveted) [with object]
yearn to possess (something, especially something belonging to another): I covet one of their smart bags.

Question 256

emaciated

Answer 256

adjective
abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food: she was so emaciated she could hardly stand.

Question 257

rectitude

Answer 257

morally correct behaviour or thinking; righteousness: Mattie is a model of rectitude.

Question 258

toss-up

Answer 258

noun informal
the tossing of a coin to make a decision between two alternatives.
* a situation in which any of two or more outcomes or options is equally possible or equally attractive: in the end it was a toss-up between the mussels, the crispy prawn parcels, and the smoked trout.

Question 259

cordon

Answer 259

noun
1 a line or circle of police, soldiers, or guards preventing access to or from an area or building: the crowd was halted in front of the police cordon.
2 a fruit tree trained to grow as a single stem.
3 Architecture a projecting course of brick or stone on the face of a wall.

verb [with object] (cordon something off)
prevent access to or from an area or building by surrounding it with police or other guards: the city centre was cordoned off after fires were discovered in two stores.

Question 260

outlier

Answer 260

a person or thing situated away or detached from the main body or system: a western outlier in the Andaman archipelago.
* a person or thing differing from all other members of a particular group or set: an outlier in Faulkner’s body of work | then there are the corporate outliers, people who just don’t fit into the culture of the company.

Question 261

impart

Answer 261

make (information) known: the teachers imparted a great deal of knowledge to their pupils.

• bestow (a quality): shiitake mushrooms impart a wonderfully woody flavour to the salad.

Question 262

dinghy

Answer 262

noun (plural dinghies)
a small boat for recreation or racing, especially an open boat with a mast and sails.
* a small inflatable rubber boat.

Question 263

duplicitous

Answer 263

1 deceitful: a duplicitous philanderer.
2 Law (of a charge or plea) containing more than one allegation.

Question 264

denouement

Answer 264

the final part of a play, film, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved: the film’s denouement was unsatisfying and ambiguous.

• the outcome of a situation, when something is decided or made clear: I waited by the eighteenth green to see the denouement.

Question 265

underhand

Answer 265

adjective | ˌʌndəˈhand, ˈʌndəhand |
1 acting or done in a secret or dishonest way: underhand dealings.
2 another term for underarm: underhand bowling | [as adverb] : I served underhand.
* with the palm of the hand upward or outward: an underhand grip.

Question 266

rejoinder

Answer 266

noun
a reply, especially a sharp or witty one: she would have made some cutting rejoinder but none came to mind.
* Law, dated a defendant’s answer to the plaintiff’s reply or replication.

Question 267

embellish

Answer 267

verb [with object]
make (something) more attractive by the addition of decorative details or features: blue silk embellished with golden embroidery.
* make (a statement or story) more interesting by adding extra details that are often untrue: followers often embellish stories about their heroes.

Question 268

hackney

Answer 268

a horse or pony of a light breed with a high-stepping trot, used in harness.

• [usually as modifier] a horse-drawn vehicle kept for hire: a hackney coach.

Question 269

Prod

Answer 269

offensive
noun
(especially in Ireland) a Protestant.
adjective
(especially in Ireland) Protestant.

Question 270

turbid

Answer 270

adjective
(of a liquid) cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter: the turbid estuary.
* confused or obscure in meaning or effect: a turbid piece of cinéma vérité.

Question 271

licentious

Answer 271

1 promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters: the ruler’s tyrannical and licentious behaviour | unlike many of the artists who frequented the Soho scene of the 1960s, he did not lead a licentious life.

Question 272

askance

Answer 272

adverb
with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval: the reformers looked askance at the mystical tradition | a waiter looked askance at his jeans.

Question 273

quip

Answer 273

noun
a witty remark: Peter ate heartily with a quip about being a condemned man.
* archaic a play on words: tricks of controversy and quips of law.
verb (quips, quipping, quipped) [no object]
make a witty remark: [with direct speech] : ‘Flattery will get you nowhere,’ she quipped.

Question 274

inculcate

Answer 274

instil (an idea, attitude, or habit) by persistent instruction: I tried to inculcate in my pupils an attitude of enquiry.

• teach (someone) an attitude, idea, or habit by persistent instruction: they will try to inculcate you with a respect for culture.

Question 275

grime

Answer 275

noun [mass noun]
1 dirt ingrained on the surface of something: the windows were thick with grime.
2 a genre of popular music influenced by UK garage, typically characterized by a minimal, prominent rhythm, a very low-pitched bassline, and vocals by an MC.

verb [with object]
blacken or make dirty with grime: the windows were grimed like a coal miner’s goggles.

Question 276

vicissitude

Answer 276

1 (usually vicissitudes) a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant: her husband’s sharp vicissitudes of fortune.

2 [mass noun] literary alternation between opposite or contrasting things: the vicissitude of the seasons.

Question 277

itinerant

Answer 277

adjective
travelling from place to place: itinerant traders.

noun
a person who travels from place to place.

Question 278

bemoan

Answer 278

verb [with object]
express discontent or sorrow over (something): it was no use bemoaning her lot.

Question 279

shoehorn (verb)

Answer 279

noun
a curved instrument used for easing one’s heel into a shoe.

verb [with object and adverbial]
force into an inadequate space: people were shoehorned into cramped corners.

Question 280

arrears

Answer 280

money that is owed and should have been paid earlier: he was suing the lessee for the arrears of rent | mortgage arrears.

in arrears (also mainly Law in arrear)
1 behind with paying money that is owed: two out of three tenants are in arrears.
* (of payments made or due for wages, rent, etc.) at the end of each period of work or occupancy: you will be paid monthly in arrears.
2 (of a competitor in a sports race or match) having a lower score or weaker performance than other competitors: she finished ten metres in arrears.

Question 281

arraign

Answer 281

verb
call or bring (someone) before a court to answer a criminal charge: her sister was arraigned on charges of attempted murder.
* find fault with; censure: social workers were relieved it was not they who were arraigned in the tabloids.

Question 282

callous

Answer 282

adjective
showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others: his callous comments about the murder made me shiver.

Question 283

nebulous

Answer 283

adjective
1 in the form of a cloud or haze; hazy: a giant nebulous glow.
* another term for nebular.
2 (of a concept) vague or ill-defined: nebulous concepts like quality of life.

Question 284

daze

Answer 284

verb [with object]
(especially of an emotional or physical shock) make (someone) unable to think or react properly: she was dazed by his revelations.

noun [in singular]
a state of stunned confusion or bewilderment: he was walking around in a daze.

Question 285

scold

Answer 285

verb [with object]
remonstrate with or rebuke (someone) angrily: Mum took Anna away, scolding her for her bad behaviour.
* [no object] (of a bird) call loudly and persistently: the gulls wheeled and scolded above the lake.

noun dated or US
a person who nags or grumbles constantly (typically used of a woman): his mother was the village scold | the fiscal scolds insist that reform will make everything even worse.

Question 286

invidious

Answer 286

adjective
(of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others: she’d put herself in an invidious position.
* (of a comparison or distinction) unfairly discriminating; unjust: it seems invidious to make special mention of one aspect of his work.

Question 287

valency

Answer 287

Chemistry, mainly British the combining power of an element, especially as measured by the number of hydrogen atoms it can displace or combine with: carbon always has a valency of 4. Compare with valence.

• Linguistics the number of grammatical elements with which a particular word, especially a verb, combines in a sentence: ‘give’ has a valency of three in ‘I (1) gave it (2) to him (3)’.

Question 288

upholstery

Answer 288

noun [mass noun]
soft, padded textile covering that is fixed to furniture such as armchairs and sofas: leather upholstery.
* the art or practice of upholstering furniture.

Question 289

foreshadow

Answer 289

verb [with object]
be a warning or indication of (a future event): other new measures are foreshadowed in the White Paper.

Question 290

schlep

Answer 290

verb (schleps, schlepping, schlepped) [with object]
haul or carry (something heavy or awkward): she schlepped her groceries home.
* [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of a person) go or move reluctantly or with effort: I would have preferred not to schlep all the way over there to run an errand.

noun
1 a tedious or difficult journey: a rush hour schlep to the airport and back.
2 another term for schlepper: all the schleps who say that 2010 was the beginning of a new decade are wrong.

Question 291

insolent

Answer 291

showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect: she hated the insolent tone of his voice.

Question 292

auspicious

Answer 292

adjective
conducive to success; favourable: it was not the most auspicious moment to hold an election.
* giving or being a sign of future success: they said it was an auspicious moon—it was rising.
* archaic characterized by success; prosperous: he was respectful to his auspicious customers.

Question 293

recapitulate

Answer 293

verb [with object]
summarize and state again the main points of: he began to recapitulate his argument with care.
* Biology repeat (an evolutionary or other process) during development and growth: many features of regeneration in the peripheral nervous system recapitulate development.

Question 294

ravine

Answer 294

noun
a deep, narrow gorge with steep sides.

Question 295

prescient

Answer 295

adjective
having or showing knowledge of events before they take place: a prescient warning.

Question 296

dollop

Answer 296

noun informal
a large, shapeless mass of something, especially soft food: great dollops of cream | figurative : a dollop of romance here and there.
verb (dollops, dolloping, dolloped) [with object and adverbial of direction]
add (a large mass of something) casually and without measuring: she stopped him from dolloping cream into his coffee.

Question 297

proffer

Answer 297

verb [with object]
hold out or put forward (something) to someone for acceptance: she proffered a glass of wine | he proffered his resignation.

noun literary
an offer or proposal.

Question 298

ludicrous

Answer 298

adjective
so foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be amusing: it’s ludicrous that I have been fined | every night he wore a ludicrous outfit.

Question 299

verisimilar

Answer 299

appearing true or real

Question 300

retort

Answer 300

verb
1 [reporting verb] say something in answer to a remark, typically in a sharp, angry, or witty manner: [with direct speech] : ‘No need to be rude,’ retorted Isabel | [with clause] : he retorted that this was nonsense.
2 [with object] archaic repay (an insult or injury): it was now his time to retort the humiliation.
* turn (an insult or accusation) back on the person who has issued it: he was resolute to retort the charge of treason on his foes.
* use (an opponent’s argument) against them: the answer they make to us may very easily be retorted.

noun
a sharp, angry, or witty reply: she opened her mouth to make a suitably cutting retort.

Question 301

myopic

Answer 301

adjective
short-sighted: most myopic children can be fitted with glasses to correct their vision.
* lacking foresight or intellectual insight: the government still has a myopic attitude to public spending.

Question 302

finitude

Answer 302

noun [mass noun] formal
the state of having limits or bounds: one quickly senses the finitude of his patience.

Question 303

penchant

Answer 303

noun [usually in singular]
a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something: he has a penchant for adopting stray dogs.

Question 304

sieve

Answer 304

noun
a utensil consisting of a wire or plastic mesh held in a frame, used for straining solids from liquids, for separating coarser from finer particles, or for reducing soft solids to a pulp: puree the potatoes through a sieve | rinse the lentils in a sieve under running water.
* used figuratively with reference to the fact that a sieve does not hold all its contents: she’s forgotten all the details already, she’s got a mind like a sieve.

verb [with object]
put (a food substance or other material) through a sieve: sieve the flour and sugar together in a bowl | (as adjective sieved) : dredge with sieved icing sugar.
* (usually sieve something out) remove (unwanted items): filters sieve large particles out of the water to prevent them from harming the pumps.
* [no object] (sieve through) examine in detail: lawyers had sieved through her contract.

Question 305

oblate (1, 2)

Answer 305

oblate1 | ˈɒbleɪt |
adjective Geometry
(of a spheroid) flattened at the poles. Often contrasted with prolate.

oblate2 | ˈɒbleɪt |
noun
a person who is dedicated to a religious life, but has typically not taken full monastic vows.

Question 306

blotch

Answer 306

noun
a large irregular patch or unsightly mark on the skin or another surface: red blotches on her face.
verb [with object]
cover with blotches: her face was blotched and swollen with crying.

Question 307

stochastic

Answer 307

adjective technical
having a random probability distribution or pattern that may be analysed statistically but may not be predicted precisely.

Question 308

aperture

Answer 308

noun
an opening, hole, or gap: the bell ropes passed through apertures in the ceiling | the genital aperture of an insect.

• a space through which light passes in an optical or photographic instrument, especially the variable opening by which light enters a camera: a refracting telescope with an aperture of 3 inches.

Question 309

ungulate

Answer 309

noun Zoology
a hoofed mammal.

Question 310

lascivious

Answer 310

feeling or revealing an overt sexual interest or desire: he gave her a lascivious wink.

Question 311

scant

Answer 311

adjective
barely sufficient or adequate: companies with scant regard for the safety of future generations.
* [attributive] barely amounting to a specified number or quantity: she weighed a scant two pounds.

verb [with object] mainly North American
provide grudgingly or in insufficient amounts: he does not scant his attention to the later writings.
* deal with inadequately; neglect: the press regularly scants a host of issues relating to safety and health.

Question 312

kerfuffle

Answer 312

noun [in singular] British informal
a commotion or fuss, especially one caused by conflicting views: there was a kerfuffle over the chairmanship.

Question 313

derelict

Answer 313

adjective
1 in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect: a derelict Georgian mansion | the barge lay derelict for years.
2 mainly North American shamefully negligent of one’s duties or obligations: he was derelict in his duty to his country.

noun
1 a person without a home, job, or property: derelicts who could fit all their possessions in a paper bag.
2 a ship or other piece of property abandoned by the owner and in poor condition: she had been a derelict recommissioned for this journey.

Question 314

distraught

Answer 314

very worried and upset: distraught parents looking for a runaway teenager | he is terribly distraught.

Question 315

tarnish

Answer 315

verb
lose or cause to lose lustre, especially as a result of exposure to air or moisture: [no object] : silver tarnishes too easily | [with object] : lemon juice would tarnish the gilded metal.
* make or become less valuable or respected: [with object] : his regime had not been tarnished by human rights abuses.

noun [mass noun]
dullness of colour; loss of brightness.
* a film or stain formed on an exposed surface of a mineral or metal: he was removing tarnish from the candlesticks.
* damage or harm done to something: the tarnish on Alan’s personal reputation.

Question 316

stow away

Answer 316

conceal oneself on a ship, aircraft, or other passenger vehicle in order to travel secretly or without paying the fare: he stowed away on a ship bound for South Africa.

Question 317

personage

Answer 317

noun
a person (used to express importance or elevated status): it was no less a personage than the bishop.
* a character in a play or other work: the key explains who all the personages in the paintings are.

Question 318

skittish

Answer 318

adjective
(of an animal, especially a horse) nervous or excitable; easily scared: a skittish chestnut mare | the birds are skittish and will take flight when disturbed | figurative : skittish investors withdrew their money from equity markets.
* (of a person) playfully frivolous or unpredictable: Ripley had been travelling the world ever since moving to New York as a skittish newspaper reporter.

Question 319

technobabble

Answer 319

noun [mass noun] informal
incomprehensible technical jargon: interface cards came with instructions written in terse technobabble.

Question 320

fester

Answer 320

(of a wound or sore) become septic; suppurate: I developed a tropical sore that festered badly.
* (of food or rubbish) become rotten and offensive to the senses: piles of mouldy grey paper festered by the sink.
* (of a negative feeling or a problem) become worse or more intense, especially through long-term neglect or indifference: below the surface, the old antagonisms festered.
* (of a person) deteriorate physically and mentally in isolated inactivity: remand prisoners are left to fester in our jails while they wait for trial.

Question 321

egregious

Answer 321

1 outstandingly bad; shocking: egregious abuses of copyright.

2 archaic remarkably good.

Question 322

incontinent

Answer 322

1 having no or insufficient voluntary control over urination or defecation: elderly, incontinent parents.

2 lacking self-restraint; uncontrolled: the incontinent hysteria of the massed pop fans.

Question 323

cur

Answer 323

noun
an aggressive or unkempt dog, especially a mongrel: a mangy-looking cur.
* informal, derogatory a contemptible man: you can choose to help the vulnerable and poor, or be a ruthless cur.

Question 324

inebriate

Answer 324

verb | ɪˈniːbrɪeɪt | [with object]
make (someone) drunk; intoxicate: it is a rum-based drink designed more to inebriate the masses than to please the palate | those who feel inclined are free to inebriate themselves.

noun | ɪˈniːbrɪət |
a drunkard: he was marked down as an inebriate.

adjective | ɪˈniːbrɪət |
drunk; intoxicated: he had been known to get hopelessly inebriate | inebriate times by the Bay.

Question 325

arriviste

Answer 325

an ambitious or ruthlessly self-seeking person.

Question 326

prance

Answer 326

verb [no object, with adverbial of direction]
(of a horse) move with high springy steps: the pony was prancing around the paddock.
* (of a person) walk or move around with ostentatious, exaggerated movements: she pranced around the lounge impersonating her favourite pop stars.

noun
an act or instance of prancing.

Question 327

touchstone

Answer 327

• a standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized: they tend to regard grammar as the touchstone of all language performance.

Question 328

terse

Answer 328

adjective (terser, tersest)
sparing in the use of words; abrupt: a terse statement.

Question 329

portent

Answer 329

noun
1 a sign or warning that a momentous or calamitous event is likely to happen: many birds are regarded as being portents of death.
* [mass noun] future significance: an omen of grave portent for the tribe.

2 literary an exceptional or wonderful person or thing: what portent can be greater than a pious notary?

Question 330

tableau

Answer 330

noun (plural tableaux | ˈtabləʊz | or tableaus)
a group of models or motionless figures representing a scene from a story or from history; a tableau vivant: in the first act the action is presented in a series of tableaux.

Question 331

brig

Answer 331

noun
1 a two-masted square-rigged ship, typically having an additional lower fore-and-aft sail on the gaff and a boom to the mainmast: the brig sailed to the coast of Norway to avoid capture.

2 informal a prison, especially on a warship: the crew threw him in the brig.

Question 332

transmogrify

Answer 332

transform in a surprising or magical manner: his home was transmogrified into a hippy crash pad.

Question 333

sanctimonious

Answer 333

adjective derogatory
making a show of being morally superior to other people: what happened to all the sanctimonious talk about putting his family first?

Question 334

prevaricate

Answer 334

verb
speak or act in an evasive way: he seemed to prevaricate when journalists asked pointed questions.

Question 335

roil

Answer 335

verb
1 [with object] literary make (a liquid) turbid or muddy by disturbing the sediment: winds roil these waters.
* [no object] (of a liquid) move in a turbulent, swirling manner: the sea roiled below her | figurative : a kind of fear roiled in her.
2 [with object] US
make (someone) annoyed or irritated.

Question 336

conflagration

Answer 336

noun
an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property: tinder-dry conditions sparked fears of a conflagration in many drought-devastated communities.

Question 337

downtrodden

Answer 337

adjective
oppressed or treated badly by people in power: a downtrodden proletarian struggling for social justice.

Question 338

intransigent

Answer 338

intransigent | ɪnˈtrɑːnsɪdʒənt, ɪnˈtransɪdʒənt |
adjective
unwilling or refusing to change one’s views or to agree about something: her father had tried persuasion, but she was intransigent.

noun
an intransigent person.

Question 339

figment

Answer 339

a thing that someone believes to be real but that exists only in their imagination: it really was Ross and not a figment of her overheated imagination.

Question 340

breakneck

Answer 340

adjective
dangerously or extremely fast: he drove at breakneck speed.

Question 341

tenuous

Answer 341

adjective
very weak or slight: the tenuous link between interest rates and investment.
* very slender or fine; insubstantial: a tenuous cloud.

Question 342

insipid

Answer 342

lacking flavour; weak or tasteless: mugs of insipid coffee.

• lacking vigour or interest: many artists continued to churn out insipid, shallow works.

Question 343

hoarfrost

Answer 343

a greyish-white crystalline deposit of frozen water vapour formed in clear still weather on vegetation, fences, etc.

Question 344

dilate

Answer 344

verb
make or become wider, larger, or more open: [no object] : her eyes dilated with horror | [with object] : the woman dilated her nostrils | (as adjective dilated) : dilated pupils.

Question 345

propituous

Answer 345

adjective
giving or indicating a good chance of success; favourable: the timing for such a meeting seemed propitious.

Question 346

obstinate

Answer 346

stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so: her obstinate determination to pursue a career in radio.

• (of an unwelcome situation) very difficult to change or overcome: the obstinate problem of unemployment.

Question 347

Ponzi scheme

Answer 347

a form of fraud in which belief in the success of a non-existent enterprise is fostered by the payment of quick returns to the first investors from money invested by later investors: a classic Ponzi scheme built on treachery and lies.

Question 348

deft

Answer 348

adjective
neatly skilful and quick in one’s movements: a deft piece of footwork.
* demonstrating skill and cleverness: the script was both deft and literate.

Question 349

lifeblood

Answer 349

the blood, as being necessary to life.

• the indispensable factor or influence that gives something its strength and vitality: the movement of coal was the lifeblood of British railways.

Question 350

mettle

Answer 350

noun [mass noun]
a person’s ability to cope well with difficulties; spirit and resilience: the team showed their true mettle in the second half.

Question 351

potpourri

Answer 351

noun (plural potpourris) [mass noun]
a mixture of dried petals and spices placed in a bowl to perfume a room.
* a mixture or medley of things: he played a potpourri of tunes from Gilbert and Sullivan.

Question 352

undulate

Answer 352

verb | ˈʌndjʊleɪt | [no object]
move or go with a smooth up-and-down motion: the surface of the liquid undulated gently | her body undulated to the thumping rhythm of the music.
* have a smoothly rising and falling form or outline: the landscape rolled and undulated for miles in every direction.

adjective | ˈʌndjʊlət | Botany & Zoology
(especially of a leaf) having a wavy surface or edge.

Question 353

bulbous

Answer 353

adjective
1 fat, round, or bulging: a bulbous nose.
2 (of a plant) growing from a bulb: the bulbous buttercup.

Question 354

rowdy

Answer 354

adjective (rowdier, rowdiest)
noisy and disorderly: it was a rowdy but good-natured crowd.

noun (plural rowdies)
a noisy and disorderly person: we are accused of being rowdies in the pub.

Question 355

unkempt

Answer 355

adjective
(especially of a person) having an untidy or dishevelled appearance: they were unwashed and unkempt.

Question 356

tribulation

Answer 356

noun (usually tribulations)
a cause of great trouble or suffering: the tribulations of being a megastar.

• [mass noun] a state of great trouble or suffering: his time of tribulation was just beginning.

Question 357

postlude

Answer 357

noun
a concluding piece of music: a long orchestral postlude | figurative : an audacious postlude to a distinguished career.
* an epilogue or afterword.

Question 358

quiescence

Answer 358

noun [mass noun]
inactivity or dormancy: this method has been shown to induce sleep-like quiescence in adult animals.

Question 359

belie

Answer 359

verb (belies, belying, belied) [with object]
1 (of an appearance) fail to give a true impression of (something): his lively, alert manner belied his years.
2 fail to fulfil or justify (a claim or expectation): the quality of the music seems to belie the criticism.

Question 360

vitreous

Answer 360

adjective
like glass in appearance or physical properties: a coarse-grained rock with much grey vitreous quartz.
* (of a substance) derived from or containing glass: vitreous china.

Question 361

grok

Answer 361

verb (groks, grokking, grokked) [with object] US informal
understand (something) intuitively or by empathy: corporate leaders seemed to grok this concept fairly quickly.
* [no object] establish a rapport: nestling earth couple would like to find water brothers to grok with in peace.

Question 362

flout

Answer 362

1 [with object] openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention): the advertising code is being flouted.

2 [no object] archaic mock; scoff: the women pointed and flouted at her.

Question 363

mane

Answer 363

noun
a growth of long hair on the neck of a horse, lion, or other mammal: the horse was rushing about in the field, tossing its mane.
* a person’s long flowing hair: he had a mane of white hair.

Question 364

amiss

Answer 364

adjective [predicative]
not quite right; inappropriate or out of place: there was something amiss about his calculations.
adverb
wrongly or inappropriately: the prime minister may have constructed his cabinet a little amiss.