Key Terms 3

Question 1

acumen

Answer 1

keen, accurate judgement or insight

Question 2

amalgamate

Answer 2

to combine several elements into a whole

Question 3

aver

Answer 3

to state as a fact; to declare or assert

Question 4

diatribe

Answer 4

a harsh denunciatione

Question 5

eccentric

Answer 5

departing from norms to conventions

Question 6

dissemble

Answer 6

to disguise or conceal; to mislead

Question 7

evanescent

Answer 7

tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing

Question 8

fortuitous

Answer 8

happening by accident or chance

Question 9

germane

Answer 9

relevant to the subject at hand; appropriate

Question 10

grandiloquence

Answer 10

pompous speech or expression

Question 11

hackneyed

Answer 11

rendered trite or commonplace by frequent usage

Question 12

halcyon

Answer 12

calm and peaceful

Question 13

hedonism

Answer 13

devotion to pleasurable pursuits, especially to the pleasures of the senses

Question 14

hegemony

Answer 14

the consistent dominance of one state or group over others

Question 15

iconoclast

Answer 15

one who attacks or undermines traditional conventions or institutions

Question 16

imperturbable

Answer 16

marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness

Question 17

implacable

Answer 17

not capable of being appeased or significantly changed

Question 18

impunity

Answer 18

immunity from punishment or penalty

Question 19

inchoate

Answer 19

in an initial stage; not fully formed

Question 20

infelicitous

Answer 20

unfortunate, inappropriate

Question 21

loquacious

Answer 21

extremely talkative

Question 22

mendacity

Answer 22

the condition of being untruthful; dishonesty

Question 23

misanthrope

Answer 23

one who hates all other humans

Question 24

obdurate

Answer 24

unyielding; hardhearted; intractable

Question 25

obsequious

Answer 25

exhibiting a fawning attentiveness

Question 26

occlude

Answer 26

to obstruct or block

Question 27

opprobrium

Answer 27

disgrace; contempt; scorn

Question 28

pedagogy

Answer 28

the profession or principles of teaching or instructing

Question 29

pedantic

Answer 29

overly concerned with the tribal detailed of learning or education; show-offish about one’s knowledge

Question 30

penury

Answer 30

poverty; destitution

Question 31

pervasive

Answer 31

having the tendency to permeate or spread throughout

Question 32

pith

Answer 32

the essential or central part

Question 33

pithy

Answer 33

precise and brief

Question 34

platitude

Answer 34

a superficial remark, especially one offered as meaningful

Question 35

polemical

Answer 35

recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish

Question 36

querulous

Answer 36

prone to complaining or grumbling; peevish

Question 37

rancorous

Answer 37

characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment

Question 38

recalcitrant

Answer 38

obstinately defiant of authority; difficult to manage

Question 39

salubrious

Answer 39

promoting health or well-being

Question 40

specious

Answer 40

seeming true, but actually being fallacious; misleadingly attractive; plausible but false

Question 41

spurious

Answer 41

lacking authenticity or validity; false; counterfeit

Question 42

subpoena

Answer 42

a court order requiring appearance and/or testimony

Question 43

succinct

Answer 43

brief; concise

Question 44

surfeit

Answer 44

an overabundant supply; excess; to feed or supply to excess

Question 45

tirade

Answer 45

a long and extremely critical speech; a harsh denunciation