Key Terms 4

Question 1

acerbic

Answer 1

having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting

Question 2

aggrandize

Answer 2

to increase in intensity, power, influence, or prestige

Question 3

anachronism

Answer 3

something or someone out of place in terms of historical or chronological context

Question 4

convention

Answer 4

a generally agreed-upon practice or attitude

Question 5

decorum

Answer 5

polite or appropriate conduct or behavior

Question 6

derision

Answer 6

scorn, ridicule, contemptuous treatment

Question 7

dilettante

Answer 7

one with an amateurish or superficial interest in the arts or a branch of knowledge

Question 8

disparage

Answer 8

to slight or belittle

Question 9

flout

Answer 9

to show contempt for; as in a rule or convention

Question 10

garrulous

Answer 10

pointlessly talkative; talking too much

Question 11

glib

Answer 11

marked by ease or informality; nonchalant; lacking in depth; superficial

Question 12

immutable

Answer 12

not capable of change

Question 13

impetuous

Answer 13

hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement

Question 14

vehement

Answer 14

showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense

Question 15

inimical

Answer 15

damaging; harmful; injurious

Question 16

intractable

Answer 16

not easily managed or directed; stubborn; obstinate

Question 17

laconic

Answer 17

using few words; terse

Question 18

maverick

Answer 18

an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party

Question 19

mercurial

Answer 19

characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood

Question 20

mollify

Answer 20

to calm or soothe; to reduce in emotional intensity

Question 21

neophyte

Answer 21

a recent convert; a beginner; a novice

Question 22

obfuscate

Answer 22

to deliberately obscure; to make confusing

Question 23

ostentatious

Answer 23

characterized by or given to pretentious display; showy

Question 24

phlegmatic

Answer 24

clam; sluggish; unemotional

Question 25

probity

Answer 25

adherence to highest principles; complete and confirmed integrity; unrightness

Question 26

profligate

Answer 26

excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant

Question 27

prosaic

Answer 27

dull; lacking in spirit or imagination

Question 28

quixotic

Answer 28

foolishly impractical; marked by lofty romantic ideals

Question 29

quotidian

Answer 29

occurring or reoccurring daily; commonplace

Question 30

rarefy

Answer 30

to make or become thin, less dense; to refine

Question 31

refulgent

Answer 31

radiant; shiny; brilliant

Question 32

renege

Answer 32

to fail to honor a commitment; to go back on a promise

Question 33

sedulous

Answer 33

diligent; persistent; hard-working

Question 34

soporific

Answer 34

causing drowsiness; tending to induce sleep

Question 35

spendthrift

Answer 35

one who spends money wastefully

Question 36

tacit

Answer 36

implied; not explicitly stated

Question 37

terse

Answer 37

brief and concise in wording

Question 38

tout

Answer 38

to publicly praise or promote

Question 39

trenchant

Answer 39

sharply perceptive; keen; penetrating

Question 40

unfeigned

Answer 40

genuine; not false or hypocritical

Question 41

untenable

Answer 41

indefensible; not viable; uninhabitable

Question 42

vacillate

Answer 42

to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another

Question 43

variegated

Answer 43

multicolored; characterized by a variety of patches of different color

Question 44

vexation

Answer 44

annoyance; irritation

Question 45

vituperate

Answer 45

to use horse condemnatory language; to abuse or censure severely or abusively; to berate