Lesson 18

Question 1

Innate (adj.)

Answer 1

Syn: natural; intrinsic; inborn

• His innate cunning allowed him to see through the spy’s subterfuge.

Question 2

Abortive (adj.)

Answer 2

Syn: fruitless; useless; failing; barren

• The diverse made an abortive attempt to rescue dog from the murky waters.

Question 3

Modify (vt.)

Answer 3

Syn: to change; adjust; reduce

• Because Phil refused to modify his philosophy, the directors were forced to invalidate his appointment.

Question 4

Spontaneous (adj.)

Answer 4

Syn: without preparation; unrehearsed

My English teacher admonished me: I realize that the speech was to be spontaneous, but it was not supposed to be incoherent or fraught with fallacious statements.’

Question 5

Accommodate (vt.) (vi.)

Answer 5

Syn: to make fit; adjust to; adopt; modify

• A quarrel was precipitated when the dietician refused to accommodate patient’s special needs.

Question 6

Under the wire (idiom.)

Answer 6

Just in time

• He finally submitted the paper under the wire.

Question 7

Crave (vt.)

Answer 7

Syn: to desire; want; yearn for

• Why did Silas Marner crave wealth and practice cupidity.

Question 8

Myriad (n.) (adj.)

Answer 8

Syn: countless number; millions; thousands

• Once the hoax had been concocted, a myriad of problems arose.

Question 9

Irrelevant (adj.)

Answer 9

Syn: not related to the subject; inapplicable; unrelated

• The defendant was alleged to have been an army deserter, but the judge said that was irrelevant to the case.

Question 10

Urbane (adj.)

Answer 10

Syn: polished; witty; polite

By embellishing her work with urbane humor, the sophisticated playwright succeeded on Broadway.

Question 11

Veneer (n.) (vt.)

Answer 11

Syn: thin covering; surface; mask

• The lieutenant confessed to a veneer of ignorance in order to properly evaluate his corporal’s resourcefulness.

Question 12

To be at large (idiom.)

Answer 12

Syn: not confined or in jail

• Since the dangers criminal was at large, all the townspeople began to buy dogs for protection.

Question 13

Deem (vt.)

Answer 13

Syn: believe; to judge

• Whom do you deem to be the bulwark of Republican Party.

Question 14

Buff (n.)

Answer 14

Syn: a fan; follower; admirer

• The fireman did not have to cajole the enthusiastic buff into helping them extinguish the blaze.

Question 15

Romp (n.) (vi.)

Answer 15

Syn: to move in a lively manner

• When the intercity competition began, our team was supposed to romp over our hapless rivals.

Question 16

Latent (adj.)

Answer 16

Syn: lying hidden; invisible

• At the age of 42, the artist first become cognizant of his latent genius.

Question 17

Inherent (adj.)

Answer 17

Syn: inborn; native; innate

• Some mice have an inherent alertness that enables them to conquer the researcher’s labyrinth.

Question 18

To go against the grain (idiom.)

Answer 18

To irritate

• My uncle is in favor of some protests, but certain demonstrations go against the grain.

Question 19

Tortuous (adj.)

Answer 19

Syn: winding; curving

• The other drivers were nettled about the ease with which our car ascended the tortuous road.

Question 20

Conjugal (n.)

Answer 20

Syn: relating to marriage; matrimonial

• Arguments over money have often led to conjugal havoc.

Question 21

Peregrination (n.)

Answer 21

Syn: travel; trip

• The sedentary twin was content to follow his brother’s peregrination on a map.

Question 22

Itinerant (adj.)

Answer 22

Syn: wandering; traveling

• Signs were posted in the lobby to prevent itinerant beggars and others of that ilk from entering.

Question 23

Barometer (n.)

Answer 23

Syn: instrument for measuring change

• The warmth of Mr. Smythe’s greeting each morning may be construed as an excellent barometer of his health.

Question 24

To wink at (idiom.)

Answer 24

To pretend not to see

• There was a plethora of evidence to show that the border guards would wink at illegal shipments if they were paid in advance.