Lesson 25

Question 1

triumvir

Answer 1

n. one of three persons associated in any office or position of authority. The CEO spent probably 80% of his time working on real projects with individuals and teams and 20% coordinating with his junior triumvirs.

Question 2

transfigure

Answer 2

v. to change in outward form or appearance; transform. Mainly an event which hardly anyone noticed at the time: the first, tentative sprouting of an idea which can transfigure humanity.

Question 3

paradigm

Answer 3

n A typical example or pattern of something; a pattern or model

:society’s paradigm of the ‘ideal woman’

Question 4

witticism

Answer 4

A witty remark

:Maurice roared with laughter at his own witticisms

Question 5

Virtuoso

Answer 5

noun

a person who does something in a very skillful way, a person who has special knowledge in a field

Christopher is a computer virtuoso. Jenny is a math virtuoso. Mr. Tang is a pretend b virtuoso.

Question 6

Truculence

Answer 6

noun

the quality or state of being fierce, cruel, or savagely brutal

The review of Mr. Tang’s work had great truculence.

Question 7

plentitude

Answer 7

n.

a full supply

e.x Animals always live in region with a plentitude of food.

Question 8

portent

Answer 8

n.

a sign for something that is about to happen

e.x The teacher hopes that his confidence is a portent for his hard-work in the rest of the year.

Question 9

pinnacle

Answer 9

Noun:

1. (architecture) a slender upright spire at the top of a buttress of tower
2. the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development;

He has reached the pinnacle of his career.

Verb:

1. surmount with a pinnacle;
2. raise on or as if on a pinnacle;

Question 10

placid

Answer 10

Adjective:

1. (of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves;
2. not easily irritated

His normally placid dog bit him on the leg.

Question 11

pungent

Answer 11

adj. Something that is pungent has a strong, sharp smell or taste which is often so strong that it is unpleasant.

Ex: Years ago, it was the site of such pungent industries as tanning and tallow.

Question 12

profligate

Answer 12

adj. Someone who is profligate spends too much money or uses too much of something.

Ex: This profligate spent 4,000,000 RMB on a watch.

Question 13

quandary

Answer 13

noun.

a state of perplexity or uncertainty, especially as to what to do; dilemma.

Example Sentence:

She’s struggling hard in the quandry for making the final decision.

Question 14

quotidian

Answer 14

Adjective

daily

Example Sentence:

Cell phone has been a quotidian existence to the majority.

Question 15

potentate

Answer 15

n. the one with power

Ex. Potentate’s power scared the citizens

Question 16

potable

Answer 16

adj. any liquid suitable for drinking

This is a potable drink, we can drink it safely

Question 17

tincture

Noun

Answer 17

a medicine that is made of a drug mixed with alcohol

Ex. Mr. Tang has a bottle of tincture of iodine and he drinks it every day.

Question 18

termagant

Answer 18

Noun

a scolding nagging bad-tempered woman

Ex/ Mr. Tang’s termagent likes to argue with him.

Question 19

polemic

Answer 19

n.

a strong written or spoken attack against someone else’s opinions, beliefs, practices, etc.

The author’s book was a polemic against human right abuses.

Question 20

privation

Answer 20

n.

a lack or loss of the basic things that people need to live properly

The island nation suffered from a long period of economic privation.