Lessons 15-16

Question 1

abominate

Answer 1

v. hate or loathe intensely

(abominable) adj. detestable, loathsome; disagreeable and unpleasant

Question 2

abridge

Answer 2

v. shorten in duration or extent; diminish

Question 3

animosity

Answer 3

n. intense ill-will

Question 4

auspicious

Answer 4

adj. favorable, promising

Question 5

beleaguer

Answer 5

v. besiege; surround with an army; surround with troubles; harass

Question 6

confidant

Answer 6

n. person to whom secrets are told

Question 7

constituent

Answer 7

n. one of the parts that make up a whole; voter represented by a particular official

Question 8

iniquitous

Answer 8

adj. unjust; wicked

Question 9

inure

Answer 9

v. adjust and accept unpleasant or undesirable conditions

Question 10

inveigh

Answer 10

v. (used with against) complain or protest strongly

Question 11

predecessor

Answer 11

n. person or thing that has held a position or office before another

Question 12

sabotage

Answer 12

n. acts that intentionally damage, hinder, or seek to discredit
v. engage in intentionally damaging acts

Question 13

sadistic

Answer 13

adj. taking pleasure in causing pain

Question 14

scathing

Answer 14

adj. harshly critical

Question 15

transpire

Answer 15

v. become apparent come to light; happen or occur

Question 16

aura

Answer 16

n. distinctive atmosphere or feeling that seems to surround someone or something; distinctive appearance of impression

Question 17

banal

Answer 17

adj. lacking freshness; trite

Question 18

bemuse

Answer 18

v. confuse or bewilder

Question 19

cognizant

Answer 19

adj. fully aware; taking notice

Question 20

conundrum

Answer 20

n. riddle whose answer is a play on words; puzzle or impossible to solve

Question 21

evanescent

Answer 21

adj. short-lived; staying temporarily

Question 22

factotum

Answer 22

n. helper or assistant with a wide range of duties and responsibilites

Question 23

grandiose

Answer 23

adj. impressive because of large size or scope; characterized by the pretense of grandeur or absurd exaggeration

Question 24

induce

Answer 24

v. influence or persuade; bring about; cause

Question 25

intransigent

Answer 25

adj. refusing to compromise or change one’s position on an issue

Question 26

Laudatory

Answer 26

adj. full of praise

Question 27

panache

Answer 27

n. dash of flamboyance in style or action

Question 28

picayune

Answer 28

adj. petty or insignificant; concerned with trifling matters

Question 29

predilection

Answer 29

n. inclination; preference

Question 30

promontory

Answer 30

n. high point of land that juts out into the water