Magoosh 2

Question 1

Miserly

Answer 1

Pinch every penny (negative, frugal is positive)

Monte was no miser, but was simply frugal, wisely spending the little that he earned

Question 2

Prevaricate

Answer 2

Speak in an evasive way

There is not much variance in politicians, they all seem to prevaricate.

Question 3

Demur

Demure

Answer 3

To object or show reluctance

Wallace disliked the cold so he demurred when his friends suggested going to the alps

Modest/shy woman

Question 4

Beatific

Answer 4

Radiates bliss

Marred by the ravages of time, the idols were hardly beautiful, yet each seemed to emanate a beatific aura that not even 500 yrs could diminish

Question 5

Perfunctory

Answer 5

Merely going through the motions

Question 6

Preemptive

Answer 6

Act before someone else does

Question 7

Peremptory

Answer 7

Bossy and domineering

Question 8

Indigent

Answer 8

poor/having very little means

In the third world, many are indigent and only priviledged few have the ability to enjoy material luxuries

Question 9

Indigenous

Answer 9

Relating to a certain area

The flowers indigenous to Australia is noticeably different form those indigenous to the US, one look and you know you aren’t in America.

Question 10

Indignant

Answer 10

To feel anger over a perceived injustice

She was indignant when she had to room 4 people in a row.

Question 11

Errant

Answer 11

Wandering/not sticking to a path

Unlike his peers who spent hours studying in the library, Matt preferred errant walks through the campus to help his brain function

Question 12

Arrant

Answer 12

Complete and utter

An arrant fool, Aaron surprised nobody when he lost all his money in the casino

Question 13

Err

Answer 13

To make an error

He erred in thinking that arrant and errant were synonyms

Question 14

Artless

Answer 14

Innocent, naive

Question 15

Artful

Answer 15

Cunning/wily

Question 16

Expurgate

Answer 16

Remove objectionable material

Question 17

Expunge

Answer 17

wipe out/remove any trace of

Question 18

Censure

Answer 18

express strong disapproval of a person

Question 19

Ponderous

Answer 19

To be weighed down and move slowly in a labored fashion

Question 20

Imponderable

Answer 20

Impossible to estimate/fathom/figure out

Question 21

Kowtow

Answer 21

Acting in a subservient/syncophantic manner

Pau kowtowed to his boss so often that the boss soon herself became nauseated by his sycophancy

Question 22

Powwow

Answer 22

Informal discussion

Before the team takes the field the coach always calls for a powwow to make sure the players are motivated

Question 23

Junta

Answer 23

Aggressive takeover by a group

As dangerous of a threat as North Korea is some analysts believe that were a junta suddenly to gain power.

Question 24

Imbroglio

Answer 24

Confusing and embarrassing situation

The chef cook off featured one gourmand who had the unfortunate distinction of mixing wrong broths creating an imbroglio that viewers will not soon forget

Question 25

Juggernaut

Answer 25

Large force that cannot be stopped

Napoleon was considered a juggernaut until he decided to invade Russia in the winter; within weeks his army was decimated by cold and famine

Question 26

Schadenfreude

Answer 26

Take joy in the suffering of others

From his warm apartment window Stan reveled in schadenfreude as he laughed at figures below huddled together in arctic chill

Question 27

Amuck

Answer 27

Run about frenzied

When Kim Kardashian walked, legions of screaming fans ran through the streets amuck hoping for a photograph.

Question 28

Pariah

Answer 28

Outcast

The once eminent scientist, upon being inculpated for fudging his data, has become a pariah in the research community

Question 29

Nabob

Answer 29

wealthy influential person

The nabobs can be seen driving their lambos in beverly hills.

Question 30

Zeitgeist

Answer 30

Spirit of the times

Each decade has its own zeitgeist

Question 31

Sangfroid

Answer 31

Calmness and poise in trying situations

The negotiator exhibited a sangfroid that often times was more menacing than the sword at his throat or the gun at his head.

Question 32

Parvenu

Answer 32

person who recently acquired wealth

The theater was full of parvenus who each thought that they were flanked by aristocrats

Question 33

Demur

Answer 33

object or express reluctance to do something

When asked if she wanted to visit the war torn region without a translator by his side, the journalist demurred

Question 34

Arriviste

Answer 34

ambitious/ruthlessly self seeking person who recently acquired wealth

The city center was aflutter with arrivistes who each tried to outdo one another with their ostentatious sports cars and chic evening dress.

Question 35

Melee

Answer 35

wild confusing fight/struggle

Question 36

lagniappe

Answer 36

Unexpected gift

The islanders thought that the seafarers had brought them a lagniappe when the latter presented them with gold coins

Question 37

Picayune

Answer 37

Amount that is trifling, person who is petty
Fussing over some trivial point

English teachers are notorius for being picayune’ however the english language is so nuanced/sophisticated that often such teachers are not being contrary but are only adhering to the rules