Magoosh Basic - III

Question 1

degrade

Answer 1

verb: reduce in worth or character, usually verbally

Jesse had mockingly pointed out all of Nancy’s faults in front of their friends, publicly degrading the poor girl.

Question 2

ornate

Answer 2

adjective: having a lot of complicated decoration:

example: a room with an ornate ceiling and gold mirrors

adjective: Language that is ornate contains too many complicated words or phrases:

example: Some students are put off studying his work because of the ornate language of the poetry.

Question 3

resolve

Answer 3

verb: reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation

After much thought, Ted resolved not to travel abroad this summer because he didn’t have much money in his bank account.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Question 4

meander

Answer 4

verb: to wander aimlessly

A casual observer might have thought that Peter was meandering through the city, but that day he was actually seeking out those places where he and his long lost love had once visited.

Question 5

robust

Answer 5

adjective: sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction

Chris preferred bland and mild beers, but Bhavin preferred a beer with more robust flavor.

Question 5

thwart

Answer 5

verb: hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

I wanted to spend a week in New York this autumn, but the high costs of travel and lodging thwarted my plans.

Question 5

jocular

Answer 5

adjective: characterized by jokes and good humor

My uncle was always in a jocular mood at family gatherings, messing up people’s hair and telling knock-knock jokes to anyone who would listen.

Question 5

fete

Answer 5

verb: to celebrate a person

After World War II, war heroes were feted at first but quickly forgotten.

Question 6

autonomously

Answer 6

adverb: Acting independently; self-governing (of a country)

Many of the factory workers are worried about being replaced by machines and computers that will work completely autonomously.

Question 6

archaic

Answer 6

adjective: so old as to appear to belong to a different period

Hoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke in archaic English that was right out of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice–needless to say, she didn’t have many friends.

Question 7

renege

Answer 7

verb: fail to fulfill a promise or obligation

We will no longer work with that vendor since it has reneged on nearly every agreement.

Question 7

malleable

Answer 7

adjective: capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out

The clay became malleable and easy to work with after a little water was added.

adjective: easily influenced

My little brother is so malleable that I can convince him to sneak cookies from the cupboard for me.

Question 7

muted

Answer 7

adjective: softened, subdued

Helen preferred muted earth colors, such as green and brown, to the bright pinks and red her sister liked.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Question 8

disheartened

Answer 8

adjective: made less hopeful or enthusiastic

After the visiting team scored nine times, the home team’s fans were disheartened, some leaving the game early.

Question 8

apprehension

Answer 8

noun: Apprehension is a feeling of fear that something bad may happen.

I tensed every muscle in my body in apprehension.

noun: The apprehension of someone who is thought to be a criminal is their capture or arrest by the police.

noun: The apprehension of something is awareness and understanding of it.

example: A full apprehension of all that is involved is utterly beyond us.

Question 8

entice

Answer 8

verb: get someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises

Harold enticed his wife, Maude, to go on a vacation to Hawaii, with promises of luaus on the beach and all-you-can-eat seafood buffets.

Question 8

appreciable

Answer 8

adjective: large enough to be noticed (usu. refers to an amount)

There is an appreciable difference between those who say they can get the job done and those who actually get the job done.

Question 9

discriminate

Answer 9

verb: recognize or perceive the difference

Sarah couldn’t discriminate between a good wine and a bad wine, so she avoided wine tastings.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Question 9

dearth

Answer 9

noun: a lack or shortage

I am surprised by the dearth of fast food chains; this is America and I assumed they were on every street.

Question 9

quandary

Answer 9

noun: state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options

I’ve had two job offers, and I’m in a real quandary about/over which one to accept.

Question 9

impermeable

Answer 9

adjective: does not allow fluids to pass through

The sand bags placed on the river formed an impermeable barrier, protecting the town from flooding.

Question 10

disenfranchise

Answer 10

verb: deprive of voting rights

The U.S. Constitution disenfranchised women until 1920 when they were given the right to vote.

Question 10

proponent

Answer 10

noun: a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea

Ironically, the leading proponent of Flat-Earth Theory flies all over the world in an effort to win more adherents.

Question 10

pithy

Answer 10

adjective: concise and full of meaning

I enjoy reading the Daodejing for its pithy and insightful prose; it always gives me something to think about.

Question 11

endemic

Answer 11

adjective: native; originating where it is found

Irish cuisine makes great use of potatoes, but ironically, the potato is not endemic to Ireland.

Question 11

flounder

Answer 11

verb: behave awkwardly; have difficulties

Sylvia has excelled at advanced calculus, but ironically, when she has to deal with taxes, she flounders.

Question 11

patronize

Answer 11

verb: treat condescendingly

She says she genuinely wanted to help me, but instead she patronized me, constantly pointing out how I was inferior to her.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study

Question 11

consummate

Answer 11

adjective: You use consummate to describe someone who is extremely skilful.

example: Those familiar with Sanders call him a consummate politician.

verb: to make something complete or perfect

Question 11

stolid

Answer 11

adjective: having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited

Elephants may appear stolid to casual observers, but they actually have passionate emotional lives.

Question 12

incessant

Answer 12

adjective: An incessant process or activity is one that continues without stopping.

I don’t mind small children in brief doses, but I think the incessant exposure that their parents have to them would quickly wear me down.

Question 13

raffish

Answer 13

adjective: Raffish people and places are not very respectable but are attractive and stylish in spite of this.

The men found him raffish, but the women adored his smart clothes and casual attitude.

Question 14

inclement

Answer 14

adjective: (of weather) unpleasant, stormy

After a week of inclement weather, we finally are able to go outside and enjoy the sun.

adjective: used of persons or behavior; showing no mercy

Marcus Aurelius, though a fair man, was inclement to Christians during his reign, persecuting them violently.

Question 14

ingenuity

Answer 14

noun: the power of creative imagination

Daedalus was famous for his ingenuity; he was able to fashion his son Icarus with a pair of wings, using wax to hold them together.

Question 15

elusive

Answer 15

adjective: difficult to capture or difficult to remember

Many first time skydivers say that describing the act of falling from the sky is elusive.

Question 15

transitory

Answer 15

adjective: lasting a very short time

If we lived forever and life was not transitory, do you think we would appreciate life less or more?

Question 16

impede

Answer 16

verb: be a hindrance or obstacle to

Since the police sergeant had to train the pair of new hires, progress in his own case was impeded.

Question 16

malady

Answer 16

noun: a disease or sickness

The town was struck by a malady throughout the winter that left most people sick in bed for two weeks.

Question 16

plodding

Answer 16

adjective: slow, continuous, and not exciting:

example: I’ll try not to bore you with lots of plodding details.

Question 16

deter

Answer 16

verb: prevent someone from doing something by persuasion

His mother tried to deter him from joining the army, but he was too intoxicated with the idea of war to listen.

verb: try to prevent; show opposition to

The government’s primary job should involve deterring paths to war, not finding ways to start them.

Question 16

snide

Answer 16

adjective: expressive of contempt; derogatory or mocking in an indirect way

The chairman interpreted Taylor’s question about promotions as a snide remark, but in all innocence Taylor was trying to figure out the company’s process.

Question 16

fledgling

Answer 16

adjective: young and inexperienced
noun: any new participant in some activity

Murray has years of experience in family practice, but he is just a fledgling in surgery.

Question 16

moot

Answer 16

verb: to suggest something for discussion:

example: His name was mooted as a possible successor.

adjective:
1) often discussed or argued about but having no definite answer:
2) not important or not relevant, therefore not worth discussing:

example:
- It’s a moot point whether building more roads reduces traffic congestion.
- We don’t have enough money to go, so it’s all moot anyway.

Question 17

morose

Answer 17

adjective: ill-tempered and not inclined to talk

example: a morose expression.

Question 18

guffaw

Answer 18

verb: laugh boisterously

Whenever the jester fell to the ground in mock pain, the king guffawed, exposing his yellow, fang-like teeth.

Question 19

ascendancy

Answer 19

noun: the state that exists when one person or group has power over another

example:
- They are in danger of losing their political ascendancy (= controlling power).
- Supporters of the proposal are currently in the ascendancy over its opponents (= are more powerful than them).

Question 20

boon

Answer 20

noun: a desirable state; something helpful or beneficial

Modern technology has been a boon to the travel industry.

adjective: very close and convivial

He was a boon companion to many, and will be sadly missed.

Question 21

respite

Answer 21

noun: a pause from doing something (as work)

Every afternoon, the small company has a respite in which workers play foosball or board games.

Question 21

advocate

Answer 21

verb: speak, plead, or argue in favor of

While the senator privately approved of gay marriage, he was unwilling to advocate for the cause in a public venue.

noun: a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea

Martin Luther King Jr. was a tireless advocate for the rights of African-Americans in the United States.
This word has other definitions, but these are the most important ones to study

Question 22

avid

Answer 22

adjective: marked by active interest and enthusiasm

Martin is an avid birdwatcher, often taking long hikes into remote mountains to see some rare eagle.

Question 23

obdurate

Answer 23

adjective: unable to be persuaded or moved emotionally; stubborn; unyielding.

No number of pleas and bribes would get him to change his obdurate attitude.