Magoosh Set 3

Question 1

perennial

Answer 1

lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring: his perennial distrust of the media | perennial manifestations of urban crisis.

Question 2

lachrymose

Answer 2

tearful or given to weeping: she was pink-eyed and lachrymose.

Question 3

penurious

Answer 3

extremely poor; poverty-stricken: a penurious old tramp.

• characterized by poverty or need: penurious years.

Question 4

vernacular

Answer 4

(usu. the vernacular) the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region: he wrote in the vernacular to reach a larger audience.
• [ with modifier ] the terminology used by people belonging to a specified

Question 5

enticement

Answer 5

something used to attract or to tempt someone; a lure: financial enticements.
• the quality of being attractive or tempting: despite the enticement of low prices, sales fell sharply from 2000’s record level.

Question 6

loath

Answer 6

reluctant; unwilling: I was loath to leave.

Question 7

rile

Answer 7

informal make (someone) annoyed or irritated: it was his air of knowing all the answers that riled her | he’s getting you all riled up

Question 8

resolute

Answer 8

admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering: she was resolute and unswerving.

Question 9

ennoble

Answer 9

give (someone) a noble rank or title.

Question 10

stultify

Answer 10

(usu. as adj. stultifying) cause to lose enthusiasm and initiative, esp. as a result of a tedious or restrictive routine: the mentally stultifying effects of a disadvantaged home.

Question 11

precarious

Answer 11

not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse: a precarious ladder.

Question 12

contrive

Answer 12

create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice: his opponents contrived a crisis | you contrived to be alone with me despite the supervision.

Question 13

sullen

Answer 13

bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy: a sullen pout.

Question 14

persnickety

Answer 14

placing too much emphasis on trivial or minor details; fussy: persnickety gardeners | she’s very persnickety about her food.

Question 15

respite

Answer 15

a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant: the refugee encampments will provide some respite from the suffering | [ in sing. ] : a brief respite from a dire food shortage.

Question 16

duress

Answer 16

threats, violence, constraints, or other action brought to bear on someone to do something against their will or better judgment: confessions extracted under duress .

Question 17

gambit

Answer 17

(in chess) an opening in which a player makes a sacrifice, typically of a pawn, for the sake of some compensating advantage.

Question 18

impudent

Answer 18

not showing due respect for another person; impertinent: he could have strangled this impudent upstart.

Question 19

subversive

Answer 19

seeking or intended to subvert an established system or institution: subversive literature.

Question 20

obsequious

Answer 20

obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree: they were served by obsequious waiters.

Question 21

unscrupulous

Answer 21

having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.

Question 22

aboveboard

Answer 22

legitimate, honest, and open: [ as adj. ] : certain transactions were not totally aboveboard | [ as adv. ] : the accountants acted completely above board.

Question 23

caviling

Answer 23

make petty or unnecessary objections: they caviled at the cost.

Question 24

doting

Answer 24

extremely and uncritically fond of someone; adoring: she was spoiled outrageously by her doting father.

Question 25

gloat

Answer 25

contemplate or dwell on one’s own success or another’s misfortune with smugness or malignant pleasure: his enemies gloated over his death.

Question 26

carping

Answer 26

difficult to please; critical: she has silenced the carping critics with a successful debut tour.

Question 27

groveling

Answer 27

act in an obsequious manner in order to obtain someone’s forgiveness or favor: everyone expected me to grovel with gratitude | (as adj. groveling) : his groveling references to “great” historians and their “brilliant” works.

Question 28

colossal

Answer 28

so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe

Question 29

meek

Answer 29

quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive: I used to call her Miss Mouse because she was so meek and mild | the meek compliance of our politicians.

Question 30

epiphyte

Answer 30

a plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic, such as the numerous ferns, bromeliads, air plants, and orchids growing on tree trunks in tropical rain forests.