Mangoosh Common words - II

Question 1

platitude

Answer 1

noun: a trite or obvious remark

The professor argued that many statements regarded as wise in previous times, such as the Golden Rule, are now regarded as mere platitudes.

Question 2

dictatorial

Answer 2

adjective: expecting unquestioning obedience; characteristic of an absolute ruler

The coach was dictatorial in his approach: no players could ever argue or question his approach.

Question 3

glut

Answer 3

noun: an excessive supply

The Internet offers such a glut of news related stories that many find it difficult to know which story to read first.

verb: supply with an excess of

In the middle of economic crises, hiring managers find their inboxes glutted with resumes.

Question 4

preclude

Answer 4

verb: keep from happening or arising; make impossible

The manager specified that all other gates be locked, to preclude the possibility of persons without tickets entering the arena undetected.

Question 5

prescience

Answer 5

noun: the power to foresee the future

• Baxter’s warnings about investing in technology stocks seemed like an act of prescience after the whole market declined significantly.
• the prescience of her remarks

Question 6

deferential

Answer 6

adjective: showing respect

If you ever have the chance to meet the president, stand up straight and be deferential.

Question 7

superfluous

Answer 7

adjective: serving no useful purpose

How can we hope to stay open if we don’t eliminate all superfluous spending, like catered meetings and free acupuncture Tuesday?

adjective: more than is needed, desired, or required

The third paragraph in your essay is superfluous and can be deleted.

Question 8

eschew

Answer 8

verb: avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of

Politicians are the masters of eschewing morals; academics are the masters of eschewing clarity.

Question 9

dogmatic

Answer 9

adjective: highly opinionated, not accepting that one’s own beliefs may not be correct

Bryan is dogmatic in his belief that the earth is flat, claiming that all pictures of a spherical earth are computer generated.

Question 10

culpability

Answer 10

noun: a state of guilt

• Since John had left his banana peel at the top of the stairwell, he accepted culpability for Martha’s broken leg.
• The Army denied any culpability, but later compensated owners.

Question 11

querulous

Answer 11

adjective: habitually complaining

The querulous old woman was beginning to wear down even the happier members of the staff with her ceaseless complaining.

Question 12

torpor

Answer 12

noun: inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy

After work, I was expecting my colleagues to be enthusiastic about the outing, but I found them in a state of complete torpor.

Question 13

inexorable

Answer 13

adjective: impossible to stop or prevent

• The rise of the computer was an inexorable shift in technology and culture.
• the inexorable progress of science

Question 14

gall

Answer 14

noun: the trait of being rude and impertinent

The speeding car had the gall to switch five lanes at once, run through a red light, and then cut off a police car before finally coming to a stop in front of a sea of flashing red lights.

noun: feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will

In an act of gall, Leah sent compromising photos of her ex-boyfriend to all his co-workers and professional contacts.

verb: to strongly bother, vex, annoy, exasperate

I try to look for the best in Gwendolyn, but her bad attitude really galls me.

Question 15

didactic

Answer 15

adjective:
1) Something that is didactic is intended to teach people something, especially a moral lesson.
2) Someone who is didactic tells people things rather than letting them find things out or discussing things.

• In totalitarian societies, art exists for didactic purposes.
• He is more didactic in his approach to the learning process.

Question 16

banal

Answer 16

adjective: boring, ordinary, and not original:

The professor used such banal expression that many students in the class either fell asleep from boredom or stayed awake to complete his sentences and humor friends.

Question 17

vociferous

Answer 17

adjective: conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry

• In giving Marcia a particular vociferous response, Paul caused people at every other table in the restaurant to turn around and look at them angrily.
• vociferous objections

Question 18

aesthete

Answer 18

noun: one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature

A true aesthete, Marty would spend hours at the Guggenheim Museum, staring at the same Picasso.

Question 19

predilection

Answer 19

noun: a strong liking

Monte had a predilection for the fine things in life: Cuban cigars, 200 dollar bottles of wine, and trips to the French Riviera.

Question 20

incisive

Answer 20

adjective: having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

• The detective’s
  incisive questioning quickly exposed the inconsistencies in the suspect’s alibi.
• Her incisive wit often left opponents speechless.

Question 21

aesthetic

Answer 21

adjective: concerned with the appreciation of beauty

The director, not known for his aesthetic sensibilities, decided not to use costumes at all, and put on the play in everyday clothing.

noun: a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement.

The artist operated according to a peculiar aesthetic, not considering any photograph to be worth publishing unless it contained a marine mammal.

Question 22

recondite

Answer 22

adjective: Recondite areas of knowledge or learning are difficult to understand, and not many people know about them.

I found Ulysses recondite and never finished the book, waiting instead to read it with someone else so we could penetrate its meaning together.

Question 23

gossamer

Answer 23

adjective: characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy

The gossamer wings of a butterfly, which allow it to fly, are also a curse, so delicate that they are often damaged.

Question 24

culminate

Answer 24

verb: reach the highest or most decisive point

Beethoven’s musical genius culminated in the 9th Symphony, which many consider his greatest work.

culminate in/with something
: If an event or series of events culminates in something, it ends with it, having developed until it reaches this point:
- My arguments with the boss got worse and worse, and finally culminated in my resignation.

Question 25

fortuitous

Answer 25

adjective: occurring by happy chance; having no cause or apparent cause

Missing my train turned out to be quite fortuitous since I ran into a childhood friend on the next train and we were able to reconnect after so many years.

Question 26

bucolic

Answer 26

adjective: relating to the pleasant aspects of the country

The noble families of England once owned vast expanses of beautiful, bucolic land.

Question 27

chortle

Answer 27

verb: To chortle means to laugh in a way that shows you are very pleased.

Walking into the cafe, I could hear happy, chortling people and smell the rich aroma of roasted coffee beans.

Question 28

germane

Answer 28

adjective: relevant and appropriate

The professor wanted to tell the jury in detail about his new book, but the lawyer said it wasn’t germane to the charges in the cases.

Question 29

engender

Answer 29

verb: give rise to

The restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles were so severe that they engendered deep hatred and resentment in the German people.

Question 30

apathetic

Answer 30

adjective: marked by a lack of interest

• Mr. Thompson was so talented at teaching math that even normally apathetic students took interest.
• Young people today are so apathetic about politics.

Question 31

impudent

Answer 31

adjective: improperly forward or bold

In an impudent move, the defendant spoke out of order to say terribly insulting things to the judge.

Question 32

obscure

Answer 32

verb: make unclear

On the Smith’s drive through the Grand Canyon, Mr. Smith’s big head obscured much of Mrs. Robinson’s view, so that she only saw momentary patches of red rock.

adjective: known by only a few

Many of the biggest movie stars were once obscure actors who got only bit roles in long forgotten films.
This word has other definitions, but these are the most important ones to study

Question 33

perfidy

Answer 33

noun: an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of a trust

Sure, he was the best salesman in the company; but Michael had abused the trust of the firm, sharing product secrets with a competitor, and for such perfidy he was terminated.

Question 34

decorous

Answer 34

adjective: characterized by good taste in manners and conduct

Sally’s parties are decorous affairs, and instead of the usual beer and music, there is tea and intellectual conversation.

Question 35

mitigate

Answer 35

verb: make less severe or harsh

I can only spend so much time mitigating your disagreements with your wife, and at certain point, you need to do it on your own.

verb: lessen the severity of an offense

If it weren’t for the mitigating circumstances, he would have certainly lost his job.

Question 36

exacerbate

Answer 36

verb: make worse

Her sleeplessness exacerbated her cold–when she woke up the next day, her sinuses were completely blocked.

Question 37

lambast

Answer 37

verb: criticize severely or angrily

Showing no patience, the manager utterly lambasted the sales team that lost the big account.

Question 38

volubility

Answer 38

noun: the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously

The professor’s volubility knows no bounds; he could talk through a hurricane and elaborate a point from one St. Patrick’s Day to the next.

Question 39

mawkish

Answer 39

adjective: overly sentimental to the point that it is disgusting

The film was incredibly mawkish, introducing highly likeable characters only to have them succumb to a devastating illness by the end of the movie.

Question 40

frivolous

Answer 40

adjective: not serious in content or attitude or behavior

• I think he sees her as a frivolous young woman.
• I feel like doing something completely frivolous today.
• They waste their time and money on frivolous things.

Question 41

rustic

Answer 41

adjective: characteristic of rural life; awkwardly simple and provincial

The vacation cabin had no electricity and no indoor plumbing, but despite these inconveniences, Nigel adored its rustic charm.

Question 42

entrenched

Answer 42

adjective: fixed firmly or securely

By the time we reach 60-years old, most of our habits are so entrenched that it is difficult for us to change.

Question 43

concede

Answer 43

verb: acknowledge defeat

I concede. You win!

verb: admit (to a wrongdoing)

After a long, stern lecture from her father, Olivia conceded to having broken the window.

verb: give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another

The Spanish were forced to concede much of the territory they had previously conquered.

Question 44

reticent

Answer 44

adjective: disinclined to talk, not revealing one’s thoughts

When asked about her father, Helen lost her outward enthusiasm and became rather reticent.

Question 45

conspicuous

Answer 45

adjective: without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious

• Among the tall trees and flower fields, the building seemed out of place with its conspicuous, cold concrete and angular steel exterior.
• In China, her blonde hair was conspicuous.

Question 46

cryptic

Answer 46

adjective: mysterious or vague, usually intentionally

Since Sarah did not want her husband to guess the Christmas present she had bought him, she only answered cryptically when he would ask her questions about it.

Question 47

gainsay

Answer 47

verb: deny or contradict; speak against or oppose

I can’t gainsay a single piece of evidence James has presented, but I still don’t trust his conclusion.

Question 48

diffident

Answer 48

adjective: shy and lacking self-confidence

As a young girl she was diffident and reserved, but now as an adult, she is confident and assertive.

Question 49

audacious

Answer 49

adjective: willing to be bold in social situations or to take risks

As all of the other campers cowered in their tents, Bill, armed only with a flashlight, audaciously tracked down the bear that had raided their food.

Question 50

meticulous

Answer 50

adjective: marked by extreme care in treatment of details

The Japanese noodle maker was meticulous in making his noodles and would never let another person take over the task.