May 2016

Question 1

abrogate

Answer 1

to cancel, destroy, revoke or void

Question 2

acerbic

Answer 2

sharp, biting, or acid in temper, expression or tone

Question 3

acrimony

Answer 3

bitter, harsh

Question 4

emphatic

Answer 4

showing or giving emphasis

Question 5

magnate

Answer 5

a wealthy and influential person

Question 6

charlatan

Answer 6

a person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge/skill; a fraud

Question 7

caveat

Answer 7

a warning of specific stipulations

Question 8

indignant

Answer 8

feeling or showing anger/annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment

Question 9

evangelical

Answer 9

pertaining to or in keeping with the gospel and its teachings of the Scriptures

Question 10

entreaty

Answer 10

earnest request or petition

Question 11

frothy

Answer 11

unsubstantial; trifling; shallow; empty

Question 12

doldrums

Answer 12

a state of inactivity or stagnation, as in business or art; a dull, listless, depressed mood, low spirits

Question 13

trepidation

Answer 13

tremulous fear, alarm, or agitation; perturbation

Question 14

perturb

Answer 14

to disturb or disquiet greatly in mind, agitate; to throw into great disorder

Question 15

exuberant

Answer 15

extremely joyful and vigorous; extremely good, overflowing, plentiful

Question 16

anecdote

Answer 16

a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person

Question 17

athame

Answer 17

a witch’s mystic knife

Question 18

layman

Answer 18

a person who isn’t a member of a given profession

Question 19

regale

Answer 19

to entertain with food or drink; to feast

Question 20

cowling

Answer 20

a metal housing/removable covering for an engine

Question 21

desiccate

Answer 21

to dry thoroughly, dry up; dehydrate

Question 22

inundated

Answer 22

to flood (literally or figuratively); to overwhelm

Question 23

germinate

Answer 23

to begin to grow or develop

Question 24

catalyst

Answer 24

one that causes an interaction without themselves being affected

Question 25

exothermic

Answer 25

pertaining to a chemical change accompanied by heat

Question 26

subversives

Answer 26

minority/religious groups blamed for attacking traditional values

Question 27

cabal

Answer 27

a small group of secret plotters

Question 28

archival

Answer 28

relating to archives or valuable records

Question 29

contrails

Answer 29

visible condensation of water droplets from the atmosphere

Question 30

manifesto

Answer 30

a public declaration of intentions, opinions, motives

Question 31

mea culpa

Answer 31

a Latin phrase meaning “my fault,” acknowledgement of one’s responsibility

Question 32

emanate

Answer 32

to flow out, issue, or proceed

Question 33

venerated

Answer 33

to treat with reverence

Question 34

reverence

Answer 34

deep respect tinged with awe

Question 35

surmised

Answer 35

to think without certainty; to conjure, guess

Question 36

sanguinary

Answer 36

characterized by bloodshed; bloody

Question 37

parity

Answer 37

equality

Question 38

capitulation

Answer 38

to surrender unconditionally or on stipulated terms

Question 39

lissome

Answer 39

lithe, especially of body; supple, flexible

Question 40

neologism

Answer 40

a new word, meaning, usage or phrase