Misc.

Question 1

apostasy

Answer 1

The formal disaffiliation from or abandonment or renunciation of a religion by a person. One who commits apostasy (or who apostatises) is known as an apostate. The term apostasy is used by sociologists to mean renunciation and criticism of, or opposition to, a person’s former religion, in a technical sense and without pejorative connotation.
“Obama followed his Drug War apostasy by linking the prohibition of marijuana to the racist enforcement of the nation’s drug laws.

Question 2

betrothed

Answer 2

bəˈtrōT͟Hd,-ˈtrôTHd
noun
1.
the person to whom one is engaged.
“how long have you known your betrothed?”
synonyms: engaged (to be married), promised/pledged in marriage; literaryaffianced; archaicplighted, espoused
“she is betrothed to a man of her parents’ choosing”

Question 3

raconteur

Answer 3

ˌrakˌänˈtər,-ən-
noun
1.
a person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way.
synonyms: storyteller, teller of tales, spinner of yarns, narrator; rareanecdotist, anecdotalist
“an interviewer with his favorite raconteur, Studs Terkel”

Question 4

meshugaas or mishegaas or mishegoss

Answer 4

Crazy or senseless activity or behavior; craziness.

Question 5

patois

Answer 5

pat•ois (păt′wä′, pă‑twä′)
n. pl. pat•ois (păt′wäz′, pă-twä′)
1. A regional dialect, especially one without a literary tradition.
2.
a. A creole.
b. Nonstandard speech.
3. The special jargon of a group; cant. See Synonyms at dialect.
French, from Old French, possibly from pate, paw, from Vulgar Latin *patta, perhaps of imitative origin.

Question 6

Norman

Answer 6

Nor•man 1 (nôr′mən)
n.
1.
a. A member of a Scandinavian people who settled in northern France in the tenth century.
b. A descendant of this people, especially one ruling or inhabiting England from the time of the Norman Conquest.
2. A native or inhabitant of Normandy.
❖ adj.
1. Of or relating to Normandy, the Normans, their culture, or their language.
2. Of or being a style of Romanesque architecture that was introduced from Normandy into England before 1066 and that flourished until about 1200.
Middle English, from Old French Normant (from Old Norse Nordhmadhr : nordhr, north + madhr, man) and from Old English Norman (variant of Northman : north, north; see ner-1 in Indo-European roots + man, man; see man-1 in Indo-European roots).

Question 7

piker

Answer 7

noun informal
plural noun: pikers
1.
a gambler who makes only small bets.
2.
AUSTRAL./NZ
a person who withdraws from a commitment.

Question 8

Middle Ages

Answer 8

Middle Ages
pl.n.
The period in European history between antiquity and the Renaissance, often dated from A.D. 476 to 1453.

Question 9

Antiquity

Answer 9

an•tiq•ui•ty (ăn‑tĭk′wĭ‑tē)

n. pl. an•tiq•ui•ties
1. Ancient times, especially the times preceding the Middle Ages.
2. The people, especially the writers and artisans, of ancient times: inventions unknown to antiquity.
3. The quality of being old or ancient; considerable age: a carving of great antiquity.
4. Something, such as an object or a relic, belonging to or dating from ancient times. Often used in the plural.

Question 10

Artisan

Answer 10

ar•ti•san (är′tĭ‑zən, ‑sən)
n.
A skilled manual worker; a craftsperson.
Probably French, from Italian artigiano, from Vulgar Latin *artitiānus, from Latin artītus, skilled in the arts, past participle of artīre, to instruct in the arts, from ars, art-, art; see ar- in Indo-European roots.
ar′ti•san•al (är′tĭ-zə-nəl, -sə-, är′tĭ-zăn′əl) adj.
ar′ti•san•ship′ n.

Question 11

iterate

Answer 11

To say or perform again

Question 12

nomenclature

Answer 12

n.
1. A system of names used in an art or science: the nomenclature of mineralogy.
2. The procedure of assigning names to the kinds and groups of organisms listed in a taxonomic classification: the rules of nomenclature in botany.
Latin nōmenclātūra, from nōmenclātor, nomenclator; see nomenclator.

Question 13

quaint

Answer 13

(kwānt)
adj. quaint•er, quaint•est
1. Charmingly odd, especially in an old-fashioned way: “Sarah Orne Jewett. . . was dismissed by one critic as merely a New England old maid who wrote quaint, plotless sketches of late 19th-century coastal Maine” (James McManus).
2. Unfamiliar or unusual in character; strange: quaint dialect words. See Synonyms at strange.
3. Cleverly made; artful.
Middle English, clever, cunning, peculiar, from Old French queinte, cointe, from Latin cognitus, past participle of cognōscere, to learn; see cognition.

Question 14

nuance

Answer 14

nu•ance (no͞o′äns′, nyo͞o′‑, no͞o‑äns′, nyo͞o‑)
n.
1. A subtle or slight degree of difference, as in meaning, feeling, or tone; a gradation.
2. Expression or appreciation of subtle shades of meaning, feeling, or tone: a rich artistic performance, full of nuance.
French, from Old French, from nuer, to shade, cloud, from nue, cloud, from Vulgar Latin *nūba, from Latin nūbēs.
nu′anced adj.
Synonyms: nuance, gradation, shade
These nouns denote a slight variation or differentiation between nearly identical entities: sensitive to delicate nuances of style; gradations of feeling from infatuation to deep affection; subtle shades of meaning.

Question 15

precept

Answer 15

(prē′sĕpt′)
n.
1. A rule or principle prescribing a particular course of action or conduct.
2. Law An authorized direction or order; a writ.
Middle English, from Old French, from Latin praeceptum, from neuter past participle of praecipere, to advise, teach: prae-, pre- + capere, to take; see kap- in Indo-European roots.

Question 16

writ

Answer 16

12
(rĭt)
n.
1. Law A written order issued by a court, commanding the party to whom it is addressed to perform or cease performing a specified act.
2. Writings: holy writ.
Middle English, from Old English.

Question 17

writ of election

Answer 17

A writ issued by a governor or other executive authority requiring that an election be held, especially a special election to fill a vacancy.

Question 18

criterion

Answer 18

cri•te•ri•on (krī‑tîr′ē‑ən)
n. pl. cri•te•ri•a (-tîr′ē-ə) or cri•te•ri•ons
A standard, rule, or test on which a judgment or decision can be based. See Synonyms at standard.
Greek kritērion, from kritēs, judge, from krīnein, to separate, judge; see krei- in Indo-European roots.
cri•te′ri•al (-əl) adj.
Usage Note: Like the analogous etymological plurals agenda and data, criteria is widely used as a singular form. Unlike them, however, it is not yet acceptable in that use.

Question 19

wont

Answer 19

wônt,wōnt
1.
(of a person) in the habit of doing something; accustomed.
“he was wont to arise at 5:30 every morning”
synonyms: accustomed, used, given, inclined More
nounformalhumorous
noun: wont
1.
one’s customary behavior in a particular situation.
“Constance, as was her wont, had paid her little attention”
synonyms: custom, habit, way, practice, convention, rule More
verbarchaic
verb: wont; 3rd person present: wonts; 3rd person present: wont; past tense: wont; past participle: wont; past tense: wonted; past participle: wonted; gerund or present participle: wonting
1.
make or be or become accustomed.
“wont thy heart to thoughts hereof”
Origin

Old English gewunod, past participle of wunian, ‘dwell, be accustomed’ of Germanic origin.

Question 20

cudgel

Answer 20

ˈkəjəl
noun
noun: cudgel; plural noun: cudgels
1.
a short thick stick used as a weapon.
synonyms:	club, bludgeon, stick, truncheon, baton, mace, blackjack, billy club, nightstick, shillelagh More
verb
verb: cudgel; 3rd person present: cudgels; past tense: cudgelled; past participle: cudgelled; gerund or present participle: cudgelling; past tense: cudgeled; past participle: cudgeled; gerund or present participle: cudgeling
1.
beat with a cudgel.
synonyms:	bludgeon, club, beat, batter, bash More
Origin

Old English cycgel, of unknown origin.

Question 21

truncheon

Answer 21

ˈtrənCHən/
nounBRIT.
noun: truncheon; plural noun: truncheons
1.
a short, thick stick carried as a weapon by a police officer.
a staff or baton acting as a symbol of authority.
Origin

Middle English (denoting a piece broken off (esp. from a spear), also a cudgel): from Old French tronchon ‘stump,’ based on Latin truncus ‘trunk.’

Question 22

shillelagh

Answer 22

shil·le·lagh
SHəˈlālē/
noun
noun: shillelagh; plural noun: shillelaghs
1.
a thick stick of blackthorn or oak used in Ireland, typically as a weapon.
Origin
late 18th cent.: from the name of the town Shillelagh, in County Wicklow, Ireland.

Question 23

blackjack

Answer 23

ˈblakˌjak
noun
noun: blackjack; plural noun: blackjacks
1.
a gambling card game in which players try to acquire cards with a face value as close as possible to 21 without going over.
2.
a short, leather-covered, typically lead-filled club with a flexible handle, used as a weapon.
3.
historical
a pirate's black ensign.
4.
historical
a tarred-leather container used for alcoholic drinks.

Question 24

ensign

Answer 24

noun
noun: ensign; plural noun: ensigns
1.
a flag or standard, esp. a military or naval one indicating nationality.
synonyms: flag, standard, color(s), banner, pennant, pennon, streamer, banderole More
archaic
a sign or emblem of a particular thing.
“all the ensigns of our greatness”
2.
a commissioned officer of the lowest rank in the US Navy and Coast Guard, ranking above chief warrant officer and below lieutenant.
historical
the lowest rank of commissioned infantry officer in the British army.
historical
a standard-bearer.

Question 25

Modal

Answer 25

mod•al (mōd′l)
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a mode.
2. Grammar Of, relating to, or expressing the mood of a verb.
3. Music Of, relating to, characteristic of, or composed in any of the modes typical of medieval church music.
4. Philosophy Of or relating to mode without referring to substance.
5. Logic Expressing or characterized by modality.
6. Statistics Of or relating to a statistical mode or modes.
❖ n.
See modal auxiliary.
Medieval Latin modālis, from Latin modus, measure; see med- in Indo-European roots.
mod′al•ly adv.

Question 26

ficus

Answer 26

fi•cus (fī′kəs)
n. pl. ficus or fi•cus•es
Any of numerous tropical trees, shrubs, or climbers of the genus Ficus, having pearlike multiple fruits.
Latin fīcus, fig.

Question 27

Phosphate

Answer 27

phos•phate (fŏs′fāt′)
n.
1. A salt or ester of phosphoric acid.
2. A fertilizer containing phosphorus compounds.
3. A soda fountain drink made by blending carbonated water with flavored syrup.
phosph(o)- + -ate 2.
phos•phat′ic (fŏs-făt′ĭk) adj.

Question 28

phosphoric acid

Answer 28

phosphoric acid
n.
A clear colorless liquid, H3PO4, used in fertilizers, detergents, food flavoring, and pharmaceuticals.

Question 29

phosphorescence

Answer 29

phos•pho•resce (fŏs′fə‑rĕs′)
intr.v. phos•pho•resced, phos•pho•resc•ing, phos•pho•resc•es
To persist in emitting light, unaccompanied by sensible heat or combustion, after exposure to and removal of a source of radiation.
Probably back-formation from phosphorescent.

Question 30

effervesce

Answer 30

ef•fer•vesce (ĕf′ər‑vĕs′)
intr.v. ef•fer•vesced, ef•fer•vesc•ing, ef•fer•vesc•es
1. To emit small bubbles of gas, as a carbonated or fermenting liquid.
2. To escape from a liquid as bubbles; bubble up.
3. To show high spirits or animation.
Latin effervēscere : ex-, up, out; see ex- + fervēscere, to start boiling, inchoative of fervēre, to boil; see bhreu- in Indo-European roots.

Question 31

lariat

Answer 31

lar•i•at (lăr′ē‑ət)
n.
1. See lasso.
2. A rope for picketing grazing horses or mules.
Spanish la reata : la, the (from Latin illa; see al-1 in Indo-European roots) + reatar, to tie again (re-, again from Latin; see re- + atar, to tie from Latin aptāre, to join, from aptus, past participle of apere, to tie).

Question 32

lasso

Answer 32

las•so (lăs′ō, lă‑so͞o′)
n. pl. las•sos or las•soes
A long rope with a running noose at one end, used especially to catch horses and cattle. Also called lariat.
❖ tr.v. las•soed, las•so•ing, las•sos or las•soes
To catch with or as if with such a long rope.
Spanish lazo, from Vulgar Latin *laceum, noose; see lace.

Question 33

picket

Answer 33

pick•et (pĭk′ĭt)
n.
1. A pointed stake often driven into the ground to support a fence, secure a tent, tether animals, mark points in surveying, or, when pointed at the top, serve as a defense.
2. A detachment of one or more troops, ships, or aircraft held in readiness or advanced to warn of an enemy’s approach: “The outlying sonar picket…. was to detect, localize, and engage any submarine trying to close the convoy” (Tom Clancy).
3.
a. A person or group of persons stationed outside a place of employment, usually during a strike, to express grievance or protest and discourage entry by nonstriking employees or customers.
b. A person or group of persons present outside a building to protest.
❖ v. pick•et•ed, pick•et•ing, pick•ets
v. tr.
1. To enclose, secure, tether, mark out, or fortify with pickets.
2.
a. To post as a picket.
b. To guard with a picket.
3. To post a picket or pickets during a strike or demonstration.
❖ v.intr.
To act or serve as a picket.
French piquet, from Old French, from piquer, to prick; see pique.
pick′et•er n.

Question 34

shibboleth

Answer 34

shib·bo·leth noun \ˈshi-bə-ləth also -ˌleth\
: an old idea, opinion, or saying that is commonly believed and repeated but that may be seen as old-fashioned or untrue

: a word or way of speaking or behaving which shows that a person belongs to a particular group

Question 35

platitude

Answer 35

plat·i·tude noun \ˈpla-tə-ˌtüd, -ˌtyüd\
: a statement that expresses an idea that is not new

Full Definition of PLATITUDE

1
: the quality or state of being dull or insipid
2
: a banal, trite, or stale remark
See platitude defined for English-language learners »
See platitude defined for kids »
Examples of PLATITUDE

His speech was filled with familiar platitudes about the value of hard work and dedication.

Origin of PLATITUDE

French, from plat flat, dull
First Known Use: 1812

Question 36

bromide

Answer 36

bro·mide noun \ˈbrō-ˌmīd\
: a drug that makes a person calm

: a statement that is intended to make people feel happier or calmer but that is not original or effective

Full Definition of BROMIDE

1
: a binary compound of bromine with another element or a radical including some (as potassium bromide) used as sedatives
2
a : a commonplace or tiresome person : bore
b : a commonplace or hackneyed statement or notion
See bromide defined for English-language learners »
See bromide defined for kids »
Examples of BROMIDE

His speech had nothing more to offer than the usual bromides about how everyone needs to work together.
<a>
First Known Use of BROMIDE</a>

1830

Question 37

patronage

Answer 37

pick•et (pĭk′ĭt)
n.
1. A pointed stake often driven into the ground to support a fence, secure a tent, tether animals, mark points in surveying, or, when pointed at the top, serve as a defense.
2. A detachment of one or more troops, ships, or aircraft held in readiness or advanced to warn of an enemy’s approach: “The outlying sonar picket…. was to detect, localize, and engage any submarine trying to close the convoy” (Tom Clancy).
3.
a. A person or group of persons stationed outside a place of employment, usually during a strike, to express grievance or protest and discourage entry by nonstriking employees or customers.
b. A person or group of persons present outside a building to protest.
❖ v. pick•et•ed, pick•et•ing, pick•ets
v. tr.
1. To enclose, secure, tether, mark out, or fortify with pickets.
2.
a. To post as a picket.
b. To guard with a picket.
3. To post a picket or pickets during a strike or demonstration.
❖ v.intr.
To act or serve as a picket.
French piquet, from Old French, from piquer, to prick; see pique.
pick′et•er n.

Question 38

steer

Answer 38

steer 2 (stîr)
n.
A young ox, especially one castrated before sexual maturity and raised for beef.

Question 39

ox

Answer 39

ox (ŏks)
n. pl. ox•en (ŏk′sən)
1. An adult castrated bull of the genus Bos, especially B. taurus, used chiefly as a draft animal.
2. A bovine mammal.
Middle English, from Old English oxa; see uks-en- in Indo-European roots.

Question 40

bull

Answer 40

1234
bull 1 (bo͝ol)
n.
1.
a. An adult male bovine mammal.
b. The uncastrated adult male of domestic cattle.
c. The male of certain other large animals, such as the alligator, elephant, or moose.
2. An exceptionally large, strong, and aggressive person.
3.
a. An optimist, especially regarding business conditions.
b. A person who buys commodities or securities in anticipation of a rise in prices or who tries by speculative purchases to effect such a rise.
4. Slang A police officer or detective.
5. Slang
a. Foolish, deceitful, or boastful language.
b. Insolent talk or behavior.
❖ v. bulled, bull•ing, bulls
v. tr.
To push; force.
❖ v.intr.
To push ahead or through forcefully: “He bulls through the press horde that encircles the car” (Scott Turow).
❖ adj.
1. Male.
2. Large and strong like a bull.
3. Characterized by rising prices: a bull market.
Idiom:
grab/take the bull by the horns
To deal with a problem directly and resolutely.
Middle English bule, from Old English bula, probably from Old Norse boli; see bhel-2 in Indo-European roots.

bull 2 (bo͝ol)
n.
1. An official document issued by the pope and sealed with a bulla.
2. The bulla used to seal such a document.
Middle English bulle, from Old French, from Medieval Latin bulla; see bulla.

bull 3 (bo͝ol)
n.
A gross blunder in logical speech or expression.
Origin unknown.

Bull (bo͝ol)
n.
See Taurus.

Question 41

bovine

Answer 41

bo•vine (bō′vīn′, ‑vēn′)
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or resembling a ruminant mammal of the genus Bos, such as an ox, cow, or buffalo.
2. Sluggish, dull, and stolid.
❖ n.
An animal of the genus Bos.
Late Latin bovīnus, from Latin bōs, bov-, cow; see gwou- in Indo-European roots.

Question 42

ruminant

Answer 42

ru•mi•nant (ro͞o′mə‑nənt)
n.
Any of various hoofed, even-toed, usually horned mammals of the suborder Ruminantia, such as cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and giraffes, characteristically having a stomach divided into four compartments and chewing a cud consisting of regurgitated, partially digested food.
❖ adj.
1. Characterized by the chewing of cud.
2. Of or belonging to the Ruminantia.
3. Meditative; contemplative.
From Latin rūmināns, rūminant-, present participle of rūmināre, to ruminate; see ruminate.

Question 43

cattle

Answer 43

cat•tle (kăt′l)
pl.n.
1. Any of various chiefly domesticated mammals of the genus Bos, including cows, steers, bulls, and oxen, often raised for meat and dairy products.
2. Humans, especially when viewed contemptuously or as a mob.
Middle English catel, property, livestock, from Old North French, from Old Provençal capdal, from Medieval Latin capitāle, holdings, funds, from neuter of Latin capitālis, principal, original, from caput, head; see kaput- in Indo-European roots.

Question 44

fricative consonant

Answer 44

Fricatives are consonants produced by forcing air through a narrow channel made by placing two articulators close together. These may be the lower lip against the upper teeth, in the case of [f]; the back of the tongue against the soft palate, in the case of German [x], the final consonant of Bach; or the side of the tongue against the molars, in the case of Welsh [ɬ], appearing twice in the name Llanelli. This turbulent airflow is called frication. A particular subset of fricatives are the sibilants. When forming a sibilant, one still is forcing air through a narrow channel, but in addition the tongue is curled lengthwise to direct the air over the edge of the teeth. English [s], [z], [ʃ], and [ʒ] are examples of this.

Question 45

pivoted

Answer 45

pic•o•tee (pĭk′ə‑tē′)
n.
A carnation having pale petals bordered by a darker color.
French picoté, marked with points, past participle of picoter, to mark with points, from picot, point, picot; see picot.

Question 46

picot

Answer 46

pi•cot (pē′kō, pē‑kō′)
n.
A series of small embroidered loops forming an ornamental edging on some ribbon and lace.
❖ tr.v. pi•coted (-kōd), pi•cot•ing (-kō-ĭng), pi•cots (-kōz)
To trim with small embroidered loops.
French, from Old French, from pic, point, from piquer, to prick; see pique.

Question 47

picrate

Answer 47

pic•rate (pĭk′rāt′)
n.
A salt or ester of picric acid.

Question 48

ester

Answer 48

es•ter (ĕs′tər)
n.
Any of a class of organic compounds corresponding to the inorganic salts and formed from an organic acid and an alcohol.
German, short for Essigäther : Essig, vinegar (from Middle High German ezzich, from Old High German ezzīh, from Latin acētum; see ak- in Indo-European roots) + Äther, ether (from Latin aethēr; see ether).

Question 49

ancillary

Answer 49

an·cil·lar·y [an-suh-ler-ee or, esp. British, an-sil-uh-ree]
adjective
1.
subordinate; subsidiary.
2.
auxiliary; assisting.
noun, plural an·cil·lar·ies.
3.
something that serves in an ancillary capacity: Slides, records, and other ancillaries can be used with the basic textbook.
——————————————————————————–
Origin:
1660–70; < Latin ancill ( a ) (see ancilla) + -ary; compare Latin ancillāris having the status of a female slave, with -āris -ar1

Question 50

graphic arts

Answer 50

graphic arts
noun
1.
Also called graphics. the arts or techniques, as engraving, etching, drypoint, woodcut, lithography, and other methods, by which copies of an original design are printed from a plate, block, or the like.
2.
the arts of drawing, painting, and printmaking.
——————————————————————————-
Origin:
1660–70