N

Question 1

nadir

Answer 1

lowest point

Although few people realized it, the Dow-Jones averages had reached their nadir and would soon begin an upward surge.

Question 2

naivete

Answer 2

quality of being unsophisticated

I cannot believe that such naivete is unassumed in a person of her age and experience.

Question 3

narcissist

Answer 3

conceited person

A narcissist is his own best friend.

Question 4

nascent

Answer 4

incipient; coming into being

If we could identify these revolutionary movements in their nascent state, we would be able to eliminate serious trouble in later years.

Question 5

natation

Answer 5

swimming

The Red Cross emphasizes the need for courses in natation.

Question 6

natty

Answer 6

neatly or smartly dresssed

Priding himself on being a natty dresser, the gangster Bugsy Siegel collected a wardrobe of imported suits and ties.

Question 7

necromancy

Answer 7

black magic; dealings with the dead

Because he was able to perform feats of necromancy, the natives thought he was in league with the devil.

Question 8

nefarious

Answer 8

very wicked

He was universally feared because of his many nefarious deeds.

Question 9

negligence

Answer 9

carelessness

negligence can prove costly near complicated machinery.

Question 10

negligible

Answer 10

so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded

Because the damage to his car had been negligible, Michael decided he wouldn’t bother to report the matter to his insurance company.

Question 11

nemesis

Answer 11

revenging agent

Captain Bligh vowed to be Christian’s nemesis.

Question 12

neologism

Answer 12

new or newly coined word or phrase

As we invent new techniques and professions, we must also invent neologisms such as “microcomputer” and “astronaut” to describe them.

Question 13

neophyte

Answer 13

recent convert; beginner

This monuntain slope contains slides that will challenge esperts as well as neophytes.

Question 14

nepotism

Answer 14

favoritism (to a relative)

John left his position with the company because he felt that advancement was based on nepotism rather than ability.

Question 15

nether

Answer 15

lower

Tradition locates hell in the nether regions.

Question 16

nettle

Answer 16

annoy; vex

Do not let him nettle you with his sarcastic remarks.

Question 17

nexus

Answer 17

connection

I fail to see the nexus that binds these two widely separated events.

Question 18

nib

Answer 18

beak; pen point

The nibs of fountain pens often become clotted and corroded.

Question 19

nicety

Answer 19

precision; minute distinction

I cannot distinguish between such niceties of reasoning.

Question 20

niggardly

Answer 20

meanly stingy; parsimonious

The niggardly pittance the widow receives from the government cannot keep her from poverty.

Question 21

niggle

Answer 21

spend too much time on minor points; carp

Let’s not niggle over details.

Question 22

nihilism

Answer 22

denial of traditional values; total skepticism

nihilism holds that existence has no meaning.

Question 23

nirvana

Answer 23

Buddihist teachings, the ideal state in which the individual loses himself in the attainment of an impersonal beatitude

Despite his desire to achieve nirvana, the young Buddhist found that even the buzzing of a fly could distract him from his meditation.

Question 24

noisome

Answer 24

foul smelling; unwholesome

I never could stand the noisome atmosphere surrounding the slaughter houses.

Question 25

nominal

Answer 25

in name only; trifling

He offered to drive her to the airport for only a nominal fee.

Question 26

nonchalance

Answer 26

indifference; lack of interest

Few people could understand how he could listen to the news of the tragedy with such nonchalance; the mahority regarded him as callous and unsympathetic.

Question 27

noncommittal

Answer 27

neutral; unpledged; undecided

We were annoyed by his noncommittal reply for we had been led to expect definite assurances of his approval.

Question 28

nondescript

Answer 28

undistinctive; ordinary

The private detective was a short, nondescript fellow with no ourstanding features, the sort of person one would never notice in a crowd.

Question 29

nonplus

Answer 29

bring to a halt by confusion; perplex

Jack’s uncharacteristic rudeness nonplussed Jill, leaving her uncertain how to react.

Question 30

nostrum

Answer 30

questionable medicine

No quack selling nostrums is going to cheat me.

Question 31

nuance

Answer 31

shade of difference in meaning or color

The unskilled eye of the layperson has difficulty in dicerning the nuances of color in the paintings.

Question 32

nubile

Answer 32

marrigeable

Mrs. Bennet, in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, was worried about finding suitable husbands for her five nubile daughters.

Question 33

nugatory

Answer 33

futile; worthless

This agreement is nugatory for no court will enforce it.

Question 34

nullify

Answer 34

to make invalid

Once the contract was nullified, it no longer had any legal force.

Question 35

numismatist

Answer 35

person who collects coins

The numismatist had a splendid collection of antique coins.

Question 36

nuptial

Answer 36

related to marriage

Their nuptial ceremony was performed in Golden Gate Park.