New York Times Op-Ed Summer 2013- Group 2

Question 1

pulchritude

The princess’ pulchritude blinded the prince, who had never seen any women so beautiful in his whole life.

Answer 1

n
beauty
F: pulchritudinous (adj) beautiful
(pulcher=beautiful)

Question 2

flit

The tooth fairy seemed to flit across the child’s bedroom, leaving only money in place of the tooth.

Answer 2

v
move swiftly and lightly
n
act of leaving one's home or moving, usually secretly as to escape obligations 
(related to fleet)

Question 3

cerebral

Mathematics and hard sciences are considered cerebral activities, free from emotional and physical entanglements.

Answer 3

adj
of the cerebrum of the brain- intellectual rather than emotional or physical
F: cerebrally (adverb)
(cerebrum=brain)

Question 4

Florid

After running a marathon, the woman had a florid face but looked better than the people who were completely pale.

Answer 4

adj
-having a red or flushed complexion
-elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated
F: floridity, floridness (n)
floridly (adverb)
(flos-, flor-=flower)

Question 5

omnipresent

The treat of an apocalyptic event was omnipresent all throughout the year 2012.

Answer 5

adj

present everywhere at the same time; common or widespread

Question 6

coddle

The royal baby of William and Kate was coddled as their parents faced the zealous crowds awaiting them at Buckingham Palace.

Answer 6

v
to treat in an indulgent or overprotective way
F: coddler (n)
(calidus=warm)

Question 7

metastasize

The bad luck has metastasized from one individual to another within the trading company.

Answer 7

v

to spread or grow unfavorably; in cancer, to spread to a secondary site

Question 8

Adulation

After learning of her acceptance to her top choice university, the girl was greeted by adulatory family members.

Answer 8

v
to praise excessively
F: adulator (n)
adulatory (adj)
(adulat-=fawned on)

Question 9

Putative

When individuals hire a life coach, they think they have hired the putative solver of all his or her problems.

Answer 9

adj
commonly regarded as such; supposed
F: putatively (adverb)
unputative
unputatively
(putare= to think, consider)

Question 10

Bespeak

A peer who is always willing to talk to you and comfort you in a time of sadness bespeaks a genuine friend.

Answer 10

v

to ask for in advance; show or indicate

Question 11

Intersperse

Food wrappers were interspersed in the sea of clothes scattered on my bedroom floor.

Answer 11

v
to scatter here and there; at intervals in between other things
F: interspersedly (adverb)
interspersion (n)
uninterspersed (adj)
(inter-= among, in the midst of)

Question 12

libidinous

My grandmother told me not to date men with libidinous motives.

Answer 12

adj
full of sexual lust; lustful
F:libinously (adverb)
libinousness (n)
nonlibinous (adj)
(libido-=sexual interest or drive)

Question 13

mete

I meted out the samples into the wells of the cell plate to ensure they all had equal amounts.

Answer 13

v

to distribute or apportion by measure; allot

Question 14

totemic

After not having a kitchen for months, the family finally used their totemic stove for the first time.

Answer 14

adj

anything served as a distinctive symbol or emblem, often venerated

Question 15

disparity

There was a noticeable disparity between an individual who dropped out of high school and one who earned a college degree.

Answer 15

n
inequality, difference
F:nondisparity (n)
(dis-=apart, parity=equality)

Question 16

maturate

The young girl maturated as she attended school each day and learned from her mistakes.

Answer 16

v
to produce or dispel pus, as in a wound; or mature
F:maturative

Question 17

bemoan

The woman’s friends attempted to comfort their friend, who was bemoaning the death of her dog.

Answer 17

v
to express grief or distress over, lament; to regard with regret of dissaproval
F:bemoaningly (adverb)
un/bemoaned (adj)

Question 18

Mettle

Her friends looked up to her for her mettle in facing any problems or situations that may confront her.

Answer 18

n
courage or fortitude
S: valor, vigor, ardor

Question 19

pulmonary

The patient sought pulmonary care after she felt an acute pain in her lungs.

Answer 19

adj
pertaining to the lungs
(pulmo-=lungs)

Question 20

barrage

After winning the field hockey state championship, her parents greeted her with a barrage of questions about the game.

Answer 20

n

an overwhelming quantity or explosion

Question 21

glut

Due to the shortage of iPad’s after its release, Apple glutted the market with the product.

Answer 21

v
to fill or feed to satiety (when satisfied); to flood market with item or service in excess
F: gluttingly (adverb)
un/glutted (adj)

Question 22

flummox

The doctor flummoxed the young student while trying to describe the complicated theory of molecular division.

Answer 22

v

to bewilder or confuse

Question 23

diverge

After high schools, 700 individuals will diverge from Greenwich and start their college careers.

Answer 23

v
to extend or move in different directions from a common point
F:un/nondiverging
(di-=two)

Question 24

lesion

After emerging from the chaos of battle, the team’s numerous lesions were scrutinized.

Answer 24

n

an injury, hurt, or wound