Paideia III, Trimester 2, Exam 1 Vocabulary

Question 1

amiable

Answer 1

adjective, Latin

having or showing pleasant, good-natured personal qualities; affable; friendly; sociable; agreeable

Question 2

complacent

Answer 2

adjective, Latin

pleased, especially with oneself or one’s merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfied; pleasant; complaisant

Question 3

condescending

Answer 3

adjective, Latin

showing or implying a usually patronizing descent from dignity or superiority

Question 4

conjecture

Answer 4

noun, Latin

the formation or expression of an opinion or theory without sufficient evidence for proof; guess; speculation

Question 5

disdain

Answer 5

verb, Latin

to look upon or treat with contempt; despise; scorn; to think unworthy of notice, response, etc.

Question 6

augment

Answer 6

verb, Latin

to make larger; enlarge in size, number, strength, or extent; increase

Question 7

despot

Answer 7

noun, Latin

a king or other ruler with absolute, unlimited power; autocrat; any tyrant or oppressor

Question 8

lethargic

Answer 8

adjective, Latin

of, pertaining to, or affected with lethargy; drowsy; sluggish

Question 9

stoic

Answer 9

adjective, Greek

of or pertaining to the school of philosophy founded by Zeno, who taught that people should be free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief, and submit without complaint to unavoidable necessity; stoical

Question 10

virulent

Answer 10

adjective, Latin

actively poisonous; intensely noxious; hostile

Question 11

abstruse

Answer 11

adjective, Latin

hard to understand; recondite; esoteric

Question 12

ameliorate

Answer 12

verb, Latin

to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve

Question 13

conciliatory

Answer 13

adjective, Latin

tending to placate or reconcile

Question 14

immutable

Answer 14

adjective, Latin

not mutable; unchangeable; changeless

Question 15

indolent

Answer 15

adjective, Latin

having or showing a disposition to avoid exertion; slothful

Question 16

bipartisan

Answer 16

adjective, Latin

representing, characterized by, or including members from two parties or factions

Question 17

constituents

Answer 17

noun, Latin

a constituent element, material, etc.; component; a person who authorizes another to act in his or her behalf, as a voter in a district represented by an elected official

Question 18

demagogue

Answer 18

noun, Greek

a person, especially an orator or political leader, who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people; (in ancient times) a leader of the people

Question 19

muckraker

Answer 19

verb, English

to search for and expose real or alleged corruption, scandal, or the like, especially in politics

Question 20

quorum

Answer 20

noun, Middle English

the number of members of a group or organization required to be present to transact business legally, usually a majority; a particularly chosen group

Question 21

orgulous

Answer 21

adjective, Middle English

haughty; proud

Question 22

effusive

Answer 22

adjective, Latin

unduly demonstrative; lacking reserve; pouring out; overflowing

Question 23

persnickety

Answer 23

adjective, English

overparticular; fussy; snobbish or having the aloof attitude of a snob; requiring painstaking care

Question 24

milieu

Answer 24

noun, French

surroundings, especially of a social or cultural nature

Question 25

nascent

Answer 25

adjective, Latin

beginning to exist or develop

Question 26

antebellum

Answer 26

adjective, Latin

before or existing before a war, especially the American Civil War; prewar

Question 27

hardtack

Answer 27

noun, English

a hard, saltless biscuit, formerly much used aboard ships and for army rations

Question 28

redoubt

Answer 28

noun, French

an isolated work forming a complete enclosure of any form, used to defend a prominent point; an independent earthwork built within a permanent fortification to reinforce it

Question 29

flank

Answer 29

noun, Middle English

the side of an animal or a person between the ribs and hip; the side of anything, as of a building

Question 30

conscript

Answer 30

verb, Latin

to draft for military or naval service; to compel into service