Part 1

Question 1

brevity

(BREV-ih-tee)

Answer 1

n. briefness in speech or writing
* brevity = abbreviate

Question 2

concise

(cun-SISE)

Answer 2

adj. using few words in speech or writing

Question 3

laconic

(luh-CAHN-ik)

Answer 3

adj. using few words in speech

Question 4

pithy

(PIH-thee)

Answer 4

adj. brief and full of meaning
* Pithy = pit (central part) of the topic

Question 5

quiescent

(kwy-EH-sunt)

Answer 5

adj. quiet; still; inactive
* quiescent = quiet

Question 6

reticent

(RET-ih-sunt)

Answer 6

adj. not talking much

Question 7

succinct

(suk-SINKT)

Answer 7

adj. clearly and briefly stated

Question 8

taciturn

(TAS-ih-turn)

Answer 8

adj. silent; sparing of words
* taciturn = tacitus in latin is quiet

Question 9

terse

(TURS)

Answer 9

adj. very concise, sometimes to the point of rudeness

Question 10

bombastic

(bom-BAS-tic)

Answer 10

adj. using language in a showy way

Question 11

circumlocution

(sir-kum-low-Q-shun)

Answer 11

n. speaking in circles

• circumlocution = circle
• circumloction = root word loq- or loc- means speech

Question 12

colloquial

(kuh-LOW-kwee-ul)

Answer 12

adj. pertaining to common everyday speech

• colloquial = common
• colloquial = root word loq- or loc- means speech

Question 13

diffuse

(dih-FEWS)

Answer 13

adj. spread out, not concise; wordy

Question 14

digress

(die-GRES)

Answer 14

vb. to wander off from the subject or topic spoken about.

Question 15

eloquence

(EH-low-KWENS)

Answer 15

n. speech that can influence people’s feelings
* eloquence = root word loq- or loc- means speech

Question 16

garrulous

(GAR-u-lus)

Answer 16

adj. talkative
* garrulous gorillas

Question 17

grandiloquent

(gran-DIH-luh-kwent)

Answer 17

adj. using big and fancy words when speaking for the purpose of impressing others

• grandiloquent = grand
• grandiloquent = root word loq- or loc- means speech

Question 18

loquacious

(low-KWAY-shus)

Answer 18

adj. very talkative
* loquacious = root word loq- or loc- means speech

Question 19

prattle

(PRA-tl)

Answer 19

vb. to speak on and on in a foolish manner
* prattle = baby rattle

Question 20

ramble

(RAM-bul)

Answer 20

vb. to talk on and on pointlessly

Question 21

rant

(RANT)

Answer 21

vb. to talk very loudly, even wildly

Question 22

rhetorical

(re-TOR-uh-kul)

Answer 22

adj. relation to speech that is used to persuade or have some effect

Question 23

verbose

(vur-BOSE)

Answer 23

adj. using too many words; wordy

• verbose = suffix -ose means having the quality of
• verbose = verbus in latin means words

Question 24

voluble

(VOL-you-bul)

Answer 24

adj. talking a great deal with ease
* voluble = great volume (mass)

Question 25

arrogant

(ER-uh-gunt)

Answer 25

adj. overly proud; haughty

Question 26

braggart

(BRA- gurt)

Answer 26

n. one who boasts a great deal
* braggart = one who brags a lot

Question 27

complacement

(kum-PLAY-snt)

Answer 27

adj. self-satisfied; smug
* complacement = self-complementing

Question 28

contemptuous

(kun-TEMP-choo-us)

Answer 28

adj. lacking respect; scornful

Question 29

disdainful

(dis-DANE-ful)

Answer 29

adj. full of bitter scorn and pride

Question 30

egotistical

(ee-guh-TIS-tih-kul)

Answer 30

adj. excessively self-absorbant; conceited
* egotistical = “ego” means “self”

Question 31

haughty

(HAW-tee)

Answer 31

adj. having great pride in oneself and dislikes others
* “It’s naughty to be haughty!”

Question 32

insolent

(IN-suh-lunt)

Answer 32

adj. rude in speech or behavior

Question 33

narcissistic

(nar-suh-SIS-tik)

Answer 33

adj. having to do with extreme self-adoration and a feeling of superiority to others
* narcisstic = a Greek man, Narcissus, falls in love with his own reflection

Question 34

ostentatious

(ahs-tun-TAY-shus)

Answer 34

adj. having to do with showing off

Question 35

presumptuous

(prih-ZUM-choo-us)

Answer 35

adj. too forward or bold

Question 36

pretentious

(pri-TEN-shus)

Answer 36

adj. claiming or pretending increased importance
* pretentious = pretend

Question 37

supercilious

(soo-pur-SIH-lee-us)

Answer 37

adj. looking down on others; proud and scornful
* superilious = self superiority

Question 38

swagger

(SWA-gur)

Answer 38

vb. to walk around in a proud, showy manner

Question 39

banal

(buh-NAL)

Answer 39

adj. dull or stale because of overuse
* You can spell “bla” from banal…boring…

Question 40

cliché

(klee-SHAY)

Answer 40

n. an idea or expression that has become stale due to overuse

Question 41

derivative

(diy-RIH-vuh-tiv)

Answer 41

adj. unoriginal; taken from something already existing

Question 42

hackneyed

(HAK-need)

Answer 42

adj. Lacking significance due to overuse

Question 43

insipid

(in-SIH-pud)

Answer 43

adj. lacking flavor or taste; unexciting

Question 44

lackluster

(LAK-luhs-ter)

Answer 44

adj. lacking vitality, energy, or brightness; boring
* lackluster = lacking luster, or without shine or brilliance

Question 45

mundane

(muhn-DAYN)

Answer 45

adj. commonplace; ordinary

Question 46

platitude

(PLA-tuh-tood)

Answer 46

n. an obvious remark uttered as if it were original
* platitudes are flat and dull

Question 47

prosaic

(pro-ZAY-ik)

Answer 47

adj. dull; commonplace
* make with black and grey tiles are the prosaic mosaics

Question 48

trite

(TRITE)

Answer 48

adj. unoriginal and stale due to overuse

Question 49

vapid

(VA-pid)

Answer 49

adj. lacking freshness and zest
* vapid = evaporating vitality