"Speckled Band"

Question 0

dissolute

Answer 0

\ˈdi-sə-ˌlüt, -lət\
adjective

—used to describe someone (such as a person who often gets drunk) whose way of living is considered morally wrong

Full Definition

: lacking restraint; especially : marked by indulgence in things (such as drink) deemed vices

dis·so·lute·ly adverb
dis·so·lute·ness noun

Examples

literature dealing with the dissolute and degrading aspects of human experience

Question 1

macabre

Answer 1

/mə-ˈkäb; -ˈkä-brə, -bər; -ˈkäbrə\
adjective

: involving death or violence in a way that is strange, frightening, or unpleasant

Full Definition

1 : having death as a subject : comprising or including a personalized representation of death
2 : dwelling on the gruesome
3 : tending to produce horror in a beholder
synonyms see ghastly

Examples

a macabre movie about animated corpses

Question 2

writhed

Answer 2

\ˈrīth\

: to twist your body from side to side

Full Definition

transitive verb
1 a : to twist into coils or folds 
b : to twist so as to distort : wrench 
c : to twist (the body or a bodily part) in pain
2 : intertwine

intransitive verb
1 : to move or proceed with twists and turns
2 : to twist from or as if from pain or struggling
3 : to suffer keenly

Other forms: writhed; writh·ing
writhe noun

Examples

She lay on the floor, writhing in pain.
a nest of writhing snakes

Question 3

insolence

Answer 3

\ˈin(t)-s(ə-)lən(t)s\
noun

1 : the quality or state of being insolent (rude or impolite : having or showing a lack of respect for other people)
2 : an instance of insolent conduct or treatment

Examples

• amazed that parents would tolerate such insolence from their teenaged children
• her frequent displays of insolence have lowered her standing among movie fans

Question 4

imprudence

Answer 4

(ˌ)im-ˈprü-dən(t)s\
noun

1 : the quality or state of being imprudent (not wise or sensible : not prudent)
2 : an imprudent act

Question 5

pittance

Answer 5

\ˈpi-tən(t)s\
noun

: a very small amount of money

Full Definition

: a small portion, amount, or allowance; also : a meager wage or remuneration

Examples

the internship offers only a pittance for a salary, but it is a great opportunity to gain experience