Test 3

Question 1

darwinism (n)

(adj): darwinian

Answer 1

the theory that living things evolve by natural selection

Question 2

cudgel (n)

Answer 2

a short thick stick that is used as a weapon

Question 3

cudgel your brains

I had to cudgel my brains to remember her name.

Answer 3

to think very hard

Question 4

take up (the) cudgels on behalf of sb/sth

Answer 4

defend or support sb/sth strongly

Question 5

rigmarole (n)

She turned up an hour late with some rigmarole about catching the wrong train.

Answer 5

a long and complicated process that is annoying and seems unnecessary; a long and complicated story

Question 6

miscreant (n)

We need to discourage miscreants.

Answer 6

a person who has done sth wrong or illegal

Question 7

gordian knot (n)

to cut/unite the Gordian knot.

Answer 7

a very difficult or impossible task or problem

Question 8

scabbard (n)

syn: sheath

Answer 8

a cover for a sword that is made of leather or metal

Question 9

precursor (n)

syn: forerunner, herald

Answer 9

a person or thing that comes before sb/sth similar and that leads to or influences its development

Question 10

turpitude (n)

syn: wickedness, depravity

Answer 10

very bad behaviour

Question 11

purport (v)

syn: profess

The book does not purport to be a complete history of the period.

Answer 11

to claim to be sth or to have done sth, when this may not be true

Question 12

the purport of sth (N)

The purport of his remarks was all too clear.

Answer 12

the general meaning of sth

Question 13

purported (adj)

Answer 13

that has been stated to have happened or to be true, when this might not be the case

Question 14

apostle (n)

an apostle of free enterprise

Answer 14

a person who strongly believes in a policy or an idea and tries to make other people believe in it

Question 15

translucence|translucency (n)

translucent (adj)

Answer 15

the property or state of allowing the passage of light

Question 16

reciprocity (n)

Answer 16

a situation in which two people, countries, etc. provide the same help or advantages to each other

Question 17

curts(e)y (n)

(v): curtsey (to sb)

Answer 17

a formal movement made by a woman in a dance or to say hellp or goodbye to an important person, by bending her knees with one foot in front of the other

Question 18

potentate (n)

Answer 18

a political leader who has a lot of power, especially when this is not limited by a parliament, etc.

Question 19

involution (n)

Answer 19

the shrinkage of an organ in old age or when inactive; the act or an instance of enfolding or entangling

Question 20

proletarian (adj)

proletarian (n, person)

Left-wing artists and writers increasingly expressed proletarian sympathies.

Answer 20

connected with ordinary people who earn money by working, especially those who do not own any property

Question 21

encore (n)

Answer 21

an extra short performance given at the end of a concert or other performance

Question 22

moat (n)

(adj): moated

Answer 22

a deep wide channel that was dug around a castle, etc. and filled with water to make it more difficult for enemies to attack

Question 23

midsummer (adj)

Answer 23

the middle of summer

Question 24

disputation (n)

Answer 24

a discussion about sth that people cannot agree on

Question 25

rancor (n)

syn: bitterness, malice

(adj): rancorous

Answer 25

feelings of hate and a desire to hurt other people, especially because you think that sb has done sth unfair to you

Question 26

adamant (adj)

syn: adamantine (adj)

The government remained adamant that there was no more money available.

Answer 26

determined not to change your mind or to be persuaded about sth

Question 27

felony (n)

Answer 27

the act of committing a serious crime such as murder or rape

Question 28

stigma (n)

Answer 28

negative feelings that people have about particualr circumstances or characteristics that sb may have