Unit 13 vocabulary

Question 1

abstruse

Answer 1

(adj.) extremely difficult to understand

SYNONYMS: arcane, recondite, occult
ANTONYMS: simple, straightforward

Question 2

affront

Answer 2

(n.) an open or intentional insult; a slight; (v.) to insult to one’s face; to face in defiance, confront

SYNONYMS: (n.) offense; (v.) offend
ANTONYMS: (n., v.) compliment, praise

Question 3

canard

Answer 3

(n.) a false rumor, fabricated story

SYNONYM: hoax

Question 4

captious

Answer 4

(adj.) excessively ready to find fault; given to petty criticism; intended to trap, confuse, or show up

SYNONYMS: faultfinding, carping
ANTONYM: uncritical

Question 5

cognizant

Answer 5

(adj.) aware, knowledgeable, informed; having jurisdiction

SYNONYM: acquainted
ANTONYMS: unaware, unconscious, oblivious

Question 6

contrite

Answer 6

(adj.) regretful for some misdeed or sin; plagued by a sense of guilt; thoroughly penitent

SYNONYMS: remorseful, rueful
ANTONYMS: unapologetic, impenitent

Question 7

cynosure

Answer 7

(n.) the center of attraction, attention, or interest; something that serves to guide or direct

SYNONYM: focus

Question 8

decorous

Answer 8

(adj.) well behaved, dignified, socially proper

SYNONYMS: seemly, becoming, tasteful
ANTONYMS: unbecoming, improper, tasteless

Question 9

deign

Answer 9

(v.) to think it appropriate or suitable to one’s dignity to do something; to condescend

SYNONYM: deem

Question 10

desiccated

Answer 10

(adj., part.) thoroughly dried out; divested of spirit or vitality; arid and uninteresting

SYNONYMS: dehydrated, shriveled
ANTONYMS: sodden, waterlogged, drenched

Question 11

efficacy

Answer 11

(n.) the power to produce a desired result

SYNONYMS: effectiveness, potency, reliability
ANTONYM: impotence

Question 12

engender

Answer 12

(v.) to bring into existence, give rise to, produce; to come into existence, assume form

SYNONYMS: generate, cause, form
ANTONYMS: stop, deter

Question 13

ethereal

Answer 13

(adj.) light, airy, delicate; highly refined; suggesting what is heavenly (rather than earthbound)

SYNONYMS: heavenly, celestial, gossamer
ANTONYMS: infernal, hellish, thick, heavy

Question 14

facade

Answer 14

(n.) the front or face of a building; a surface appearance (as opposed to what may lie behind)

SYNONYMS: exterior, surface, mask
ANTONYM: interior

Question 15

ghoulish

Answer 15

(adj.) revolting in an unnatural or morbid way; suggestive of someone who robs graves or otherwise preys on the dead

SYNONYMS: barbarous, monstrous

Question 16

incongruous

Answer 16

(adj.) not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible

SYNONYM: discordant
ANTONYMS: compatible, harmonious, consistent

Question 17

machination

Answer 17

(n.) a crafty, scheming, or underhanded action designed to accomplish some (usually evil) end

SYNONYMS: plot, maneuver

Question 18

mesmerize

Answer 18

(v.) to hypnotize, entrance; to fascinate, enthrall, bewitch

Question 19

opprobrium

Answer 19

(n.) to disgrace arising from shameful conduct; contempt, reproach

SYNONYMS: infamy, dishonor, odium
ANTONYMS: acclaim, honor, glory, renown

Question 20

putative

Answer 20

(adj.) generally regarded as such; reputed; hypothesized, inferred

SYNONYMS: supposed, presumed
ANTONYMS: corroborated, confirmed