Unit 28

Question 1

Ephemeral

Answer 1

(adj) short-lived; fleeting; lasting for a very short time

e. g. Fashions are ephemeral: new ones regularly drive out the old.

Question 2

Epistemology

Answer 2

(n) branch of philosophy that examines the nature of knowledge
e. g. A major question in epistemology is whether the mind can ever gain objective knowledge, limited as it is by its narrow range of sense experience.

Question 3

Equable

Answer 3

(adj) steady; unvarying; serene

e. g. Throughout the crisis the president remained equable.

Question 4

Equitable

Answer 4

(adj) fair, or just, or impartial

Question 5

Equanimity

Answer 5

(n) composure; calmness

e. g. Emergency room doctors and nurses are trained to maintain their equanimity when treating patients.

Question 6

Equivocate

Answer 6

(v) to intentionally use vague language
- Equivocation (n)

e.g. The businessperson has earned a reputation as someone who never equivocates and can be trusted to do exactly what he promises.

Question 7

Errant

Answer 7

(adj) mistaken; straying from the proper course

e. g. The pitcher’s errant fastball stuck the batter on the shoulder.

Question 8

Erudite

Answer 8

(adj) learned; scholarly
- Erudition (n)

e.g. Fredrick Copleston, author of the nine-volume history of philosophy, was undoubtedly one of the most erudite people who ever lived.

Question 9

Sagacious

Answer 9

(adj) having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement; wise or shrewd
e. g. They were sagacious enough to avoid any outright confrontation.

Question 10

Esoteric

Answer 10

(adj) hard to understand; known only to a few

e. g. Esoteric philosophical debates.

Question 11

Essay

Answer 11

(v) to make an attempt; subject to a test

e. g. The composer began to work on a sonata, a form she had not previously essayed.

Question 12

Estimable

Answer 12

(adj) admirable; possible to estimate

e. g. She was shown into that estimable woman’s presence.