Unit 9

Question 1

Contentious

Answer 1

(adj) causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial

Question 2

traduce

Answer 2

(verb) speak badly of or tell lies about to damage their reputation

Question 3

tenebrous

Answer 3

(adj) dark; shadowy or obscure

Question 4

solecism

Answer 4

(noun) a grammatical mistake in speech or writing

Question 5

tortuous

Answer 5

(adj) full of twists and turns; excessively lengthy and complex

Question 6

altruism

Answer 6

( noun) the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others

Question 7

surfeit

Answer 7

(noun) an excessive amount of something.
(verb) cause to desire no more b/c of having done it in excess

Question 8

Superannuated

Answer 8

(adj) obsolete through age or new technological or intellectual developments.
(verb) retire (someone) with a pension

Question 9

enervate

Answer 9

(verb) lacking in energy or vitality; or to cause

Question 10

abstruse

Answer 10

(adj) difficult to understand; obscure

Question 11

baroque

Answer 11

( adj) baroque period; European architecture w/ ornate detail

Question 12

bucolic

Answer 12

(adj) relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside
(noun) a pastoral poem

Question 13

imprecations

Answer 13

(noun) a spoken curse

Question 14

feckless

Answer 14

(adj) lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible.

Question 15

Penchant

Answer 15

(noun) a strong or habitual liking or tendency to do something

Question 16

Obsequious

Answer 16

(adj) obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree

Question 17

Exacerbate

Answer 17

(verb) make (problem, bad situation, negative feeling) worse

Question 18

mitigate

Answer 18

(verb) make less severe, serious, or painful

Question 19

Saccharine

Answer 19

(adj) excessively sweet or sentimental; sugary

Question 20

vagaries

Answer 20

(noun) an unexpected and inexplicable change