Unit 9

Question 1

abate

Answer 1

to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, become less; to nullify; to deduct, omit

Question 2

adulation

Answer 2

praise or flattery that is excessive

Question 3

anathema

Answer 3

an object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation

Question 4

astute

Answer 4

shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

Question 5

avarice

Answer 5

a greedy desire, particularly for wealth

Question 6

culpable

Answer 6

deserving blame, worthy of condemnation

Question 7

dilatory

Answer 7

tending to delay or procrastinate; not prompt; intended to delay or postpone

Question 8

egregious

Answer 8

conspicuous, standing out from the mass (used in an unfavorable sense)

Question 9

equivocate

Answer 9

to speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation; to be deliberately vague or ambiguous

Question 10

evanescent

Answer 10

vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

Question 11

irresolute

Answer 11

unable to make up one’s mind, hesitating

Question 12

nebulous

Answer 12

cloud-like, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent, vague, confused, indistinct

Question 13

novice

Answer 13

one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience

Question 14

penury

Answer 14

extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency

Question 15

pretentious

Answer 15

done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; making demands on one’s skill or abilities, ambitious

Question 16

recapitulate

Answer 16

to review a series of facts; to sum up

Question 17

resuscitate

Answer 17

to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence

Question 18

slovenly

Answer 18

untidy, dirty, careless

Question 19

supposition

Answer 19

something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence

Question 20

torpid

Answer 20

inactive, sluggish, dull