Unit Six

Question 1

faux pas

Answer 1

(n.) an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation

Question 2

precocity

Answer 2

(n.) exceptionally early or premature development (as of mental powers or sexual characteristics)

Question 3

capricious

Answer 3

(adj.) given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

Question 4

grandiloquent

Answer 4

(adj.) pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner, especially in a way that is intended to impress

Question 5

analogous

Answer 5

(adj.) having analogy; corresponding in some particular; (adj.) (biology) corresponding in function, but not evolved from corresponding organs, as the wings of a bee and those of a hummingbird

Question 6

chagrin

Answer 6

(n.) distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated; (v.) feel distressed or humiliated

Question 7

laudatory

Answer 7

(adj.) of, relating to, or expressing praise

Question 8

laudable

Answer 8

(adj.) deserving praise; praiseworthy; commendable, (adj.) (medicine/medical obsolete) healthy; wholesome; not noxious

Question 9

amorous

Answer 9

(adj.) showing, feeling, or relating to sexual desire

Question 10

amatory

Answer 10

(adj.) of, relating to, or expressing sexual love

Question 11

cogitation

Answer 11

(n.) the action of thinking deeply about something; contemplation

Question 12

cogitate

Answer 12

(v.) (formal) think deeply about something; meditate or reflect

Question 13

peccadillo

Answer 13

(n.) a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin

Question 14

hodiernal

Answer 14

(adj.) (rare) relating to the present day

Question 15

talon

Answer 15

(n.) a claw, especially one belonging to a bird of prey, (n.) the part of a bolt against which the key presses to slide it in a lock

Question 16

imprimatur

Answer 16

(n.) an official license to print or publish a book, pamphlet, etc., especially a license issued by a censor of the Roman Catholic Church, (n.) sanction or approval; support

Question 17

nadir

Answer 17

(n.) the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization, (n.) (astronomy) the point on the celestial sphere directly below an observer

Question 18

jetsam

Answer 18

(n.) unwanted material or goods that have been thrown overboard from a ship and washed ashore, especially material that has been discarded to lighten the vessel

Question 19

flotsam

Answer 19

(n.) the wreckage of a ship or its cargo found floating on or washed up by the sea, (n.) people or things that have been rejected and are regarded as worthless

Question 20

ombudsman

Answer 20

(n.) an official appointed to investigate individuals’ complaints against maladministration, especially that of public authorities

Question 21

ascertain

Answer 21

(v.) to find out or learn with certainty, (v.) (archaic) to make certain, exact, or precise

Question 22

nosology

Answer 22

(n.) the branch of medical science dealing with the classification of diseases

Question 23

gnosis

Answer 23

(n.) knowledge of spiritual mysteries

Question 24

pathology

Answer 24

(n.) the study of the essential nature of diseases and especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them, (n.) the structural and functional deviations from the normal that constitute disease or characterize a particular disease, (n.) deviation from propriety or from an assumed normal state of something nonliving or nonmaterial, (n.) deviation giving rise to social ills

Question 25

telos

Answer 25

(n.) (literary) an ultimate object or aim

Question 26

impuissance

Answer 26

(n.) weakness, powerlessness

Question 27

credo

Answer 27

(n.) a statement of the beliefs or aims which guide someone’s actions

Question 28

pedagogy

Answer 28

(n.) the art, science, or profession of teaching

Question 29

sinecure

Answer 29

(n.) a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit

Question 30

sapient

Answer 30

(adj.) having or showing great wisdom or sound judgment, (adj.) having or showing self-awareness

Question 31

precocious

Answer 31

(adj.) exceptionally early in development or occurrence, (adj.) exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age

Question 32

impuissant

Answer 32

(adj.) (literary) unable to take effective action; powerless

Question 33

pedagogical

Answer 33

(adj.) of, relating to, or befitting a teacher or education

Question 34

befitting

Answer 34

(adj.) proper or right; suitable

Question 35

sapience

Answer 35

(n.) great wisdom or sound judgment, (n.) the capacity to be self-aware