Units 3-5 - Pd 2

Question 1

Pedestrian

Answer 1

Boring or Dull

The sign was pedestrian, literally and figuratively.

Question 2

bona fide

Answer 2

authentic, genuine and real

The jeweler stated that the large diamond was bona fide and valuable.

Question 3

adventitious

Answer 3

Happening or carried on according to chance.

The man believed that the conversation was quite adventitious, for he was experiencing good benefits from it even though he didn’t anticipate it in the first place.

Question 4

fecund

Answer 4

Fertile

The field was fecund from all the previous crops, and the farmer anticipated a very large harvest.

Question 5

deviate

Answer 5

To stray from the path or order.

The soldier deviated from his commanding officer’s orders and risked the lives of his unit.

Question 6

obfuscate

Answer 6

To confuse

If you want people to read your writings, make it simple and avoid the confusion of obfuscation.

Question 7

impale

Answer 7

.To pierce, or to strike through with a sharp object.

I impaled Darth Vader with my light saber.

Question 8

extenuate

Answer 8

lessen the seriousness of something by offering a plausible excuse

When the student’s sister passed away in a car crash, she did not have to turn in her essay on time due to the extenuating circumstances.

Question 9

parochial

Answer 9

Narrow

Her parochial views made her uniquely unsuited for the position; they were definitely looking for someone with an open mind.

Question 10

glower

Answer 10

To have an angry look.

MY father glowered when I arrived past curfew.

Question 11

edify

Answer 11

Morally Improve yourself

The man went to church to edify himself from all his wrong doings .

Question 12

ambiguous

Answer 12

vague/ unclear

The picture was very ambiguous - no one knew what to make of it.

Question 13

cataclysm

Answer 13

A large scale violent change in the world.

There was a terrible cataclysm in the world as the meteors fell.

Question 14

optimum

Answer 14

The best/most favorable conditions

The conditions for the stock market were most optimum, and investors were quick to buy stocks.

Question 15

importune

Answer 15

Asking someone repeatedly and being persistent for or to do something.

The slave importuned his master for freedom.

Question 16

celibate

Answer 16

To abstain from sex

The dude was 100% celibate, for he never, ever engaged in sexual behavior.

Question 17

fortuitous

Answer 17

Happening by chance or luck

Finding the $10 bill on the ground when I forgot my wallet was fortuitous.

Question 18

recapitulate

Answer 18

to summarize

At the end of my presentation I recapitulated my major points to the audience to make sure they understood my ideas.

Question 19

perfunctory

Answer 19

done without care

He did a pefunctory job on his homework because he knew that the teacher wouldn’t read it very closely.

Question 20

baroque

Answer 20

Style of architecture from the 17th century in Italy that is used throughout Europe.

The palace of Versailles is an example of the baroque architectural style.

Question 21

hedonism

Answer 21

the pursuit of pleasure

With Hank’s amazing hedonism he manages to keep a new girl every week.

Question 22

obloquy

Answer 22

strong public disapproval

Due to the mother’s birth of a baby without a father, she endured years of obloquy from the townspeople.

Question 23

debacle

Answer 23

A great disaster or complete failure

Jenny’s life became a complete debacle after her father passed away.

Question 24

quasi-

Answer 24

half

The man was in quasi-uniform as he was running through the doors 15 minutes late for work.

Question 25

besmirch

Answer 25

To damage the reputation of someone The scientist's reputation was besmirched when a reporter discovered he stole all his discoveries and theories from another scientist.

Question 26

imperative

Answer 26

Of vital importance It is imperative to replace the flat tire before we depart.

Question 27

sacrosanct

Answer 27

Something of great value and importance; extremely holy. Freedom of speech is upheld as a sacrosanct right; while some things would change, this right would remain intact and revered.

Question 28

sadistic

Answer 28

*(adj)* derriving **pleasure** from causing others **pain** Seth Orndorff's actions were sadistic when he stuck sharpened bamboo sticks in between Anders' fingernails. (this example is Seth and Anders approved)

Question 29

demeanor

Answer 29

The way one behaves The young toddler's demeanor was very bad after he didn't get a toy at the store.

Question 30

facetious

Answer 30

Treating serious situations with inappropriate humor The longer the man used sarcasm while discussing the effects of the hurricane, the more his audience realized he was being facetious. They resented his tendency to be silly about such a serious event.

Question 31

fop

Answer 31

A man devoted to style and fashion in appearance. The dandy man went to the gala only after he picked up his suit from the dry cleaners and received a mani-pedi; what a fop!

Question 32

Imprecation

Answer 32

A spoken curse People who do not believe in vaccinations spread their imprecations on to others, putting children across America at risk.

Question 33

non sequitur

Answer 33

*(n)* a conclusion that does not follow the evidence ## Footnote The Subaru commercial talked about love then threw in a non sequitur with their brand: "Love. It's what makes a Subaru a Subaru." What in the world does love have to do with car manufacturing?

Question 34

sanguine

Answer 34

Very optimistic, especially in bad times. Although the world had just been destroyed by nuclear destruction, the United States remained a sanguine outlook and believed that humanity would survive.

Question 35

bowdlerize

Answer 35

.Strike through the dirty parts, or cover up the dirty parts of text. I bowdlerized 50 Shades of Grey, and the result was a book with 47 words total.

Question 36

impair

Answer 36

To weaken or damage something Smoking will impair your breathing.

Question 37

panegyric

Answer 37

speech of extreme praise ## Footnote a peasant wrote the strong panegyric for the king, in hopes of the king letting him live. The king was unimpressed with the glowing speech and condemned the man anyway.

Question 38

quandary

Answer 38

A Dilemma There was a quandary at KFC when they completely ran out of chicken to serve.

Question 39

ebullient

Answer 39

Cheerful and full of energy. The little girl was ebullient when she received the gift; she danced around and hugged everyone in the room.

Question 40

deference

Answer 40

Humble submission and respect He treated her with deference because she was his elder.

Question 41

Carnal

Answer 41

Physical, bodily, sexual Night clubs allow people to satisfy their carnal desires.

Question 42

nebulous

Answer 42

vague and unclear The teacher realized her directions were nebulous so she gave everyone the point on the test.

Question 43

pedantic

Answer 43

tending to show off ones knowledge Because Irvin wanted to impress his friends by being pedantic, he decided to point out all grammar flaws in the president's speech.

Question 44

rakish ![]()

Answer 44

dashingly, stylish ## Footnote The **rakish** Prince Charming dramatically removed his helmet to reveal his soft and bouncy hair.

Question 45

elegy

Answer 45

A mournful poem for the dead The mourning woman read an elegy for her deceased father.