Verbal Advantage Level 4

Question 1

Define:

Provident (PRAH-vi-dint)

Answer 1

Thrifty, economical, saving or providing for future needs.

Synonyms: prudent (Level l, Word 47), frugal (Level 2, Word 35).

Related word: provide.

Question 2

Define:

Impute (im-PYOOT)

Answer 2

To charge or attribute, especially with a fault or misconduct, lay the responsibility or blame upon, ascribe, assign.

Usage tip: The verb to credit has a favorable connotation. The verbs to assign and to
ascribe are neutral. The verb to impute often has a negative connotation: “We usually
ascribe good, but impute evil” (Samuel Johnson).

Corresponding noun: imputation, a charge or accusation.

Question 3

Define:

Astute (uh-ST(Y)OOT)

Answer 3

Shrewd, clever, perceptive, discerning, acute, keenly aware, quick-witted.

Synonyms: sagacious, perspicacious, sapient (SAY-pee-int).

Question 4

Define:

Neophyte (NEE-uh-fyt)

Answer 4

A beginner, novice, amateur, tyro; specifically, a new member of or convert to a religion.

N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words tyro, amateur, dilettante, novice, and
neophyte.

Question 5

Define:

Enigma (i-NIG-muh)

Answer 5

A mystery, puzzle, riddle; perplexing problem; something or someone hard to understand or explain; anything baffling, inexplicable, or inscrutable.

Question 6

Define:

Credence (KREE-dins)

Answer 6

Belief, acceptance, especially belief in a published report or acceptance of another’s opinion or testimony.

Related words: credence, creed, credible, and credulous all come from the Latin
credere, to believe.

Usage tip: Credence is often used with the verbs to give or lend.

Question 7

Define:

Venerate (VEN-uh-rayt)

Answer 7

To respect deeply, revere, regard with awe and adoration.

Corresponding adjective: venerable, worthy of veneration, of being venerated.
Venerable is often used of something or someone old or long-established.

Question 8

Define:

Garrulous (GAR-uh-lus, also GAR-yuh-lus)

Answer 8

Talkative, especially in a rambling, annoying, pointless, or long-winded way.

Synonyms: verbose (Level 2, Word 30), loquacious, voluble (Level 5, Word 1), and
prolix (Level 9, Word 1).

Antonyms: reserved, reticent, taciturn (Level 3, Word 2), laconic (Level 3, Word 18).

Etymology: Garrulous comes from the Latin garrire, to chatter, babble, talk in a
rambling and tiresome way (literally, “to chatter like a jaybird”).

Question 9

Define:

Trenchant (TREN-chent)

Answer 9

Keen, penetrating, vigorously effective, sharp and to the point.

Synonyms: forceful, acute, incisive.

Question 10

Define:

Autonomous (aw-TAHN-uh-mus)

Answer 10

Independent, self-governing, not under the control of something or someone else.

Etymology and related words: The Greek autos, self, is the source of the English
combining form auto-, self, which appears in many words, including autobiography,
autograph, automobile, automatic, and autocracy, rule by one self or one personhence,
dictatorship, tyranny, despotism.

Question 11

Define:

Panacea (PAN-uh-SEE-uh)

Answer 11

A cure-all, universal antidote, remedy for all diseases and difficulties.

Etymology and related words: The English prefix pan- (from Greek), means “all.” This
prefix appears in front of a number of useful English words, including panorama,
pantheism, and pantheon.

Usage tip: The common expression “a panacea for all ills” is redundant. Panacea by
itself means a cure for all ills, a universal remedy.

Question 12

Define:

Ephemeral (e-FEM-ur-ul)

Answer 12

Short-lived, passing, fleeting, lasting for a short time.

Synonyms: transitory, evanescent, fugitive, fugacious. For more on these words, review
the discussion of transient (Level 2, Word 31).

Usage tip: The common expression “daily journal” is redundant, for by derivation
journal (from the French jour, day) means something written or published each day.

Question 13

Define:

Onerous (AHN-ur-us)

Answer 13

Burdensome, troublesome, oppressive, hard to bear, difficult to accomplish or endure.

Related word: onus (OH-nus, rhymes with bonus), a burden, obligation, especially a
disagreeable responsibility.

Question 14

Define:

Laity (LAY-i-tee)

Answer 14

Non-professionals, laypeople collectively, all the people outside of a given profession or specialized field; specifically, all who do not belong to the clergy, religious worshippers in general.

Corresponding adjective: lay, nonprofessional, not belonging to a particular profession;
specifically, not a member of the clergy.

Question 15

Define:

Pungent (PUN-jint)

Answer 15

Sharp, penetrating, biting, acrid, caustic.

Etymology and usage: Pungent comes from the same Latin source as poignant and
expunge-the Latin pungere, to pierce, prick. Pungent may refer to that which is sharp to
the sense of taste or smell or to that which penetrates the mind or emotions.

Question 16

Define:

Prosaic (proh-ZAY-ik)

Answer 16

Dull, ordinary, uninteresting, unimaginative.

Synonyms: commonplace, humdrum, tedious, dry, stale, mediocre, matter-of-fact,
insipid, pedestrian, vapid, jejune (Level 10, Word 1).

Question 17

Define:

Charlatan (SHAR-luh-tin)

Answer 17

A fake, quack, impostor, fraud, humbug; specifically, a person who pretends to have a special skill or knowledge.

N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words charlatan and mountebank, which are
close in meaning.

Memory aid: In The Wizard of Oz, the Wizard is a classic example of a charlatan.

Question 18

Define:

Perfunctory (pur-FUNGK-tuh-ree)

Answer 18

Mechanical, routine, listless; done merely as a duty; performed in an indifferent, halfhearted, superficial, and often careless way, without interest or enthusiasm.

Question 19

Define:

Morass (muh-RAS or maw-RAS)

Answer 19

Literally, a swamp, marsh, bog; figuratively, some-thing that traps, confines, or confuses, a sticky situation or troublesome state of affairs.

Question 20

Define:

Sophistry (SAH-fis-tree)

Answer 20

Deceptive reasoning, subtle and misleading argument.

Related word: sophisticated.

Corresponding adjective: sophistic or sophistical

Question 21

Define:

Prolific (proh-LIF-ik)

Answer 21

Fruitful, fertile, productive.

Antonyms: unproductive, barren, sterile, impotent, effete.

Question 22

Define:

Mundane (muhn-DAYN)

Answer 22

Of the world, worldly, earthly, material as distinguished from spiritual.

Synonyms: terrestrial, temporal, secular, sublunary (suhb-LOO-nuh-ree).

Antonyms: lofty, heavenly, sublime, celestial, ethereal, extraterrestrial.

Usage tip: Some usage experts object to the use of mundane as a synonym of ordinary,
humdrum, commonplace, banal, unimaginative, and prosaic. In strict usage, mundane is
reserved for things that are worldly as opposed to heavenly, material as opposed to
spiritual, secular as opposed to religious.

Question 23

Define:

Myriad (MIR-ee-id)

Answer 23

Countless, innumerable, infinite, consisting of a great or indefinite number.

Corresponding noun: myriad, a great or indefinite number.

Question 24

Define:

Dissident (DIS-uh-dint)

Answer 24

Disagreeing, disaffected, dissenting, nonconformist.

Etymology: Dissident comes from the Latin dis-, apart, and sedere, to sit, and by
derivation means to sit apart; hence, to withdraw one’s approval or belief, disagree.

Corresponding noun: dissident, a person who disagrees with a prevailing opinion,
method, or doctrine.

Question 25

Define:

Laudable (LAW-duh-buul)

Answer 25

Praiseworthy, commendable, worthy of approval or admiration.

Synonyms: meritorious, estimable.

Antonyms: contemptible, deplorable, ignominious.

Corresponding verb: laud, to praise, commend, extol (ek-STOHL).

Question 26

Define:

Inimitable (in-IM-i-tuh-buul)

Answer 26

Unable to be imitated, copied, or reproduced; beyond compare.

Synonyms: matchless, unrivaled, peerless, unparalleled, surpassing.

Etymology tip: The prefix in- often means “in” or “into,” as in the words inhale, to
breathe in; ingrain, to rub in, fix in the mind; and ingress, the way in, the entrance.
However, it is just as often privative (PRIV-uh-tiv), meaning it deprives or takes away
the meaning of the word to which it is affixed. Like the prefix un-, the prefix in- often
means “not,” as in the words informal, not formal; inaudible, not audible, unable to be
heard; and injustice, something that is not fair or just. Inimitable combines this privative
prefix in- with the somewhat unusual word imitable, able to be imitated, to mean “not
able to be imitated.”

Question 27

Define:

Jaded (JAY-did)

Answer 27

Worn out, tired, fatigued, weary, exhausted.

Related words and usage tip: One meaning of the noun jade is a worn-out or brokendown
horse, a nag. The verb to jade means to be or become like a worn-out or brokendown
horse. The adjective jaded means like that broken-down horse; specifically, worn
out from overwork or overindulgence.

Question 28

Define:

Myopic (my-AHP-ik)

Answer 28

Short-sighted; not able to see the long-range picture; having a narrow or circumscribed view; lacking discernment, foresight, or perspective.

Synonyms: narrowminded, purblind, obtuse.

N.B. This discussion distinguishes the adjectives purblind, obtuse, and myopic.

Antonyms: broadminded, liberal, tolerant, catholic, latitudinarian

Corresponding noun: myopia (my-OH-pee-uh), nearsightedness.

Question 29

Define:

Demonstrable (di-MAHN-struh-buul)

Answer 29

(1) Capable of being demonstrated, able to be proved.
(2) Obvious, apparent, self-evident.

Corresponding verb: demonstrate.

Question 30

Define:

Callow (KAL-oh)

Answer 30

Immature, inexperienced, unsophisticated, green, naive, lacking experience in and knowledge of the world.

N.B. Callow was formerly used of very young birds to mean without feathers, unfledged.
Today callow and the word fledgling are used of persons, behavior, or things that are
immature or inexperienced. A fledgling is a young bird that has just acquired its feathers
and is learning to fly. From that original sense fledgling has come to refer either to a
young and inexperienced person or to some thing that is just getting off the ground, as a
fledgling enterprise.
Callow suggests an immaturity or inexperience manifested by a lack of sophistication.
Because callow means immature, it sometimes also suggests childishness or foolishness.
Synonyms of callow in this unfavorable sense include juvenile, sophomoric, and puerile
(PYOOR-ul or PYOO-ur-ul).

Question 31

Define:

Acquiesce (ak-wee-ES)

Answer 31

To agree without protest, accept without argument or resistance, give in quietly.

Synonyms: consent, comply, submit, assent, accede.

N.B. This discussion distinguishes the verbs to assent, accede, and acquiesce.

Corresponding noun: acquiescence (AK-wee-ES-ins), passive agreement, quiet
acceptance.

Usage tip: Acquiesce is sometimes followed by the preposition in, as to acquiesce in a
decision.

Question 32

Define:

Pontificate (pahn-TIF-i-kayt)

Answer 32

To speak in a pompous and overbearing way; make pretentious or categorical statements; express one’s opinion as though it were an official, authoritative decree.

Corresponding noun: pontification (pahn-TIF-iKAY-shin).

Related words: pontiff, the Roman Catholic pope, also known as the Bishop of Rome.
The pontiff issues official decrees on church doctrine called papal bulls. To these decrees
the pontiff affixes a seal called a bulla (BUUL-uh).

Additional useful word: dogmatic (dawg-MATik), means opinionated, dictatorial,
expressing an opinion as if it were fact.

Question 33

Define:

Deleterious (DEL-i-TEER-ee-us)

Answer 33

Harmful, destructive, injurious, detrimental; especially, harmful to health or well-being.

Synonyms: ruinous, noxious, pernicious, malignant.

Antonyms: healthful, advantageous, wholesome, salutary (SAL-yuh-ter-ee).

Question 34

Define:

Ambivalent (am-BIV-uh-luh nt)

Answer 34

Uncertain, indecisive; having conflicting feelings or desires; simultaneously drawn in opposite directions; attracted to and repulsed by something at the same time.

Corresponding noun: ambivalence, a state of uncertainty or indecisiveness.

Etymology tip and related words: One meaning of the combining form ambi- is “both,”
as in the words ambidextrous, skilled with both hands, and ambivert, a person who is
both introverted, innerdirected, and extroverted, outer-directed. The word ambivalent
combines ambi-, both, with the Latin valere, to be strong, to mean literally “having
strong feelings both ways”; hence, uncertain, indecisive.

Question 35

Define:

Pensive (rhymes with intensive)

Answer 35

Thoughtful, absorbed in thought, especially in a deep, dreamy, or melancholy way.

Synonyms: reflective, meditative, wistful, contemplative (kuhn-TEM-pluh-tiv).

N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words pensive, contemplative, and wistful.

Etymology: Pensive comes ultimately from the Latin pensare, to ponder, consider, weigh
in the mind. When you are pensive, you are thinking deeply about something, pondering
it, weighing it in your mind.

Corresponding noun: pensiveness.

Question 36

Define:

Impromptu (im-PRAHMP-t(y)oo)

Answer 36

Made up or done on the spur of the moment, uttered or performed without preparation, improvised for the occasion.

Synonyms: offhand, spontaneous, extemporaneous (see extemporize, Level 3, Word 15).

Usage: Impromptu may apply either to spontaneous expression or activity: an impromptu
speech; an impromptu party

Question 37

Define:

Conjecture (kuhn-JEK-chur)

Answer 37

To guess; especially, to make an educated guess; to form an opinion or make a judgment based on insufficient evidence.

Synonyms: suppose, imagine, suspect, presume.

N.B. This discussion distinguishes the verbs to guess, speculate, surmise, and
conjecture, all of which mean to form an opinion or reach a conclusion based upon
uncertain or insufficient evidence.

Corresponding noun: conjecture, an educated guess, an assumption or conclusion based
on insufficient evidence.

Question 38

Define:

Surreptitious (SUH- or SUR-rip-TISH-us)

Answer 38

Stealthy; characterized by secrecy and caution; done, made, obtained, or enjoyed in a secret and often sly or shifty manner, so as to avoid notice.

Synonyms: crafty, furtive, covert, underhand, clandestine (Level 2, Word 6).

N.B. This discussion distinguishes the adjectives stealthy, furtive, clandestine, covert,
and surreptitious, all of which mean secret, hidden from the knowledge or view of
others.

Antonyms: evident, unconcealed, overt, aboveboard, manifest.

Etymology and usage: Surreptitious comes from the Latin verb surripere, to snatch,
pilfer, take away or withdraw secretly. By derivation surreptitious means snatched while
no one is looking, and in modern usage the word combines the deliberate, cautious
secrecy suggested by stealthy with the crafty, evasive secrecy suggested by furtive.

Pronunciation tip: The traditional pronunciation of covert is KUH-vurt (like cover with
a t at the end). Until the 1960s, KUH-vurt was the only pronunciation recognized by
dictionaries. Since then the variant KOH-vurt has become so popular that several
dictionaries now list it first. Dictionaries still list KUH-vurt and many older educated
speakers prefer it out of respect for the word’s tradition, which dates back to the 14th
century. Another popular variant, koh-VURT, is often not listed at all (and is best
avoided).
Those who preferto say KOH-vurt are not wrong; that pronunciation is now fully
standard (meaning “acceptable”). On the other hand, if you are not afraid to distinguish
yourself as a cultivated speaker at the risk of raising a few eyebrows, then consider using
the traditional pronunciation, KUH-vurt.

Question 39

Define:

Exemplary (eg-ZEM-pluh-ree)

Answer 39

Worthy of imitation, praiseworthy, commendable, serving as a model of excellence, appropriateness, or correctness.

Synonyms: ideal, admirable, meritorious, estimable, laudable (Level 4, Word 25).

Antonyms: shameful, disreputable, contemptible, deplorable, ignominious, odious,
heinous (HAY-nus).

Etymology: Exemplary comes from the same Latin source as the word example. By
derivation, something exemplary sets an example, and is therefore worthy of imitation.

Question 40

Define:

Impeccable (im-PEK-uh-buul)

Answer 40

(1) Perfect, faultless, flawless; free from faults or imperfections.
(2) Unable to do wrong, incapable of sin.

Synonyms: unimpeachable, irreproachable.

Antonyms: reprehensible, censurable, culpable.

N.B. This discussion distinguishes the words impeccable, immaculate, and infallible.

Etymology: Impeccable combines the privative prefix in-, meaning “not,” with the Latin
peccare, to make a mistake, do wrong, blunder, sin. By derivation, impeccable means not
able to make a mistake, incapable of sinning or doing wrong; hence, perfect, faultless.

N.B. When the prefix in- is attached to a word beginning with the letter B, P, or M, the N
changes to an M: imbalanced means not balanced; impossible means not possible; and
immutable means not mutable, not changeable, fixed. When the prefix inappears before a
word beginning with L or R, the N changes to an L or an R: illogical means not logical;
irreproachable means not reproachable, without fault or blame. These alterations in the
spelling of the prefix in- have occurred to make these and dozens of other analogous
words easier to pronounce.

Additional useful words: fallible (FAL-i-buul), capable of error or likely to be wrong;
macula (MAK-yuh-luh), a spot or stain, specifically a blemish on the skin or a sunspot;
maculate (MAKyuh-lit), stained, blemished, impure, corrupt; peccadillo (PEK-uh-DILoh),
a small sin, minor fault or flaw; peccant (PEK-int), guilty, sinful, culpable; and
peccable (PEK-uh-buul), liable to sin or do wrong.

Question 41

Define:

Attest (uh-TEST)

Answer 41

(1) To affirm to be true, genuine, or correct; certify or authenticate officially; stand as proof or evidence of.
(2) To bear witness to, give testimony.

Etymology and related words: Attest comes from the Latin ad, to, and testari, to bear
witness, and ultimately from testis, a witness, the source also of the words testify;
testimony; testimonial; testator (TES-tay-tur), a person who has made a valid will; and
intestate (in-TES-tayt), not having made a legal will.

Question 42

Define:

Copious (KOH-pee-us)

Answer 42

Abundant, plentiful, large in amount or number.

Synonyms: ample, bountiful, profuse.

Antonyms: scanty, meager, sparse, paltry.

Etymology and related word: Copious comes from the Latin copia, abundance, plenty,
the source also of the English word cornucopia, a horn of plenty, hence, any overflowing
stock or supply.

Question 43

Define:

Fallacious (fuh-LAY-shus)

Answer 43

False, misleading, deceptive, invalid, based on a fallacy.

Synonyms: erroneous, spurious, untenable, illusory, sophistical.

Related words: A fallacy is a false or misleading idea or statement, an argument that
violates the laws of reasoning. Sophistry (Level 4, Word 20) refers to reasoning that
deliberately uses fallacies (misleading arguments) to confuse or deceive.

Etymology: Fallacy and fallacious come from the Latin fallere, to deceive, lead astray.

Question 44

Define:

Stoic (STOH-ik)

Answer 44

Showing no feelings, unemotional, unaffected by pleasure or pain, bearing pain or suffering without complaint.

Synonyms: impassive, dispassionate, indifferent, apathetic, placid, languid, phlegmatic,
imperturbable.

Antonyms: ardent, vehement, zealous, fervid, fervent (Level 3, Word 24).

Corresponding noun: stoicism, indifference to pleasure or pain.

Etymology: Stoic and stoicism come from the Greek stoa, a porch or covered walkway -
specifically, the famous Painted Porch in ancient Athens where the philosophical doctrine
of Stoicism was born.

Question 45

Define:

Recrimination (ri-KRIM-i-NAY-shin)

Answer 45

A countercharge or counter accusation.

Etymology: Recrimination combines the prefix re-, which means “back” or “again,” with
the Latin verb criminari, to accuse, bring a charge against, and means literally to accuse
in return, accuse again.

Corresponding noun: recriminate, to bring a countercharge against, denounce in return.

Corresponding adjective: recriminative or recriminatory.

Question 46

Define:

Affinity (uh-FIN-i-tee)

Answer 46

(1) Close resemblance or relationship; a strong likeness, similarity, or connection.

• *Synonyms:** kinship, correspondence, compatibility, consanguinity.
  (2) A natural attraction to, or liking for, a person or thing.
• *Synonyms:** penchant (Level 3, Word 9), propensity, proclivity.

Question 47

Define:

Volatile (VAHL-uh-tuul)

Answer 47

(1) Changeable, unstable, inconstant, likely to change or shift rapidly and unpredictably.

Synonyms: fickle, flighty, capricious (Level 1, Word 11), erratic, protean, mercurial.

Antonyms: stable, fixed, steadfast, invariable, immutable, quiescent (Level 3, Word 22).
N.B. Volatile, which entered English in the early 1600s, has a volatile history, full of
many shifts and changes in meaning. The word may also mean:
(a) evaporating quickly, easily vaporized;
(b) fleeting, vanishing swiftly, transient, ephemeral;
(c) lighthearted, lively and carefree, whimsical, prone to flights of fancy;
(d) explosive, likely to erupt into violence.

Etymology and related word: Volatile comes from the Latin volare, to fly, and its
original meaning was “flying” or “having the power to fly.” Today volatile is rarely used
in this sense, and instead we have the word volant (VOH-lint), from the same Latin
volare, to fly. Volant means flying, able to fly, or quick, nimble, agile.

Memory and usage tip: Remember that in all of its senses volatile describes that which
can swiftly fly away from one condition or mood into another.

Corresponding noun: volatility.

Pronunciation tip: The pronunciation VAH-luh-tyl (-tyl like tile) is British.

Question 48

Define:

Squalid (SKWAH-lid)

Answer 48

Dirty and run-down as a result of poverty or neglect, foul or filthy from lack of care, wretched, miserable, degraded.

Synonyms: seedy, unkempt, dilapidated, slovenly (see also abject, Level 5, Word 50).

Antonyms: unsullied, immaculate, pristine.

Corresponding noun: squalor, filthiness, foulness, degradation; a wretched, miserable
condition resulting from poverty or neglect.

N.B. This discussion distinguishes between the adjectives squalid and sordid.

Question 49

Define:

Expedite (EKS-puh-dyt)

Answer 49

To speed up, hasten, facilitate, accelerate the progress of, handle or perform quickly and efficiently.

Antonyms: delay, postpone, hinder, retard, slacken, protract (Level 3, Word 25).

Etymology: Expedite comes from the Latin verb expedire, to set free, disentangle, get
ready for action.

Question 50

Define:

Abject (AB-jekt or ab-JEKT)

Answer 50

Degraded, brought low in condition or status; hence, lacking self-respect, contemptible, wretched.

Synonyms: debased, despicable, ignoble, groveling, servile, squalid (Level 4, Word 48).

Antonyms: noble, dignified, lofty, majestic, eminent, illustrious.

Corresponding noun: abjection, a degraded, wretched, contemptible state.

Etymology: In Middle English abject meant “outcast.” The word comes ultimately from
the Latin ab, meaning “away” or “off,” and the verb jacere, to throw, and means literally
“thrown away, cast off.”