Vocab 4,201 - 4,220

Question 1

Gordian Knot

Answer 1

– noun

1) an extremely difficult or involved problem.

Question 2

Navel-gazing

Answer 2

– noun (Slang)

1) excessive absorption in self-analysis or focus on a single issue.

Question 3

Spectatorial

Answer 3

– adjective

1) of, or being that of, a spectator or onlooker.

Question 4

Bloodletting

Answer 4

– verb

1) the surgical removal of some of a patient’s blood for therapeutic purposes.
2) severe cutbacks or reduction in personnel/appropriations/etc.: The company went through a period of bloodletting in the 1970s.

Question 5

Prudential

Answer 5

– adjective

1) exercising prudence or having discretionary / advisory authority, as in business matters.

Question 6

Schlimazel

Answer 6

– noun (Slang)

1) an inept / bungling person who suffers from unremitting bad luck.

Question 7

Macerate

Answer 7

– verb (used with object), mac·er·at·ed, mac·er·at·ing.

1) to soften / break into parts by steeping in a liquid.
2) to become thin or emaciated; waste away.

Question 8

Trollop

Answer 8

– noun

1) an immoral / promiscuous / untidy / slovenly woman

Question 9

Grist

Answer 9

– noun

1) grain that is ground to make flour.
2) useful material, especially to back up an argument: the research provided the most sensational grist for opponents of tobacco.

Question 10

Surplusage

Answer 10

– noun

1) an excess amount.

Question 11

Predicate

Answer 11

– verb

1) found or base something on: the theory of structure on which later chemistry was predicated.

Question 12

Rote

Answer 12

– adjective

1) repetitious / routine / habitual: His behavior became more rote with every passing year.

Rote performance; Rote implementation

Question 13

Falter

Answer 13

– verb

1) to hesitate / waver: Her courage did not falter at the prospect of hardship.

Question 14

Disjunction

Answer 14

– noun

1) the act of disjoining or the state of being disjoined: a disjunction between thought and action.

Question 15

Physiognomy

Answer 15

– noun

1) the face / countenance, especially when considered as an index to the character: a fierce physiognomy.
2) the outward appearance of anything, taken as offering some insight into its character: the physiognomy of a nation.

Question 16

Infirmity

Answer 16

– noun

1) a physical weakness or ailment: the infirmities of age.

Question 17

Concuss

Answer 17

– verb

1) to injure by concussion: He was mildly concussed by the falling books.

Question 18

Benign

Answer 18

– adjective

1) kind / gracious /gentleness / kindness: a benign smile.

Question 19

Wax lyrical

Answer 19

– expression

1) talk in a highly enthusiastic / effusive way: waxing lyrical about his splendid son-in-law.

Question 20

Allocution

Answer 20

– noun

1) a formal speech giving advice or a warning: the daily allocutions of the Pontificate.