Vocab 9

Question 1

adulation

Answer 1

(n.) praise or flattery that is excessive

Question 1

abate

Answer 1

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

Question 2

anathema

Answer 2

(n.) an object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation (often used adjectivally without the article)

Question 3

astute

Answer 3

(adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

Question 4

avarice

Answer 4

(n.) a greedy desire, particularly for wealth

Question 5

culpable

Answer 5

(adj.) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation

Question 6

dilatory

Answer 6

(adj.) tending to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone

Question 7

egregious

Answer 7

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

Question 8

equivocate

Answer 8

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

Question 9

evanescent

Answer 9

(adj.) vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

Question 10

irresolute

Answer 10

(adj.) unable to make up one’s mind, hesitating

Question 11

nebulous

Answer 11

(adj.) cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct

Question 12

novice

Answer 12

(n.) one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience (also used adjectivally)

Question 13

penury

Answer 13

(n.) extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency

Question 14

pretentious

Answer 14

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

Question 15

recapitulate

Answer 15

(v.) to review a series of facts; to sum up

Question 16

resuscitate

Answer 16

(v.) to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence

Question 17

slovenly

Answer 17

(adj.) untidy, dirty, careless

Question 18

supposition

Answer 18

(n.) something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence

Question 19

torpid

Answer 19

(adj.) inactive, sluggish, dull