Vocab Lesson 3

Question 1

Bona fide

Answer 1

(Adj.) in good faith

We made a bona fide offer for the property.

syn: legitimate, genuine
ant: fraudulent, phony

Question 2

Boor

Answer 2

(n.) a rude or impolite person

My brother was acting like a boor.

Syn: buffoon, clown
Ant: sophisticate

Question 3

Bovine

Answer 3

(Adj.) pertaining to cows or cattle

The critic describe the large figures in the painting as bovine.

Question 4

Bowdlerize

Answer 4

(v.) To remove offensive passages of a play, novel, etc.

If the editors bowdlerize much more of the book, there won’t be anything left to read.
syn. to sensor

Question 5

Brevity

Answer 5

(n.) briefness; short duration

The brevity of the candidate’s speech surprised everyone.

syn. terseness, conciseness
ant. Long-windedness

Question 6

Bucolic

Answer 6

Adj. pertaining to the countryside; rural, rustic

Jim wanted to find an old inn in a bucolic setting in which to have lunch.
Syn. Pastoral

Question 7

Cajole

Answer 7

V. To coax, to persuade, to wheedle

Tim tried to cajole his parents into letting him use the new car.

Question 8

Callow

Answer 8

Adj. young and inexperienced

Question 9

Carcinogen

Answer 9

N. Causing cancer

Question 10

Carnal

Answer 10

Adj. sensual, sexual

Question 11

Carrion

Answer 11

N. Decaying flesh

The vultures circling in the sky lead the border patrol to the carrion they have been seeking since the report of the disaster

Question 12

Cataclysm

Answer 12

N. A violent change

Question 13

Cataract

Answer 13

N. Large waterfall; abnormality of the eye

Question 14

Caveat

Answer 14

N. A warning

John did not heed that old caveat about swimming alone because he had such confidence in his own ability.

Question 15

Bombast

Answer 15

(n.) impressive but meaningless language.

Please, professor, no more bombast; just give me the facts.