Vocab Workout - Set 4

Question 1

Define:

circumscribe

(sir-come-skrahyb)

Answer 1

v. to draw or contain in a circle

v. to limit or restrain

I believe our government’s actions are circumscribed by financial interests as well as moral imperatives.

Question 2

Define:

circumspect

(sir-come-spekt)

Answer 2

adj. prudent; cautious

Though her mother’s boyfriend attempted to win affection with toys and treats, Elise remained circumspect around him.

Question 3

Define:

circumvent

(sir-kum-vent)

Answer 3

v. to get around an obstacle

She managed to circumvent security and approached her favorite actor backstage.

Question 4

Define:

cleave

(kleev)

Answer 4

v. to cut off with force

v. to be loyal to

v. to develop an emotional bond with

She vowed that even when tempted she would cleave to her principles.

Question 5

Define:

cloister

(cloy-stur)

Answer 5

v. to isolate

n. a place for religious isolation

The boy’s parents tended to cloister him from the harsher realities of the world.

Question 6

Define:

coagulate

(koh-ag-yuh-late)

Answer 6

v. to clot or solidify

The poorly-made syrup began to coagulate on the pancakes after a few minutes.

Question 7

Define:

coalesce

(koh-ih-less)

Answer 7

v. to come together to form a single unit

Our county’s many poverty initiatives are too different to coalesce into an effective whole.

Question 8

Define:

cogent

(koh-djunt)

Answer 8

adj. clear and convincing

adj. relevant

We won the debate because the other team was unable to mount a cogent counterargument.

Question 9

Define:

cohere

(koh-heer)

Answer 9

v. to be logically connected to

v. to stick to each other

These short stories are quite charming when taken separately, but they will not cohere if published together as a collection.

Question 10

Define:

intransigent

(in-tran-suh-junt)

Answer 10

adj. unwilling to compromise

The government remained intransigent despite the people’s protest.

Question 11

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to draw or contain in a circle

v. to limit or restrain

Answer 11

circumscribe

(sir-come-skrahyb)

synonyms: mark off, bound, confine

Question 12

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. prudent; cautious

Answer 12

circumspect

(sir-come-spekt)

synonyms: discreet, guarded

Question 13

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to get around an obstacle

Answer 13

circumvent

(sir-kum-vent)

synonyms: avoid, bypass

Question 14

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to cut off with force

v. to be loyal to

v. to develop an emotional bond with

Answer 14

cleave

(kleev)

synonyms: divide, split; devote, join; bond, affix

Question 15

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to isolate

n. a place for religious isolation

Answer 15

cloister

(cloy-stur)

synonyms: secluded; convent

Question 16

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to clot or solidify (for liquids)

Answer 16

coagulate

(koh-ag-yuh-late)

synonyms: condense, concrete, thicken

Question 17

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to come together to form a single unit

Answer 17

coalesce

(koh-ih-less)

synonyms: adhere, cling

Question 18

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. believable

adj. relevant

Answer 18

cogent

(koh-djunt)

synonyms: apt, compelling, valid

Question 19

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

v. to be logically connected to

v. to stick to each other

Answer 19

cohere

(koh-heer)

synonyms: adhere, conform

Question 20

Which of your vocabulary words means the following?

adj. unwilling to compromise

Answer 20

intransigent

(in-tran-suh-junt)

synonyms: stubborn, unwilling, bullheaded