Vocabulary 16

Question 1

admonish

Answer 1

v. warn or reprimand someone firmly

v. [ with obj. and infinitive ] advise or urge (someone) earnestly

Question 2

demarcate

Answer 2

v. set the boundaries or limits of

v. separate or distinguish from

Question 3

florid

Answer 3

adj. elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated

Question 4

stark

Answer 4

adj. severe or bare in appearance or outline
adj. unpleasantly or sharply clear; impossible to avoid
adj. complete; sheer
adj. stiff, rigid, or incapable of movement
adj. physically strong or powerful

Question 5

burgeon

Answer 5

v. begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish

Question 6

bewilder

Answer 6

v. cause (someone) to become perplexed and confused

Question 7

bemoan

Answer 7

v. express discontent or sorrow over (something)

Question 8

vignette

Answer 8

n. a brief evocative description, account, or episode

n. a small illustration or portrait photograph that fades into its background without a definite border

Question 9

poignant

Answer 9

adj. evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret

adj. sharp or pungent in taste or smell

Question 10

acrimonious

Answer 10

adj. (typically of speech or a debate) angry and bitter

Question 11

rancid

Answer 11

adj. (of foods containing fat or oil) smelling or tasting unpleasant as a result of being old and stale

Question 12

stale

Answer 12

adj. (of food) no longer fresh and pleasant to eat; hard, musty, or dry
adj. no longer new and interesting or exciting

Question 13

largesse

Answer 13

n. generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others

Question 14

bestow

Answer 14

v. confer or present (an honor, right, or gift)

Question 15

confer

Answer 15

v. [ with obj. ] grant or bestow (a title, degree, benefit, or right)
v. [ no obj. ] have discussions; exchange opinion

Question 16

vindicate

Answer 16

v. clear (someone) of blame or suspicion

v. show or prove to be right, reasonable, or justified

Question 17

elusive

Answer 17

adj. difficult to find, catch, or achieve

adj. difficult to remember or recall

Question 18

elude

Answer 18

v. evade or escape from (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), typically in a skillful or cunning way
v. (of an idea or fact) fail to be grasped or remembered by (someone)

Question 19

vain

Answer 19

adj. having or showing an excessively high opinion of one’s appearance, abilities, or worth
adj. [ attrib. ] producing no result; useless

Question 20

obsolete

Answer 20

adj. no longer produced or used; out of date

Question 21

antecedent

Answer 21

n. a thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another

Question 22

delegate

Answer 22

v. entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person, typically one who is less senior than oneself

Question 23

somber

Answer 23

adj. dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy

adj. oppressively solemn or sober in mood; grave

Question 24

lexicon

Answer 24

n. the vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge

Question 25

stodgy

Answer 25

adj. dull and uninspired

adj. bulky or heavy in appearance

Question 26

anguish

Answer 26

adj. severe mental or physical pain or suffering

Question 27

disconcert

Answer 27

v. disturb the composure of; unsettle

Question 28

solicitous

Answer 28

adj. characterized by or showing interest or concern

adj. eager or anxious to do something

Question 29

intrepid

Answer 29

adj. fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or humorous effect)

Question 30

cornerstone

Answer 30

n. a stone that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining two walls
n. an important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based

Question 31

scenario

Answer 31

n. a written outline of a movie, novel, or stage work giving details of the plot and individual scenes
n. a postulated sequence or development of events

Question 32

postulate

Answer 32

v. suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief
v. (in ecclesiastical law) nominate or elect (someone) to an ecclesiastical office subject to the sanction of a higher authority

Question 33

ecclesiastical

Answer 33

adj. of or relating to the Christian Church or its clergy

Question 34

empathy

Answer 34

n. the ability to understand and share the feelings of another

Question 35

heyday

Answer 35

n. the period of a person’s or thing’s greatest success, popularity, or vigor

Question 36

exasperate

Answer 36

v. irritate intensely; infuriate

Question 37

prescient

Answer 37

adj. having or showing knowledge of events before they take place

Question 38

mundane

Answer 38

adj. lacking interest or excitement; dull

adj. of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one

Question 39

germane

Answer 39

adj. relevant to a subject under consideration

Question 40

humdrum

Answer 40

adj. lacking excitement or variety; dull; monotonous

Question 41

neglect

Answer 41

v. fail to care for properly

Question 42

amiss

Answer 42

adj. not quite right; inappropriate or out of place

adv. wrongly or inappropriately

Question 43

aggravate

Answer 43

v. make (a problem, injury, or offense) worse or more serious

Question 44

afflict

Answer 44

v. (of a problem or illness) cause pain or suffering to; affect or trouble

Question 45

galvanize

Answer 45

v. shock or excite (someone), typically into taking action

Question 46

rampant

Answer 46

adj. (esp. of something unwelcome or unpleasant) flourishing or spreading unchecked

Question 47

adulate

Answer 47

v. praise (someone) excessively or obsequiously

Question 48

herald

Answer 48

n. a person or thing viewed as a sign that something is about to happen

Question 49

cavalier

Answer 49

n. a courtly gentleman, esp. one acting as a lady’s escort

adj. showing a lack of proper concern; offhand

Question 50

exodus

Answer 50

n. a mass departure of people, esp. emigrants

Question 51

shirk

Answer 51

v. avoid or neglect (a duty or responsibility)

v. [ no obj. ] [ usu. with negative ] (shirk from) be unwilling to do (something difficult)