Vocabulary Set 4 (23.08.22)

Question 1

depute (de pewt) (v.)

Answer 1

appoint or instruct (someone) to perform a task for which one is responsible
ex: Several officers were deputed to guard the building.

Question 2

hen’s teeth (idiom)

Answer 2

exceptionally rare
ex: On a rainy night, taxis are as scarce as hen’s teeth.

Question 3

slew (s loo) (v.)

Answer 3

to cause to skid : VEER // turn or slide violently or uncontrollably in a particular direction.
ex: He slewed the car around a turn.

Question 4

roan (rown) (n.) (adj.)

Answer 4

denoting an animal, especially a horse or cow, having a coat of a main color thickly interspersed with hairs of another color, typically bay, chestnut, or black mixed with white. //
an animal with a roan coat (n.)
ex: The roan mare whinnied and stamped its hoofs.
ex: The roan on the right is a stallion.

Question 5

languorous (lang gur iss) (adj.)

Answer 5

characterized by tiredness or inactivity, especially of a pleasurable kind.
ex: Summer has a slow, languorous feel to it here.

Question 6

westering (west tur ing) (adj.) (LITERARY)

Answer 6

(especially of the sun) nearing the west.
ex: The last rays of the westering sun.

Question 7

cheroot (sha root) (n.)

Answer 7

a cigar cut square at both ends
ex: Myanmar remains a place where many men smoke cheroots.

Question 8

sporran (spor en) (n.)

Answer 8

a pouch that performs the same function as pockets on the pocketless kilt
ex: He found gold in McCandless’s sporran.

Question 8

appurtenances ( a purr ten nence) (n.)

Answer 8

• appurtenances plural : accessory objects
ex: the appurtenances of wealth // if he were to buy the usual appurtenances of an officer, a horse and a telescope and an expensive sword,
• a subordinate part or adjunct
ex: The appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony.

Question 8

Hypotaxis vs. Parataxis

Answer 8

• Parataxis: Independent phrases without conjunctions, a direct narrative style.
• Hypotaxis: Complex sentences with main and subordinate clauses, showing interdependent ideas.

Question 9

prevaricate (pre var eh cate) (v.)

Answer 9

speak or act in an evasive way.
ex: He seemed to prevaricate when journalists asked pointed questions.
ex: Government officials prevaricated about the real costs of the project.

Question 10

spavin / spavined (spav in / spav end) (n./adj.)

Answer 10

• (n.) SWELLING // especially : a bony enlargement of the hock of a horse associated with strain
• (adj.) affected with spavin // old and decrepit : OVER-THE-HILL
  ex: I don’t want any of your spavined beasts.

Question 11

escarpment (es carp ment) (n.)

Answer 11

a long, steep slope, especially one at the edge of a plateau or separating areas of land at different heights.
ex: He turned as gunfire sounded higher up the escarpment.

Question 12

be at sixes and sevens (IDIOM) // mainly British, but also can be used in American

Answer 12

describe a condition of confusion or disarray (Origin dice game – Hazard)
ex: I’ll probably be at sixes and sevens groping for an answer.

Question 13

Old Nick (n.)

Answer 13

A nickname for the devil
ex: He gave me a look that would scare Old Nick.

Question 14

Sally out (sal lee out) (v.)

Answer 14

set out in a sudden, energetic or violent manner
ex: Tamara would sally out on bitterly cold nights.

Question 15

debouch (de bow ch) (v.)

Answer 15

(esp of troops) to move into a more open space, as from a narrow or concealed place // (of a river, glacier, etc) to flow from a valley into a larger area or body
ex: He saw enemy forces debouching from the gate.

Question 16

emolliently (e mall yent ly) (v.) (FORMAL)

Answer 16

(formal) making people calm and avoiding argument:
ex: an emollient mood/tone
ex: “I think you’ll find them practical, sir, “ Stokes said emolliently.

Question 17

irruption (eer rup shun) (n.)

Answer 17

sudden, violent, or forcible entry : a rushing or bursting in
ex: A tribe of black-faced, silver-furred monkeys had fled the irruption of men into the rocky gorge

Question 18

sidle (sigh dul) (v.)

Answer 18

walk in a furtive, unobtrusive, or timid manner, especially sideways or obliquely.
ex: I sidled up to her.

Question 19

halyard (hal yurd) (n.)

Answer 19

a rope or tackle for hoisting and lowering something (such as sails)
ex: The redcoat on the wall slashed at the flag’s halyard.

Question 20

sinistral (sin nis trul) (adj.)

Answer 20

of or on the left side or the left hand. // left-handed.
ex: The ancient script was inscribed in sinistral characters, flowing from right to left unlike the modern script’s left-to-right orientation.

Question 21

millinery (mill eh nair ee) (n.)

Answer 21

• women’s apparel for the head
• the business or work of a milliner
  ex: Rachel Bell, co-owner of a Louisville millinery shop in St. Matthews, says savvy customers begin working with a milliner at least four to six weeks before Kentucky Derby weekend.

Question 22

hank (hay nk) (n.)

Answer 22

COIL, LOOP
specifically : a coiled or looped bundle (as of yarn) usually containing a definite yardage
ex: the hank of ponytail swinging cheerful as a jump rope

Question 23

rectitude (rec tteh tude) (n.)

Answer 23

morally correct behavior or thinking; righteousness. ex: Maddie is a model of rectitude.

Question 24

mulish (mu lish) (adj.)

Answer 24

resembling or likened to a mule in being stubborn. ex: Belinda's face took on a mulish expression.

Question 25

etiology (ede ol ogy) (n.)

Answer 25

the cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition. ex: A group of distinct diseases with different etiologies. ex: In social terms, regardless of its etiology, memory loss may be a way of coping with harsh reality.

Question 26

gone to seed (phrase) (adj.)

Answer 26

as in dilapidated // showing signs of advanced wear and tear, neglect ex: That old, rusted car has gone to seed. ex: He was flexing and unflexing arm muscles that had not yet gone to seed.

Question 27

wend (wind) (v.)

Answer 27

go in a specified direction, typically slowly or by an indirect route. ex: They wended their way across the city. (NOTE: All examples I found used wend one’s way)

Question 28

incise (in size) (v.)

Answer 28

If an object is incised with a design, the design is carefully cut into the surface of the object with a sharp instrument. ex: After the surface is polished, a design is incised or painted.

Question 29

guy rope (gi rope) (n.)

Answer 29

a rope or line fixed to the ground to secure a tent or other structure. ex: The elasticity of our skin, an expert once told me, can be likened to guy ropes holding down the canvas of a tent.

Question 30

bivouac (ked) (biv o wack) (v.)

Answer 30

a temporary encampment with few facilities, as used by soldiers, mountaineers, etc. // stay in a temporary camp without cover. ex: He'd bivouacked on the north side of the town.

Question 31

scullion (skull yen) (n.)

Answer 31

a kitchen helper // a mean or despicable person // archaic a servant employed to do rough household work in a kitchen ex: She finds a place as a scullion at a castle and works in the kitchens.

Question 32

moppet (mop pet) (n.)

Answer 32

Informal -- a little child // small endearingly sweet child ex: Amelia looked down and discovered a moppet with curly brown hair

Question 33

chaw (ch awe) (n./v.)

Answer 33

chewing tobacco // to chew (tobacco), esp without swallowing it ex: Now just about anyone can don stetsons and chaw tobacco.

Question 34

Banquette (bain ket) (n.)

Answer 34

* A long, low, cushioned seat. Banquettes are usually long enough for more than one person to sit on at a time. *a small footpath or elevated step along the inside of a rampart or parapet of a fortification ex: Graham sat down on a banquette, a puzzled look on his face.

Question 35

cachet (ca chey) (n.)

Answer 35

the state of being respected or admired; prestige. ex: No other shipping company had quite the cachet of Cunard.

Question 36

conciliate/conciliation (con cill ee ate/ con cill ee aye shun) (v./n.)

Answer 36

the action of stopping someone from being angry; placation. ex: He held his hands up in a gesture of conciliation.

Question 37

Oubliette (oo blee et) (n.)

Answer 37

A secret dungeon, often hidden behind a trapdoor

Question 38

Applique (ap pla kay) (v.)

Answer 38

a cutout decoration fastened to a larger piece of material ex: They are all wearing matching appliqueéd T-shirts, all bells and ribbons.

Question 39

woodwork (wood work) (n.)

Answer 39

a place or state of concealment, seclusion, or anonymity ex: Witnesses came out of the woodwork when a reward was offered.

Question 40

patrician (pa treh shun) (n.)

Answer 40

a person of high social rank // aristocrat, nobleman ex: He acknowledged the presence of a fellow patrician with a nod.

Question 41

motley (mot lee) (n.) (adj.)

Answer 41

* jester, fool // the clothes a fool wears * made up of many different people or things ex: With a total team of 25 today, Schaper is trying to juggle a motley of distribution channels.

Question 42

newel (new uhl post) (n.)

Answer 42

* an upright post about which the steps of a circular staircase wind * a post at the foot of a straight stairway or one at a landing ex: The phrase balustrade (bal a strayed) can also include the newel posts as well.

Question 43

spindrift (spin drift) (n.)

Answer 43

Spindrift (more rarely spoondrift) is the spray blown from cresting waves during a gale. // sea spray ex: Smoke wafts overhead like spindrifts.

Question 44

apotheosis (a pah the o sis) (n.)

Answer 44

the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax. ex: His appearance as Hamlet was the apotheosis of his career.

Question 45

calliope (ka lie a pee) (n.)

Answer 45

* an American and Canadian musical instrument that produces sound by sending a gas, originally steam or, more recently, compressed air, through large whistles—originally locomotive whistles. ex: Calliope music played.

Question 46

vexillology (vex ill ol o gee) (n.)

Answer 46

the study and collection of information about flags ex: Vexing vexillology: Even the Vatican gets its flag wrong

Question 47

in vino veritas (in vee no ver eh tas)

Answer 47

in wine there is truth; people speak the truth when they are drunk ex: In vino veritas, Frances, I love you.

Question 48

singsong (seng song) (n. / adj.)

Answer 48

an accent, meter, or intonation that is characterized by an alternately rising and falling rhythm, as in a person's voice, piece of verse ex: She'd had a singsong intonation as if she was doing her times tables.

Question 49

hoi poloi (hoy pa loy) (n.)

Answer 49

(Greek) the masses/commoners [Some say because hoi means the in Greek, saying the hoi poloi is redundant and wrong, others say it's right] ex: Inflated costs are designed to keep the hoi polloi at bay.

Question 50

plummy (plum ee) (adj.)

Answer 50

If you say that someone has a plummy voice or accent, you mean that they sound very upper-class. You usually use plummy to criticize the way someone speaks. ex: She spoke with a plummy accent.

Question 51

demur (de murr) (v.)

Answer 51

If you demur, you say that you do not agree with something or will not do something that you have been asked to do. ex: Hunt asked me to take over the operation. At first I demurred.

Question 52

la petite mort (la pa teet more) (phrase)

Answer 52

the brief loss or weakening of consciousness" and in modern usage refers to "the sensation of post orgasm as likened to death" ex: it’s a small death, and not of the petite mort variety.

Question 53

lickspittle (lick spit uhl) (n.)

Answer 53

a flattering or servile person ex: Finally, we come to my coveted 'lickspittle of the year' award.

Question 54

Möbius strip (mo bee us strip) (n.)

Answer 54

a one-sided surface that is constructed from a rectangle by holding one end fixed, rotating the opposite end through 180 degrees, and joining it to the first end ex: We’re a sick, fucking toxic Möbius strip, Amy.

Question 55

passé (pass say) (adj.)

Answer 55

no longer fashionable; out of date. ex: Miniskirts are passé—the best skirts are knee-length.

Question 56

uxorious (ox or ee us) (adj.)

Answer 56

excessively attached to or dependent on one's wife ex: Even though they weren't married, he was positively uxorious about her.

Question 57

maritorious (mair a tor ee us) (adj.)

Answer 57

excessively attached to or dependent on one's husband ex: Even though they weren't married, she was positively maritorious about him.

Question 58

abattoir (ab a twa rrr) (n.)

Answer 58

slaughterhouse [British] ex: “An abattoir’s caught fire,” Ganoes said. “Pigs.”

Question 59

cadre (cad drey) (n.)

Answer 59

A cadre is a small group of people who have been specially chosen, trained, and organized for a particular purpose. ex: an elite cadre of international managers

Question 60

strand (stran d) (n.) (v.)

Answer 60

* land at the edge of a body of water; shore, esp. ocean shore ex: I seen you afore on the road, and down on the strand. * to run or drive aground ex: a ship stranded by the storm

Question 61

barque/bark (bar k) (n.)

Answer 61

A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts and mainmasts rigged square and only the mizzen (the aftmost mast) rigged fore and aft.

Question 62

low (low) (n.) (v.)

Answer 62

the deep sound of a cow // to make that sound ex: The oxen lowed and stamped their blood-soaked hoofs.

Question 63

moo vs low

Answer 63

Mooing is a shorter, higher-pitched sound that is often used by cows to communicate with each other. Lowing is a deeper, more resonant sound that is often used by oxen and bulls to express distress or aggression.

Question 64

hard-bitten (hard bit ten) (adj.)

Answer 64

seasoned or steeled by difficult experience : TOUGH ex: That hard-bitten commander would have spat at Paran’s feet.

Question 65

hauteur (haw turr) (n.)

Answer 65

You can use hauteur to describe behavior which you think is proud and arrogant. [formal, disapproval] ex: Once, she had been put off by his hauteur.

Question 66

fey (f aye) (adj.)

Answer 66

chiefly Scotland : fated to die : DOOMED // marked by a foreboding of death or calamity // mysterious and strange ex: The kingdom was tragic and fey. If you describe someone as fey, you mean that they behave in a shy, childish, or unpredictable way, and you are often suggesting that this is unnatural or insincere. ex: Her fey charm and eccentric ways were legendary.

Question 67

spume (sp yume) (n.) (v.)

Answer 67

frothy matter on liquids : FOAM, SCUM ex: The ocean spume was white and thick. ex: The waves spumed against the rocks, sending a spray of white foam into the air.

Question 68

virulent (veer a lent) (adj.)

Answer 68

marked by a rapid, severe, and destructive course // extremely poisonous // malignant ex: Virulent power washed over Tattersail.

Question 69

denude (de nude) (v.)

Answer 69

To denude an area means to destroy the plants in it. ex: Mining would pollute the lake and denude the forest. To denude someone or something of a particular thing means to take it away from them. ex: The Embassy is now denuded of all foreign and local staff.

Question 70

febrile (fee bri uhl) (adj.)

Answer 70

Febrile behavior is intensely and nervously active ex: The news plunged the nation into a febrile, agitated state. marked or caused by fever : FEVERISH ex: a febrile reaction caused by an allergy

Question 71

pomp (pom p) (n.)

Answer 71

Pomp is the use of a lot of ceremony, fine clothes, and decorations, especially on a special occasion. ex: The pomp and splendor of the English aristocracy

Question 72

mellifluous (ma liff loo us) (adj.)

Answer 72

A mellifluous voice or piece of music is smooth and gentle and very pleasant to listen to. ex: I grew up around people who had wonderful, mellifluous voices.

Question 73

exegesis (ex a gee sis) (n.) exegeses (plural) (ex a gee seas)

Answer 73

An exegesis is an explanation and interpretation of a piece of writing, especially a religious piece of writing, after very careful study. ex: It was a substantial exegesis of his work.

Question 74

baldric (ball drick) (n.)

Answer 74

an often ornamented belt worn over one shoulder to support a sword or bugle ex: The blood stained the front of his baldric.

Question 75

viscid (vis cid) (adj.)

Answer 75

cohesive and sticky; glutinous; viscous // (esp of a leaf) covered with a sticky substance ex: The image sank once again into its viscid pool.

Question 76

quirk (qwerk) (v.)

Answer 76

curve, twist // to twist your mouth or eyebrows suddenly ex: He quirked a smile.

Question 77

quarry (qwar ee) (n.)

Answer 77

A person's or animal's quarry is the person or animal that they are hunting. ex: The drones circling above were looking for technical traces that could pinpoint their quarry.

Question 78

cantrip (can trip) (n.)

Answer 78

A Cantrip is a magical spell of any kind, or one which reads the same forwards and backwards. It can also be a witch's trick, or a sham. ex: He muttered a simple cantrip.

Question 79

spoor (s poor) (n.) (v.)

Answer 79

a track, a trail, a scent, or droppings especially of a wild animal // a trace by which progress of someone or something may be followed // to track by spoor (v.) ex: The previous method used spoor (paw prints, also called pugmarks, and scat), which often led to the same animal being counted multiple times.

Question 80

scapula (scap u la) (n.) scapulae (p.) (scap u lee)

Answer 80

the flat, triangular bone located in the upper back, commonly known as the shoulder blade ex: The teres muscle connects the scapula to the upper arm.

Question 81

barbican (bar ba kin) (n.)

Answer 81

an outer defensive work // especially : a tower at a gate or bridge ex: Barbicans prevent attackers from gaining easy access to the gate.

Question 82

panoply (pan o plee) (n.)

Answer 82

a magnificent array ex: The film features a vast panoply of special effects.

Question 83

provenance (prov e nance) (n.)

Answer 83

ORIGIN, SOURCE ex: The Golden Swan has a bohemian provenance.

Question 84

piste (pee st) (n.)

Answer 84

a rectangular area for fencing bouts ex: Murillio had no desire to meet this woman on the dueling piste.

Question 85

convolutions (con vo loo shuns) (n.)

Answer 85

a form or shape that is folded in curved or tortuous windings // a complication or intricacy of form, design, or structure ex: the convolutions of the intestines societies in which the convolutions of power and the caprices of the powerful are ever-present dangers to survival.

Question 86

rude (roo d) (adj.)

Answer 86

natural, raw // primitive, underdeveloped // ignorant, inexperienced ex: rude workmanship, rude wooden plows, rude cotton

Question 87

camail (ka mail) (n.)

Answer 87

a neck and shoulders covering of mail worn with and laced to the basinet ex: The camail felt heavy on his shoulders.

Question 88

beatific (be tif ic) (adj.)

Answer 88

having beatitude (be add a tude) (formal) showing complete happiness having a blissful appearance ex: a beatific smile

Question 89

pan (pan) (n.)

Answer 89

a broad, relatively flat depression in the Earth's surface ex: The Atacama Desert is home to a variety of pans.

Question 90

carouse (ka rouse) (v.)

Answer 90

behaving very noisily and drinking a lot of alcohol as they enjoy themselves ex: The singing and carousing did not end until after midnight.

Question 91

succor (suck er) (n.) (v.)

Answer 91

assistance and support in times of hardship and distress. (n.) ex: The wounded had little chance of succor. give assistance or aid to (v.) ex: Prisoners of war were liberated and succored.

Question 92

snarl (snar uhl) (v.)

Answer 92

to become entangled ex: It ended up snarled in his hair.

Question 93

perforce (pur for ce) (adv.)

Answer 93

* used to express necessity or inevitability. ex: amateurs, perforce, have to settle for less expensive solutions.

Question 94

circumspect (sir cum spect) (adj.)

Answer 94

the quality of being wary and unwilling to take risks; prudence. ex: They are circumspect in their business dealings. ex: "Thank you for understanding Kruppe’s need for circumspection.”

Question 94

hearken (har ken) (v.)

Answer 94

to listen // to give respectful attention ex: The humble folk who hearkened to these evangelists.

Question 95

Avail (a veil) (v.) (n.)

Answer 95

to make use of, to take advantage of // to produce in as a benefit, GAIN (Avail seems to be used as a mixture of help+gain) ex: They availed themselves of his services. // Our best efforts did not avail.

Question 96

surcease (sir sees) (v.) (n.)

Answer 96

to desist from (some action) // to cease or cause to cease ex: Every person in it felt the need of surcease, quiet, privacy.

Question 97

pugmark (pug mark) (n.)

Answer 97

a footprint of an animal ex: I follow some chubby pugmarks: badger tracks.