Week 12

Question 1

Diatribe

Answer 1

Bitter criticism

When a large expenditure is imminent*, my father goes into a long diatribe on the need for economy.

Question 2

Inhibition

Answer 2

Restraint

After two drinks the usually phlegmatic* dentist lost all his inhibition.

Question 3

Fortuitous

Answer 3

Accidental

The meeting was a fortuitous one, but the jealous husband construed* it as pre-arranged and clandestine*.

Question 4

Incoherent

Answer 4

Disjointed

Since the patient’s speech was garbled* and incoherent, we could only conjecture* as to his message.

Question 5

Ilk

Answer 5

Kind, sort

It is often fruitless* to argue with racists, bigots*, and others of that ilk.

Question 6

Prestigious

Answer 6

Illustrious, well-known

A salient* feature of the prestigious company’s success was its fair treatment of employees.

Question 7

Placard

Answer 7

Poster

The police posted a placard asking all citizens to desist* from looting.

Question 8

Integral

Answer 8

Essential

She seemed to be an unimportant member of the president’s entourage* but actually she played an integral role in White House affairs.

Question 9

Remuneration

Answer 9

Reward, pay

Derek Jeter’s remuneration from the New York Yankees made him a millionaire many times over.

Question 10

Nominal

Answer 10

Slight

For allowing his ferocious mastiff* to appear on a commercial, the trainer was paid a nominal sum.

Question 11

Expunge

Answer 11

Erase

After having made the rash* statements, the senator wished that he could expunge them from the record.

Question 12

Flamboyant

Answer 12

Showy, colorful

Our theatrical pages were inundated* with press releases from the flamboyant producer.

Question 13

Anathema

Answer 13

Something greatly detested

The traitor’s name was anathema in his father’s domicile*.

Question 14

Schism

Answer 14

Split

A pernicious* schism developed between the two sisters.

Question 15

Utopia

Answer 15

Place of perfection

In Lost Horizon a character recoiled* at the idea of living in a utopia.

Question 16

Timorous

Answer 16

Fearful

Under duress* the normally timorous husband was coerced* into demanding a raise.

Question 17

Truncated

Answer 17

Cut short

It is frustrating* to have one’s lengthy remarks printed in truncated form.

Question 18

Jaunty

Answer 18

Sprightly, gay

With his cap set at a jaunty angle, the amicable* sailor strutted down the street.

Question 19

Fractious

Answer 19

Quarrelsome

Roger’s fractious behavior compounded* the bad relationship he had already had with his partner.

Question 20

Ostentatious

Answer 20

Showy

In an ostentatious display of histrionics* the star refused to perform.