Week 2

Question 1

Abrogate

Answer 1

To abolish or repeal, usually by authority/evade (a responsibility or duty)

The new lawyer brought a proposal to abrogate temporarily the right to strike.

Question 2

Anathema

Answer 2

A cursed, detested person; something or someone that one vehemently dislikes/a formal curse used by a pope to excommunicate someone or a doctrine (now also used as a blessing)

Racial hatred was an anathema to her and her supporters.

Question 3

Belligerent

Answer 3

Hostile and aggressive (adj)/ a nation or person engaged in a war or conflict, as recognized by international law

My next door neighbor is a belligerent old man who used to threaten us with his cane every time we kicked a ball into his yard.

Question 4

Caustic

Answer 4

Cable of destroying by chemical action;Burning or stinging; causing corrosion/marked by incisive sarcasm (scathing)

The chemical was so caustic that it ate through marble lab table.
A caustic film review.

Question 5

Diatribe

Answer 5

A forceful and bitter verbal attack against something or someone

My ex-best friend used to find a different diatribe against the science club members every day.

Question 6

Ebullient

Answer 6

Enthusiastic; cheerful and full of energy/of liquid or matter boiling or awaited as if boiling

The flight attendants on Southwest Airlines are so ebullient it makes me want to smile and laugh with them like old friends

The ebullient sea was tossing the row boat about like a ping pong ball during a furious table tennis match.

Question 7

Feral

Answer 7

Savage; (especially of an animal) in a wild state; resembling a wild animal

As the king walked through the crowds, his fierce enemies sent him feral snarls filled with evil and hatred.

Question 8

Idiosyncratic

Answer 8

Peculiar to one person; highly individualized

It would idiosyncratic to see Mr. Green picking favorite students from his class.

Question 9

Latent

Answer 9

Hidden or concealed, present but not realized/(of a quality or state) existing but not yet developed out manifested

The high performance classes at our school help the students uncover their latent talents, whatever those may be.

Question 10

Prosaic

Answer 10

Dull, ordinary; having the style or diction of prose, lacking in poetic beauty; unromantic

My advanced placement English teacher does not accept prosaic writing in her class; we must learn to write with rhetoric and creativity.