Week #7

Question 1

Define

Implacable

(im plakˊə bəl)

Answer 1

Cannot be pacified, inexorable

The detective was implacable in his search for the
murder weapon.

Question 2

Define

Paroxysm

(parˊək rāˊsiz əm)

Answer 2

A fit, sudden outburst

In a paroxysm of rage, the tenant stormed out of the
landlord’s office.

Question 3

Define

Reprehensible

(repˊri henˊ sə bəl)

Answer 3

Worthy of blame

The brash student was forced to apologize for his
reprehensible behavior.

Question 4

Define

Jurisdiction

(jürˊis dikˊshən)

Answer 4

Power, range of authority

Saying that it was beyond his jurisdiction, Judge Klein
refused to rule on the case.

Question 5

Define

Skirmish

(skerˊmish)

Answer 5

Small fight, brief encounter

The precocious boy enjoyed an intellectual skirmish
with his elders.

Question 6

Define

Cause Célèbre

Answer 6

A famous law case or controversy

It was a minor dispute, but the ambitious lawyer
sought to turn it into a cause célèbre.

Question 7

Define

Harass

(harˊəs or hə rəsˊ)

Answer 7

To trouble, torment

If anonymous telpnone callers harass you, the phone
company will give you an unlisted number.

Question 8

Define

Monolithic

(monˊə lithˊik)

Answer 8

Massively solid

George Orwell’s 1984 depicts a frightening monolithic
government.

Question 9

Define

Indigent

(inˊdə jənt)

Answer 9

Poor, needy

The indigent client was surprised when she was
accosted by her social worker in the elegant
restaurant.

Question 10

Define

Arbitrary

(ärˊbə trerˊi)

Answer 10

Based on a whim, dictatorial

To my mind the decision was unreasonable and
arbitrary.

Question 11

Define

Fray

(frā)

Answer 11

A fight

After the fray, the feuding families agreed to patch up their differences.

Question 12

Define

One Swallow Does Not Make A Summer

Answer 12

Don’t jump to conclusions based on
incomplete evidence

”Sure, the Yankees won their opening game, but one swallow does not make a summer.”

Question 13

Define

Stymie

(stīˊme)

Answer 13

To hinder, impede

”cause of cancer continues to stymie doctors”

Question 14

Define

Effigy

(efˊə ji)

Answer 14

A likeness (usually of a hated person)

”coach of losing team hanged in effigy”

Question 15

Define

Flout

(flout)

Answer 15

Scoff, show contempt

-”many motorists flout traffic laws, study reveals”

Question 16

Define

Cognizant

(kogˊnə zənt)

Answer 16

Aware

”F.B.I. cognizant of clandestine gangland meeting”

Question 17

Define

Turbulent

(tėrˊ bū lənt)

Answer 17

Unruly, agitated

”Turbulent atmosphere in angry sentate chamber”

Question 18

Define

A Bitter Pill To Swallow

Answer 18

A humiliating defeat

It is a bitter pill for the famous billiard player to be
overwhelmed by the 12-year-old girl.

Question 19

Define

Terminate

(tėrˊmə nāt)

Answer 19

To end

It seemed incongruous to terminate his employment
just when he was so successful.

Question 20

Define

Forthwith

(fôrthˊwithˊ)

Answer 20

Immediately

Upon seeing the show, he called the T.V. studio forthwith to protest.

Question 21

Define

Exacerbate

(eg zasˊər bāt)

Answer 21

Make worse, to irritate

The arrest of the spy did much to exacerbate
relations between the two conuntries.

Question 22

Define

Revert

(ri vėtˊ)

Answer 22

Return

After taking the drug, she began to revert to the days of her childhood.

Question 23

Define

Oust

(oust)

Answer 23

To drive out, eject

The ushers moved with alacrity to oust the disorderly
patrons.

Question 24

Define

An Ax To Grind

Answer 24

Having a selfish motive in the background

I am always dubious about the motives of a man who tells me that he has no ax to grind.