Word List 3

Question 1

Anathema (n)

Answer 1

solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse
The Ayatollah Khomeini heaped anathema upon “the Great Satan” that is the United States. To the Ayatollah, America and the West were anathema; he loathed the democratic nations, cursing them in his dying words (anathematise v)

Question 2

Ancestry (n)

Answer 2

family descent
David can trace his ancestry as far back as the seventeenth century, when one of his ancestors was a court trumpeter somewhere in Germany (ancestral adj)

Question 3

Ancillary (adj)

Answer 3

serving as an air or accessory; auxiliary
In an ancillary capacity Doctor Watson was helpful; however, Holmes could not trust the good doctor to solve a perplexing case on is own

Question 4

Anecdote (n)

Answer 4

short account of an amusing or interesting event
Rather than make concrete proposals for welfare reform, President Reagan told anecdotes about poor people who became wealthy despite their impoverished backgrounds

Question 5

Animus

Answer 5

hostile feeling or intent

The animus of the speaker became obvious to all when he began to indulge in sarcastic and insulting remarks

Question 6

Anonymity (n)

Answer 6

state of being nameless; anonymous

Question 7

Antecede (v)

Answer 7

precede

The invention of the radiotelegraph ante-ceded the development of television by a quarter of century

Question 8

Antecedents (n)

Answer 8

preceding events or circumstances that influences what comes later, ancestors or early background

Question 9

Antipathy (n)

Answer 9

aversion; dislike

Tom’s extreme antipathy for disputes keeps him from getting into arguments with his temperamental wife

Question 10

Antiquated (adj)

Answer 10

obsolete; outdated

Accustomed to editing his papers on word processors, Philip though typewrites were too antiquated for him to use

Question 11

Apathy (n)

Answer 11

lack of caring; indifference

Question 12

Apex (n)

Answer 12

tip; summit; climax

At the apex of my career i can easily kiss Hilary Clinton

Question 13

Aplomb (n)

Answer 13

poise; assurance

Gwen’s aplomb in handling potential embarrassing moments was legendary around the office

Question 14

Apocryphal (adj)

Answer 14

spurious; not authentic; invented rather than true
Although many versions exist of the famous story of Emerson’s visit to Thoreau in jail, in his writings Thoreau never mentions any such visits by Emerson, and so the tale is most likely apocryphal

Question 15

Apolitical (adj)

Answer 15

having an aversion or lack of concern for political affairs

Question 16

Apostate (n)

Answer 16

one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs

Question 17

Appall (v)

Answer 17

dismay; shock

Question 18

Appease (v)

Answer 18

pacify or soother; relieve

Question 19

Apposite (adj)

Answer 19

appropriate; fitting

Question 20

Apprise (v)

Answer 20

inform

When Nasa was apprised of the dangerous weather conditions

Question 21

Approbation (n)

Answer 21

approval

Wanting her parents’ regard, she looked for some sign of their approbation

Question 22

Apropos (adj)

Answer 22

tot the point and timely
When Bob spoke out against drunk driving; some of our crowd called him a spoilsport, but the rest of us found his comments extremely apropos

Question 23

Apropos (prep)

Answer 23

with reference to; regarding

Apropos the waltz, the dance has its faults

Question 24

Arable (adj)

Answer 24

fit for grown crops

The new immigrants were praising this land’s vast acres of arable land ready for the plow

Question 25

Arcane (adj)

Answer 25

secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated

The brotherhood surround themselves with arcane rituals

Question 26

Ardor (n)

Answer 26

heat; passion; zeal
Katya’s ardor was contagious; soon all her fellow demonstrators were busily making posters and handouts, inspired by her ardent enthusiasm for the cause (ardent adj)

Question 27

Arduos (adj)

Answer 27

hard; strenuous

Her arduous efforts had sapped her energy