Word of the Day 10/24

Question 1

abridge

Answer 1

(v) to shorten, edit

Question 2

catalyst

Answer 2

(n) a person or thing that precipitates an event

Question 3

defunct

Answer 3

(adj.) no longer existing or functioning

Question 4

cogent

Answer 4

(adj.) clear, logical, convincing

Question 5

succor

Answer 5

(v) to give assistance or aid to

Question 6

myriad

Answer 6

(adj.) countless or extremely great in number

Question 7

recalcitrant

Answer 7

(adj.) having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline

Question 8

parsimonious

Answer 8

(adj.) unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy or frugal

Question 9

indolent

Answer 9

(adj.) wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy

Question 10

ameliorate

Answer 10

(v) to make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better

Question 11

exacerbate

Answer 11

(v) to make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse

Question 12

paraphernalia

Answer 12

(n) miscellaneous articles, especially the equipment needed for a particular activitye

Question 13

couth

Answer 13

(adj.) well mannered

Question 14

intransigent

Answer 14

(adj.) unwilling or refusing to change one’s views or to agree about something; stubborn

Question 15

prodigious

Answer 15

(adj.) remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree

Question 16

jargon

Answer 16

(n) special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand

Question 17

nepotism

Answer 17

(n) the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends

Question 18

insouciant

Answer 18

(adj) showing a casual lack of concern; indifferent

Question 19

surreptitious

Answer 19

(adj) kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of

Question 20

imbue

Answer 20

(v) inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality

Question 21

fallacy

Answer 21

(n) a mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound argument

Question 22

complacency

Answer 22

(n) a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievments

Question 23

chagrin

Answer 23

(n) distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated

Question 24

bildungsroman

Answer 24

(n) a novel dealing with one person’s formative years or spiritual education

Question 25

spurious

Answer 25

(adj) not being what it purports to be; false or fake

Question 26

jovial

Answer 26

(adj) cheerful and friendly

Question 27

innocuous

Answer 27

(adj) not harmful or offensive

Question 28

compunction

Answer 28

(n) a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that follows the doing of something bad

Question 29

vitriolic

Answer 29

(adj) filled with bitter criticism or malice

Question 30

ponder

Answer 30

(n) think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion

Question 31

onus

Answer 31

(n) used to refer to something that is one's duty or responsibility

Question 32

docile

Answer 32

(adj) ready to accept control or instruction; submissive

Question 33

paucity

Answer 33

(n) the presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities or amounts; scarcity

Question 34

pariah

Answer 34

(n) an outcast

Question 35

ostracize

Answer 35

(v) exclude (someone) from a society or group

Question 36

foist

Answer 36

(v) impose an unwelcome or unnecessary person or thing on