Word Smart 5

Question 1

Aspersion (uh SPER zhun)

Answer 1

n. an act of defamation or maligning

Question 2

Defame

Answer 2

v. damage the good reputation of (someone); slander or libel

Question 3

Malign

Answer 3

adj. evil in nature or effect; malevolent

v. speak about (someone) in a spitefully critical manner

Question 4

Assiduous (uh SID yoo us)

Answer 4

adj. diligent, hard-working

Question 5

Diligent

Answer 5

adj. having or showing care and conscientiousness in one’s work or duties

Question 6

Conscientious

Answer 6

adj. (of a person) wishing to do what is right, esp. to do one’s work or duty well and thoroughly
adj. relating to a person’s conscience

Question 7

Assuage (uh SWAYJ)

Answer 7

v. to ease or lessen; to appease or pacify

Assuage is used to describe the lessening or easing of things that cause pain or distress

Question 8

Astringent (uh STRIN junt)

Answer 8

adj. having a tightening effect on living tissue; harsh; severe

Question 9

Attenuate (uh TEN yoo ayt)

Answer 9

v. to rarefy, weaken or make thinner, lessen

Question 10

Audacious (aw DAY shus)

Answer 10

adj. daring and fearless; recklessly bold

Question 11

Audacity

Answer 11

the quality of being audacious

Question 12

bold

Answer 12

adj. (of a person, action, or idea) showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous

Question 13

Augury (aw GYUH ree)

Answer 13

n. omen, portent, the reading of omens

Question 14

Augur

Answer 14

v. to predict

n. the person or thing doing the foretelling

Question 15

August (aw GUST)

Answer 15

adj. majestic, venerable

Question 16

venerable

Answer 16

adj. accorded a great deal of respect, esp. because of age, wisdom, or character

Question 17

Auspice (AW spis)

Answer 17

n. protection or support, patronage

Question 18

Auspice

Answer 18

sign or portent

Question 19

Portent

Answer 19

n. a sign or warning that something, esp. something momentous or calamitous is likely to happen
n. future significance

Question 20

spiteful

Answer 20

adj. showing or caused by malice

Question 21

malice

Answer 21

n. the intention or desire to do evil; ill will

Question 22

calamitous

Answer 22

adj. involving calamity; catastrophic; disastrous

e. g. such calamitous events as fires, hurricanes, and floods.

Question 23

momentous

Answer 23

adj. (of a decision, event, or change) of great importance or significance, esp. in its bearing on the future