Wordly Wise Lesson 1

Question 0

Brusque

Answer 0

adj.

Abrupt in manner or speech; gruff

The lawyer’s brusque questioning intimidated the witness.

Question 1

Avid

Answer 1

adj.

1. Having a strong desire for, to the point of greed.
   Avid for the attention of their new babysitter, the children shouted and tumbled on the floor.
2. Eager;Enthusiastic
   Marcia is an avid skier, she is on the slopes every weekend

Question 2

Brusqueness

Answer 2

noun.

The quality or state of being brusque

With a brusqueness unlike her, Melanie ended the call.

Question 3

Concise

Answer 3

adj.

Short and to point

“Speed Kills” is a concise way of warning drivers of the danger going too fast.

Question 4

Demean

Answer 4

verb.

To cause a lowering of self-esteem; to lower in reputation or character.

Don’t demean yourself by denying what everyone knows to be true.

Question 5

Demeaning

Answer 5

adj.

Degrading

June felt that being scolded in front of her friends was demeaning.

Question 6

Despicable

Answer 6

adj.

Deserving contempt or scorn

Stealing from the class treasury was a despicable thing to do.

Question 7

Emulate

Answer 7

verb.

To try to equal; to imitate

Musicians around the world have tried to emulate Louis Armstrong’s soulful trumpet playing.

Question 8

Evoke

Evoked

Answer 8

verb.

To call forth; to produce

After the oil spill, the governor’s appeal for clean-up volunteers evoked a huge response from people in the state.

2. To bring to mind, often by suggestion

The tinkling notes from the music box evoked for me the carefree joys of childhood.

Question 9

Evocative

Answer 9

adj.

Creating something again, especially through imagination.

The costumes and the music of the film were evocative of Paris in the 1920s.

Question 10

Excrurciating

Answer 10

adj.

Very Painful

The ointment soothed the excruciating burn on Luke’s arm.

Question 11

Inaugurate

inaugurated

Answer 11

verb.

1. To install in office with a formal ceremony

Presidents of the United States are inaugurated in January following the November election.

2. TO begin officially or mark the opening of.

On Tuesday, Mayor Ovals inaugurated s free vaccination program for all children under five living in the city.

Question 12

Inauguration

Answer 12

noun. The act of installing in office

Governor Bushwell was at her desk within hours of her inauguration.

Question 13

Pervade

Answer 13

verb.

To spread throughout

Laughter pervades whenever Aunt Sally visits us.

Question 14

Pervasive

Answer 14

adj.

Spreading throughout.

We could tell from the pervasive odor of the disinfectant that the cleaning crew had had already mopped the floor.

Question 15

Proprietor

Answer 15

noun.

An owner of a store or other business

The proprietors of the downtown shops planned a sidewalk sale for the first weekend in June.

Question 16

Pseudonym

Answer 16

noun.

A fictitious name used by an author; a pen name

Female British authors in the nineteenth century often had to use a male pseudonym in order to get their books published.

Question 17

Rebuff

Rebuffed

Answer 17

verb.

To reject bluntly.

The owners rebuffed all attempts to take over their successful computer company.

2. To drive back

Although the men in the Alamo were determined to rebuff Santa Ana’s forces, in the end they were defeated.

Question 18

Rebuff

noun

Answer 18

noun.

1. A blunt rejection

Caroline’s offer to Thomas to patch up their quarrel met with a rebuff.

2. An abrupt setback in progress

After the storm delayed their start, the climbers experienced another rebuff when a slide shut down one of the trails.

Question 19

Resilient

Answer 19

adj.

1. Capable of recovering quickly from misfortune

After slipping to third place, the Red Sox were resilient enough to regain first place.

2. Returning quickly to an original shape or condition

A wool sweater is more resilient after washing a cotton one.

Question 20

Resilience

Answer 20

noun.

1. The ability to recover

Steven’s body showed great resilience after his surgery.

2. The ability to spring back

Tennis balls lose the resilience after three or four sets of vigorous play.

Question 21

Turbulent

Answer 21

adj.

1. Chaotic; unruly

My brother and I tried our best to stay calm during the turbulent period of our parents’ divorce.

2. Stormy; tempestuous

Such a turbulent sea prevented all boats from leaving the harbor.

Question 22

Turbulence

Answer 22

noun.

1. Great disturbance or agitation

The turbulence of the 1960s included peace marches, civil rights protests, and assassinations.

2. Rapid changes in wind speed and direction in atmosphere.

The “Fasten Your Seatbelts” sign on when the plane encountered turbulence.