Words of the Day (Midterm 2)

Question 1

somnolent

Answer 1

sleepy or sleep-inducing

Question 2

edify

Answer 2

to educate or enlighten, to improve the knowledge or morals of someone

Question 3

obsequious

Answer 3

excessively eager to please or obey all instructions

Question 4

sycophant

Answer 4

fawning flatterer, someone who obsequiously flatters a powerful person for personal gain

Question 5

portent

Answer 5

indicate or signify the arrival or something, usu in the context of an omen or something unpleasant

Question 6

bloviator

Answer 6

someone who speaks excessively, pompously, and usu loudly
- also someone who forcefully expresses opinions on topics for which they are uninformed pretend to be an expert

Question 7

inimical

Answer 7

unfavourable for something
- showing hostility toward something

Question 8

vapid

Answer 8

unstimulating and unchallenging
- lacking strength, taste, or flavour

Question 9

plutocracy

Answer 9

a society ruled by the rich and wealthy

Question 10

nepotism

Answer 10

favouritism shown by a person in power to their relatives and friends

Question 11

nadir

Answer 11

lowest point possible

Question 12

dilettante

Answer 12

someone who dabbles in knowledge: someone who is interested in an art or a specialized area of knowledge, but only has a very superficial understanding of it

Question 13

gobsmacked

Answer 13

shocked, stunned, utterly astonished

Question 14

resplendent

Answer 14

dazzling and very impressive in appearance

Question 15

fulgent

Answer 15

having an intense shine or gleam

Question 16

trite

Answer 16

boring, uninteresting and lacking originality as a result of overuse, ex. a tired a cliche

Question 17

opprobrium

Answer 17

contempt, disgrace, and disgust directed at someone because of bad behaviour; very harsh criticism directed at someone

Question 18

obloquy

Answer 18

very strong public criticism or verbal abuse aimed at a person; public contempt, disgrace, and vilification toward someone

Question 19

risible

Answer 19

ridiculous and ludicrous causing or capable of causing much laughter, laughable

Question 20

forlorn

Answer 20

miserable and lonely, isolated, desolate and abandoned

Question 21

dishevel

Answer 21

to mess something up, usu wrt someone’s hair or clothing

Question 22

ex post facto

Answer 22

applied retroactively: applying to events that have alr occurred

Question 23

cornucopia

Answer 23

abundance: a large abundance of something

Question 24

contretemps

Answer 24

a mishap: an unfortunate occurrence or event, which is usu embarrassing or uncomfortable

Question 25

incorrigible

Answer 25

impossible to change, correct, or reform

Question 26

blithe

Answer 26

happy, cheerful, carefree

Question 27

tendentious

Answer 27

trying to influence opinion: written or spoken to deliberately promote a particular cause or point of view

Question 28

bowdlerize

Answer 28

a form of censorship pertaining to literature: to remove parts of a literary work considered objectionable

Question 29

lewd

Answer 29

indecent: having a very strong interest in sex or sexual excitement

Question 30

lugubrious

Answer 30

very gloomy: having a very mournful, sad, gloomy, or pessimistic outlook

Question 31

pollyanna

Answer 31

eternal optimist: someone who is continuously and unrealistically optimistic

Question 32

denouement

Answer 32

final revelation or endgame: the ending in which everything is made clear, and no questions or surprises remain

Question 33

antediluvian

Answer 33

very old-fashioned or out of date

Question 34

anachronism

Answer 34

something out of time: a person, thing, idea, or custom that seems to belong to a different period in history

Question 35

retinue

Answer 35

followers: a group of advisors, assistants, or attendants that accompany an important person

Question 36

cogent

Answer 36

logical, rational, and persuasive: convincing because it is appealing to intellect and reason

Question 37

erstwhile

Answer 37

former: someone who was something in the past

Question 38

mea culpa

Answer 38

expression of guilt or fault: used to express an admission of your own guilt, e.g., an apology

Question 39

penult

Answer 39

second last

Question 40

nascent

Answer 40

just starting to develop: in the early stages of emerging or developing

Question 41

dearth

Answer 41

lack: a lack, shortage, or scarcity of something

Question 42

avarice

Answer 42

greed: a very strong & unreasonable desire to obtain money

Question 43

contrite

Answer 43

very sorry: genuinely and deeply remorseful and sorry about something

Question 44

concomitant

Answer 44

occurring or happening at the same time: happening or existing with something else

Question 45

unctuous

Answer 45

excessively ingratiating: attempting to charm or convince somebody in an unpleasantly smooth, smug, or condescending way

Question 46

assiduous

Answer 46

extremely careful, showing great care or thoroughness

Question 47

obdurate

Answer 47

1. stubborn: not easily persuaded or influenced
2. hard-hearted: not influenced by emotions especially not inclined to feel sympathy or pity

Question 48

temerity

Answer 48

boldness: reckless confidence that might be offensive

Question 49

moribund

Answer 49

dying or nearly dead; or stagnant, having lost vitality and purpose