Wow- Must know words

Question 1

beckmesser

Answer 1

Language of Origin: German
Definition: a critic or teacher of music characterized by timid and excessive reliance upon rules : pedant
The beckmesser watched our performance.
Etymology: German, after Sixtus Beckmesser, pedantic musical philistine in the opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1867) by Richard Wagner †1883 German composer

Question 2

bialys

Answer 2

Language of Origin: Yiddish
Definition: a flat roll that has a depressed center and is usually covered with onion flakes
My grandmother gave me some bialys.
Etymology: Yiddish, short for bialystoker, from bialystoker of Bialystok, from Bialystok, city in northeast Poland

Question 3

bombycine

Answer 3

Language of Origin: Latin, Greek
Definition: of or relating to silkworms
The bombycine silk was very soft.
Etymology: borrowed from Latin bombȳcinus “of silk,” pseudo-Greek derivative (with -inos 1-ine) of bombyc-, bombyx “silkworm, silk,” borrowed from Greek *bómbyx — more at bombyx

Question 4

Cassiopeian

Answer 4

Language of Origin: Greek, Latin, English
Definition: of or relating to the constellation Cassiopeia
The Cassiopeian mythology is very interesting.
Etymology: Cassiopeia, a northern constellation between Andromeda and Cepheus (from Latin Cassiopeia, Cassiepeia, from Greek Kassiopeia, Kassiepeia) + English -an

Question 5

cupressineous

Answer 5

Language of Origin: Latin, English
Definition: relating to or resembling the cypress or family Cupressaceae
The cupressineous tree resembled a cypress tree.
Etymology: New Latin Cupressineae, tribe including the cypress (from Cupressus + -ineae) + English -ous

Question 6

dentifrice

Answer 6

Language of Origin: French, Latin
Definition: a powder, paste, or liquid used in cleaning the teeth
The dentifrice tasted minty in my mouth.
Etymology: Middle French, from Latin dentifricium, from dent- + -fricium (from fricare to rub) — more at brine

Question 7

epopt

Answer 7

Language of Origin: Greek
Definition: one instructed in a secret system
The epopt watched everything go down secretly.
Etymology: Greek epoptēs, literally, overseer, watcher, from epopteuein to watch, supervise, be admitted to the highest grade of the Eleusinian mysteries, from epi- + opteuein to see

Question 8

esurient

Answer 8

Language of Origin: Latin
Definition: voracious, greedy
Cinderella’s esurient stepsisters took all of her things away from her.
Etymology: Latin esurient-, esuriens, present participle of esurire to be hungry, desiderative of edere to eat — more at eat

Question 9

Flamborough

Answer 9

Language of Origin: Geographical
Definition: an old English sword dance
We watched an old English show that included a sword fight named Flamborough.
Etymology: probably from Flamborough Head, promontory on east coast of Yorkshire, northern England

Question 10

jacqueminot

Answer 10

Language of Origin: French person name
Definition: raspberry red
The jacqueminot dress was my favorite.
Etymology: Jacqueminot or General Jacqueminot, a variety of red rose, after Viscount Jean François Jacqueminot †1865 French general

Question 11

lekvar

Answer 11

Language of Origin: Hungarian
Definition: a prune butter used as a pastry filling
The lekvar was disgusdting to me; I hate the taste of prunes!
Etymology: Hungarian lekvár

Question 12

luftmensch

Answer 12

Language of Origin: Yiddish, German, Dutch, English, Old Norse
Definition: an impractical contemplative person having no definite trade, business, or income : dreamer
I am the luftmensch in the family.
Etymology: Yiddish luftmentsh, from luft air (from Middle High German, from Old High German) + mentsh person, human being, from Middle High German mensch, mensche, from Old High German mennisco; akin to Old Frisian männska person, human being, Middle Dutch mensche, Old Saxon mennisco; all from a prehistoric West Germanic noun derived from the adjective represented by Old English mennisc human, Old Norse mennskr, Gothic mannisks; all from a prehistoric Germanic compound whose first constituent is represented by Old English man, mann man and whose second constituent is represented by Old English -isc -ish — more at loft, man

Question 13

mouchoir

Answer 13

Language of Origin: French, Latin
Definition: handkerchief
My mother handed me a mouchoir to clean my nose.
Etymology: French, from moucher to blow the nose, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin muccare, from Latin muccus, mucus mucus — more at mucus

Question 14

naumachia

Answer 14

Language of Origin: Latin, Greek
Definition: an ancient Roman spectacle representing a naval battle
While touring Rome, I saw a naumachia.
Etymology: Latin, from Greek, naval battle, from naus ship + -machia -machy — more at nave

Question 15

oeillade

Answer 15

Language of Origin: French, Latin
Definition: a glance of the eye; especially : ogle
The twins seemed to be the same at the first quick oeillade
Etymology: French, from Middle French, from oeil eye (from Latin oculus eye) + -ade — more at eye

Question 16

palaver

Answer 16

Language of Origin: Portuguese, Latin
Definition: profuse, idle, or worthless talk : chatter
The palaver between me and friend was simply a decoy to distract my little sister from her candy; once she came to us, we would steal it!
Etymology: Portuguese palavra word, speech, from Late Latin parabola speech, parable — more at parable

Question 17

peritus

Answer 17

Language of Origin: Latin
Definition: an expert (as in theology or canon law) who advises and assists the hierarchy (as in the drafting of schemata) at a Vatican council
We learned what the peritus did at a Vatican council during social studies.
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin peritus, adjective, skilled, experienced — more at perite

Question 18

phylacteries

Answer 18

Language of Origin: Latin, English, Greek
Definition: either of two small square leather boxes with leather straps attached that contain parchment slips inscribed in Hebrew with the four scriptural passages Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and 11:13–21 and Exodus 13:1–10 and 11–16 and that are worn fastened in a prescribed manner one on the left arm and one on the forehead by orthodox and conservative Jewish males during morning weekday prayers as reminders of their obligation to keep the Law
We learned about Jewish phylacteries in social studies.
Etymology: alteration (influenced by Late Latin phylacterium) of earlier philatery, from Middle English philaterie, from Medieval Latin philaterium, alteration of Late Latin phylacterium, from Greek phylaktērion phylactery, amulet, safeguard, from phylak-, phylax guard

Question 19

psittacosis

Answer 19

Language of Origin: Latin
Definition: an infectious disease of birds that is caused by a bacterium (Chlamydia psittaci synonym Chlamydophila psittaci), is marked by diarrhea and wasting, and is transmissible to humans in whom it is usually manifested as an atypical pneumonia accompanied by high fever
My parrot has psittacosis.
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin psittacus parrot + -osis

Answer 20

Language of Origin:
Definition:

Etymology:

Question 21

raita

Answer 21

Language of Origin: Urdu, Hindi, Sanskrit
Definition: an Indian side dish made of yogurt, usually diced cucumber, and seasonings
I had raita with my biryani.
Etymology: Hindi & Urdu rāytā, from (assumed) Sanskrit rājikātiktaka, from rājikā black mustard + tiktaka sharp, pungent, from tikta verbal adjective of tejate it is sharp — more at stick

Question 22

sciamachy

Answer 22

Language of Origin: Greek
Definition: a fighting with a shadow : a mock or futile combat (as with an imaginary foe)
I was mocked with a schiamachy by my sibling after losing a karate match.
Etymology: Greek skiamachia, from skia shadow + -machia -machy

Question 23

scilicet

Answer 23

Language of Origin: English, Latin
Definition: : to wit : namely, videlicet —used before a word that is to be supplied or understood (as in completing a text felt to be obscure)
Scilicet is the same as videlicet.
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, from scire to know + licet it is permitted, 3d person singular present indicative of licēre to be permitted — more at science, license

Question 24

skeuomorph

Answer 24

Language of Origin: Greek, English, Russian, Old Norse
Definition: an ornament or design representing a utensil or implement
The skeuomorph had a fork in it.
Etymology: Greek skeuos vessel, implement + English -morph; akin to Old English hēgan to perform, achieve, Old Norse heyja to perform, and probably to Russian kutit’ to carouse

Question 25

sophrosyne

Answer 25

Language of Origin: Greek Definition: self-control I told my mother that I have enough **sophrosyne** to not eat all the candy even though I didn't. Etymology: Greek sōphrosynē, from sōphrōn being of sound mind, prudent, reasonable (from saos, sōs whole, safe, sound + -phrōn; akin to Greek phrēn mind) + -sȳnē, suffix used to form abstract nouns — more at thumb, frenetic

Question 26

sufflaminate

Answer 26

Language of Origin: Latin, English Definition: obstruct, impede I was **sufflaminated** by the fact that I didn't have the materials to make the cake. Etymology: Latin sufflaminatus, past participle of sufflaminare to check, brake, from sufflamin-, sufflamen brake, from sub- + (assumed) Latin flagmen, flamen chock, prop; akin to Old English balca ridge — more at balk

Question 27

tattersall

Answer 27

Language of Origin: person name Definition: a pattern of colored lines forming squares of solid background I hated the **tattersall** pattern on some of the clothes picked out for me. Etymology: from Tattersall's horse market, London, England, after Richard Tattersall †1795 English horseman, its founder

Question 28

Terpsichore

Answer 28

Language of Origin: Greek Definition: dancing, choreography The **terpsichore** of the dance was amazing. Etymology: after Terpsichore, the muse of choral dance and song

Question 29

ullage

Answer 29

Language of Origin: English, French, Latin Definition: The amount that a container (as a cask or tank) lacks of being full : outage The **ullage** from before and later were definitely different. Etymology: Middle English ulage, oylage, from Middle French eullage, oillage act of filling a cask, filling to replace leakage, from eullier, ouiller to fill a cask (from Old French ouil eye, bunghole, from Latin oculus eye) + -age — more at eye

Question 30

upaithric

Answer 30

Language of Origin: Greek, English Definition: open to the sky The **upaithric** temple was so cool to explore! Etymology: irregular from Greek hypaithros in the open air, uncovered + English -ic — more at hypaethral

Question 31

viand

Answer 31

Language of Origin: English, French, Latin Definition: an article of food The mysterious **viand** proved to be poisionous! Etymology: Middle English viaunde, from Middle French viande, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin vivanda, alteration of Latin vivenda, neuter plural of vivendus, gerundive of vivere to live — more at quick

Question 32

videlicet

Answer 32

Language of Origin: Latin Definition: that is to say, NAMELY There are several colours in my comforter blue, red, and videlicet. Etymology: Latin, from vidēre to see + licet it is permitted, 3d person singular present indicative of licēre to be permitted — more at wit, license

Question 33

warison

Answer 33

Language of Origin: German, French, English (person name) Definition: a bugle call to attack The **warison** sounded, signifying it was time to attack. Etymology: probably a misunderstanding by Sir Walter Scott in the Lay of the Last Minstrel (1805) of waryson in "minstrels, play up for your waryson" in the "Battle of Otterbourne", which is from Middle English warison reward, from Old North French, defense, possessions, from warir to protect, provide, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German werien to defend — more at weir

Question 34

zootechny

Answer 34

Language of Origin: French, International Scientific Vocabulary Definition: the scientific art of maintaining and improving animals under domestication including breeding, genetics, nutrition, and housing : the technology of animal husbandry The **zootechy** was explained by the zookeeper. Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary zo- + -techny; probably originally formed as French zootechnie

Question 35

zwieback

Answer 35

Language of Origin: German, Italian Definition: a usually sweetened bread enriched with eggs that is first prepared and baked and then sliced and toasted until dry and crisp The **zwieback** was amazing to my taste! Etymology: German, literally, twice baked, from zwie- (from Old High German zwi -twice) + backen to bake, from Old High German bahhan; translation of Italian biscotto biscuit — more at twi-, bake