WW12 Lesson 11 (Fifi)

Question 1

cacophony

Answer 1

(n)

Harsh or jarring sound.

• A _cacophony_ of sirens heralded the approach of the fire engines.

(adj)

cacophonous.

Question 2

confrere

Answer 2

(n)

Comrade; colleague.

• After her class in computer graphics, Tara gathered with her _confreres_ to refine their plans for the required group project.

Question 3

convoke

Answer 3

(v)

To summon or call together for a meeting.

• On December 10, 1948, the member states of the United States, who had been _convoked_ to consider the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, voted overwhelmingly to adopt this document.

(n)

convocation

Question 4

filial

Answer 4

(adj)

Of, relating to, or benefitting a son or daughter.

• The ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius taught the importance of cultivating virtues such as righteousness, integrity, and _filial_ piety.

Question 5

fractious

Answer 5

(adj)

Tending to be troublesome; irritable.

• What may appear to be simply _fractious_ behavior in a child may actually be a symptom of parental neglect.

Question 6

fulminate

Answer 6

(v)

To express with denunciation, often in an explosive way.

• “This is not fair to my workers!” the angry foreman _fulminated_.

(n)

fulmination

Question 7

jocular

Answer 7

(adj)

Given to or characterized by joking; playful; jolly.

• The children laughed with delight at the appearance of Santa Claus, with his _jocular_ “Ho, Ho , Ho!”

(n)

jocularity

Question 8

nugatory

Answer 8

(adj)

Having no force of effect.

• The treaty is _nugatory_ because it lacks any enforcement provisions.

Question 9

obloquy

Answer 9

(n)

1. An utterance of denunciation.
   * In 1961 the building of the Berlin Wall, which partitioned the city and imprisoned East German citizens within its boundaries, provoked public _obloquy_.
2. The condition of one who is held in contempt for a shameful action.
   * Having been seduced by false values, the antihero of the play becomes the victim of his own _obloquy_.

Question 10

palpable

Answer 10

(adj)

1. Easy to touch or feel.
   * The small but _palpable_ lump on her arm was diagnosed as a cyst.
2. Easy to see, hear, or recognize; obvious.
   * There was _palpable_ tension in the room as the parents waited for the outcome of the operation on their child.

Question 11

parity

Answer 11

(n)

Equality of rank or value.

• The strengthening United States dollar eventually reached _parity_ with the British pound.

Question 12

peruse

Answer 12

(v)

To read through something, either casually or closely.

• Before they signed the agreements, the partners _perused_ it carefully.

Question 13

polemic

Answer 13

(n)

1. An argument to refute a position or opinion.
   * The protestor delivered a fiery _polemic_ against the company’s hiring practices, which she viewed as sexist.
2. One who aggressively advocates a position.
   * Anyone debating such an accomplished _polemic_ would need keen rhetorical skills.

(adj)

polemical

(n)

polemicist

Question 14

supplicate

Answer 14

(v)

To ask for humbly; to plead or beg.

• The defendant _supplicated_ the jury for compassion.

(n)

supplicant

One who pleads.

supplication

A plea.

Question 15

temporize

Answer 15

(v)

To act evasively in order to achieve a compromise or to gain time.

• Unwilling to vote the measure up or down, Congress _temporized_.