WW12 Lesson 13 (Fifi)

Question 1

abut

Answer 1

(v)

To be next to; to border on.

• Because your neighbor’s property _abuts_ yours, she must give her approval before you make these structural changes.

Question 2

adjure

Answer 2

(v)

1. To command solemnly.
   * The judge _adjured_ the jurors to examine the evidence very carefully.
2. To advise sincerely.
   * The guidance counselor _adjured_ the student to submit his original essay as part of his college application.

Question 3

descry

Answer 3

(v)

To catch sight of a distant object after looking carefully; to detect or discover.

• With a telescope he constructed in 1609, Galileo was able to _descry_ Saturn’s rings.

Question 4

desecrate

Answer 4

(v)

To misuse or violate something sacred.

• Graffiti on the steps of the cathedral _desecrated_ the old building.

(n)

desecration

Question 5

dilettante

Answer 5

(n)

A person with only a superficial interest and slight knowledge of an art or other field of knowledge.

• She claims to be only a _dilettante_ at writing poetry, but actually her work is quite good.

Question 6

equivocal

Answer 6

(adj)

1. Having more than one meaning or interpretation, usually intended to confuse.
   * “I usually eat alone,” was Amitar’s _equivocal_ answer when asked if anyone had accompanied him to the restaurant.
2. Uncertain or undecided.
   * The candidate’s _equivocal_ position on the issue rankled both sides.

(v)

equivocate

To speak in a way that deliberately obscures one’s position.

Question 7

exhume

Answer 7

(v)

1. To dig out of the ground.
   * Early in the twentieth century, archeologist _exhumed_ artifacts from a pharaoh’s tomb constructed around 1300 B.C.E.
2. To recover from neglect; to revive.
   * The band _exhumed_ some old English music hall songs and delighted modern audiences with them.

Question 8

extirpate

Answer 8

(v)

To destroy completely; to wipe out.

• Whole species unknown to us are _extirpated_ by the destruction of the world’s rain forests.

Question 9

foible

Answer 9

(n)

A small fault or weakness in a person’s character.

• Ava’s occasional short temper was a mere _foible_ compared to her usual magnanimous spirit.

Question 10

insolvent

Answer 10

(adj)

Without the means to pay what is owed; bankrupt.

• His age was the ostensible reason for his retiring, but the truth is his company is now _insolvent_.

Question 11

jocose

Answer 11

(adj)

Given to joking; humorous and playful.

• Mr. Langton’s _jocose_ manner in the classroom did not impede her skillful teaching.

Question 12

portal

Answer 12

(n)

A door or entrance, especially one that is large and imposing.

• The _portal_ of the Boston Public Library was carved by Daniel Chester French.

Question 13

progenitor

Answer 13

(n)

A direct ancestor.

• The Anasazi people were the _progenitors_ of the Hopi Native Americans.

Question 14

propitiate

Answer 14

(v)

To overcome distrust or hostility; to appease.

• The Aztecs believed that the way to _propitiate_ their gods was with human sacrifice.

Question 15

restitution

Answer 15

(n)

A paying back for what has been lost or damaged.

• The investors in the failed enterprise made sedulous efforts to obtain _restitution_ from its organizers.