WW12 Lesson 5 (Fifi)

Question 1

archaic

Answer 1

(adj)

Related or belonging to an earlier time.

• The wearing of wigs by British courtroom lawyers seems _archaic_ to Americans.

Question 2

carouse

Answer 2

(v)

To take part in wild, noisy merrymaking.

• Some visitors to New Orleans during Mardi Gras _carouse_ until the early hours of the morning.

Question 3

chicanery

Answer 3

(n)

Clever deception through the use of misleading or confusing words or acts.

• Suspect some kind of _chicanery_ if the offer seems too good to be true.

Question 4

contentious

Answer 4

(adj)

Causing or marked by argument of conflict.

• Politics is a _contentious_ subject in our house because my stepfather is a Democrat and my mom’s a Republican.

Question 5

dissemble

Answer 5

(v)

To conceal with an intent to deceive.

• When a witness clearly begins to _dissemble_, the jury can draw the appropriate conclusion.

Question 6

egregious

Answer 6

(adj)

Conspicuously bad; flagrant.

• Although I believe that dissent is a right, I find _egregious_ interruptions of a speaker unacceptable.

Question 7

execrate

Answer 7

(v)

To utterly abhor; to denounce as detestable.

• History can provide examples of countries once _execrated_ as enemies who are later accepted as allies.

Question 8

fealty

Answer 8

(n)

Faithfulness; allegiance.

• The knights of the Round Table pledged _fealty_ to King Arthur.

Question 9

microcosm

Answer 9

(n)

A small system that operates or develops like a larger system; a miniature world.

• College life is hardly a _microcosm_ of the larger world.

Question 10

paroxysm

Answer 10

(n)

A sudden, violent, and uncontrollable action or occurrence.

• Although subject to frequent _paroxysms_ of coughing, Laura obdurately denied it had anything to do with her smoking.

Question 11

pecuniary

Answer 11

(adj)

Having to do with money.

• The interests of the founders of the food co-op are more idealistic than _pecuniary_.

Question 12

rectitude

Answer 12

(n)

High moral character.

• The umpire’s faulty judgment is not a reflection of his _rectitude_.

Question 13

stratagem

Answer 13

(n)

A clever scheme for gaining an end.

• Lin’s asking Tina to go to the movies was a _stratagem_ to give us time to prepare for her surprise birthday party.

Question 14

stultify

Answer 14

(v)

To render useless or ineffectual; to weaken.

• Some politics in managed health-care systems _stultify_ a physician’s ability to provide timely, needed treatment for patients.

Question 15

vendetta

Answer 15

(n)

A blood feud; a prolonged and bitter feud.

• It took the deaths of Juliet and Romeo to end the _vendetta_ between the Montagues and the Capulets.