WW12 Lesson 9 (Fifi)

Question 1

apposite

Answer 1

(adj)

Highly relevant; apt.

• ‘Skyscraper’ is an _apposite_ name for Manhattan’s many tall buildings.

Question 2

calumny

Answer 2

(n)

A false accusation meant to hurt someone’s reputation; slander.

• In those days, anyone committing _calumny_ was likely to be challenged to a duel by the injured party.

(adj)

calumnious

Question 3

domain

Answer 3

(n)

1. An area or territory over which control is exercised.
   * The _domain_ of the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan extended over much of Asia during the thirteenth century.
2. A field of activity, knowledge, or concern.
   * In the _domain_ of the arts, the Mayan civilization (c. 600-c. 1500) of Central America was extraordinarily advanced.

Question 4

dorsal

Answer 4

(adj)

Of, on, or near the back.

• The _dorsal_ shell of a turtle is called the carapace.

Question 5

enervate

Answer 5

(v)

To lessen the vigor or strength of; to enfeeble.

• Sitting too long in the hot whirlpool at her health club _enervated_ my cousin.

Question 6

epicure

Answer 6

(n)

One with discriminating taste, especially but not exclusively relating to food and drink.

• _Epicures_ gathered at Le Crillon in Paris to name the chef of the year.

Question 7

exculpate

Answer 7

(v)

To clear from alleged guilt or fault.

• Through her diligence and knowledge of the law, the young attorney _exculpated_ the defendant.

(adj)

exculpatory

Question 8

heterogeneous

Answer 8

(adj)

Differing in kind or parts; varied.

• The college students in this older neighborhood help make the community more _heterogeneous_.

Question 9

infinitesimal

Answer 9

(adj)

Extremely small in size or quantity.

• Quarks are _infinitesimal_ subatomic particles that make up protons and neutrons.

Question 10

lateral

Answer 10

(adj)

Of, at, from, or towards the side.

• The tree assumed a more upright form once some of the _lateral_ branches were removed.

Question 11

primeval

Answer 11

(adj)

Of or relating to the earliest ages; primitive.

• The dinosaur whose bones we uncovered may have died in a _primeval_ swamp a hundred million years ago.

Question 12

quintessence

Answer 12

(n)

The best or most typical example.

• Ballet dancer Vaslov Nijinsky (1890-1950) was said to be the _quintessence_ of grace and beauty.

(adj)

quintessential

Question 13

serrated

Answer 13

(adj)

Having a saw-toothed or notched edge.

• The linden tree has _serrated_ leaves.

Question 14

veritable

Answer 14

(adj)

Being, in fact, the thing named or described; literally so. Often used to emphasize the aptness of a metaphor.

• The sound system failed, making the concert a _veritable_ disaster.

Question 15

viviparous

Answer 15

(adj)

Producing living young instead of eggs, in the manner of most mammals and some reptiles and fishes.

• The duck-billed platypus of Australia and Tasmania is not _viviparous_ even though it is a mammal.