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❂
Ultimate
WORD POWER
The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.
Pleasantville, New York • Montreal
Copyright © 2006 by The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.
All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner, is prohibited.
Reader’s Digest and Word Power® are registered trademarks of
The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.
ISBN: 0-7621-0759-6
Printed in the United States
®
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Contents
Introduction 4
FAVORITE SUBJECTS
ROOTS AND BRANCHES
Romance Words 5
Words With Interesting Origins 27
Food Words 7
Words From Ancient Greece 29
Citizenship Words 9
Words From Gaelic 31
Law Enforcement Words 11
Words That Start With “Qu” 33
Travel Words 13
Words That Contain “Ten” 35
Ocean Words 15
Adverbs 37
Science Words 17
Weather Words 19
Gardening Words 21
Bird Words 23
Finance Words 25
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FUN WITH LANGUAGE
BIG TALKERS
Commonly
Mispronounced Words 39
Founding Father Words 53
Isaac Asimov Words 55
Wonderful Word Pairs 41
Broadway Musical Words 57
Small Words With Big Meanings 43
Kelsey Grammer Words 59
Phrases Drawn From
the Animal Kingdom 45
William Safire Words 61
Embellishment Words 47
Bob Dylan Words 63
“Hip” Kid Words 49
Recent Additions
to the Dictionary 51
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INTRODUCTION
We use it almost every waking moment of our lives, but few of us
know many details about the English language. The facts are
plenty stunning, though:
> The number of English words, if you include scientific
and technical terms, totals about 1 million. That makes it
by far the wordiest of the world’s languages (by
comparison, French has roughly 100,000 words).
> How did it get so big? Easy—by borrowing. Roughly
80 percent of English words are based on words from
other languages.
> An estimated 750 million people speak English around
the world. Of those 350 million consider it their
mother tongue.
> The average educated English-speaking person knows
about 20,000 words.
> The typical person uses just 2,000 of those words in a week.
It’s that last statistic that is most amazing to us. For all the reading,
e-mailing, writing and talking we do in a week, you’d think we’d be
a little richer in our word usage! So while we hope you find Ultimate Word Power to be fun and entertaining, we also hope you put
it to good use. Here are 500 words that are fun to say, expressive,
useful, and a notch above your everyday “Hello,” “What’s for dinner?” and “Pick your clothes up off the floor!”
Word Power has been a particularly popular feature in Reader’s
Digest for several decades running, and today, the National Word
Power Challenge is engaging hundreds of thousands of children in
expanding their vocabulary. As our name implies, Reader’s Digest
believes strongly in the pleasures and benefits of the written word.
A rich vocabulary is the pathway to better ideas, a greater understanding of our world, and fuller communication with friends,
family, and colleagues. So enjoy the 30 challenges on the pages
ahead. And maybe, in a few weeks, your 2,000 words will suddenly
be 2,500!
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FAV O R I T E S U B J E C T S
ROMANCE WORDS
“They do not love that do not show their love,” wrote William Shakespeare.
To inspire you to use the language of romance, this quiz is dedicated to
words of passion. Choose the answer you think is best and check your results
on the next page. And guys, even if you get all the words right, remember—
romance goes beyond words. So don’t forget the roses!
1 . allure n.—A: fragrance.
B: turnoff. C: appeal. D: appearance.
2. woo v.—A: to excite. B: court.
C: inspire. D: escort.
3. smitten adj.—A: rejected.
B: tempted. C: indifferent. D: infatuated.
4. dulcinea (dul sih NAY uh) n.—
A: soft murmurings. B: love letter. C: assortment of chocolates.
D: sweetheart.
5. congenial adj.—A: compatible.
B: chatty. C: possessive. D: supportive.
6. dalliance n.—A: delayed gratification. B: amorous play. C: feeling of unity. D: separation.
7. sentient (SEN shunt) adj.—
A: sensational. B: nonsensical.
C: sensitive. D: sensible.
8. myrtle n.—symbol of A: fate.
B: love. C: children. D: eternity.
9. fervent adj.—A: tender. B: serious. C: passionate. D: trusting.
10. blandishment n.—A: flattery.
B: embarrassment. C: gift.
D: showy display.
11 . fidelity n.—A: forgiveness.
B: broad-mindedness. C: constancy. D: determination.
12. enamored adj.—A: set free.
B: filled with love. C: idealistic.
D: attracted.
13. tryst (trist) n.—A: marital
pledge. B: embrace. C: pet name.
D: lovers’ meeting.
14. uxorious (uk SOR ee us) adj.—
A: jubilant. B: devoted to one’s
wife. C: complimentary. D: curious.
15. coquette n.—A: girlfriend. B: shy
person. C: flirt. D: bride.
16. concord (CON cord) n.—A: harmony. B: lasting relationship.
C: disagreement. D: innocence.
17. indelible adj.—A: subconscious.
B: beyond words. C: attractive.
D: permanent.
18. lothario n.—A: chef. B: seducer.
C: ex-husband. D: actor.
19. pine v.—A: to complain.
B: praise. C: compromise.
D: yearn.
20. oscular adj.—pertaining to
A: vision. B: physical strength.
C: kissing. D: your horoscope.
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F AV O R I T E S U B J E C T S
ANSWERS:
1 . allure —[C] Appeal; charm; as, the
allure of her smile. Old French
alurer (to attract; originally, a reference to the lure used by a falconer).
2. woo —[B] To court; seek the favor
or love of; as, I wooed her for years.
Middle English wowe.
3. smitten —[D] Strongly and suddenly infatuated or in love; as, She
was smitten first by his looks. From
smite (to hit hard).
4. dulcinea —[D] Sweetheart; ladylove; as, He had found his dulcinea.
In the Cervantes novel, Don
Quixote idealized the peasant girl
Dulcinea.
5. congenial —[A] Compatible in
character or nature; pleasant and
agreeable. Latin con- (together) and
genialis (productive, joyous).
6. dalliance —[B] Amorous, flirtatious play or act; as, True love is no
mere dalliance. From dally (to act
or talk playfully).
7. sentient —[C] Sensitive; capable of
feeling; aware; as, For the first time
he seemed more than just sentient.
Latin sentire (to feel).
8. myrtle —[B] Symbol of love. The
fragrant evergreen plant was considered sacred to Venus, the Roman
goddess of love and beauty.
9. fervent —[C] Passionate; having
great warmth and intensity; as, fervent desires. Latin (boiling).
10. blandishment —[A] Flattery; word
or action that tries to coax; as, With
frequent blandishments, he hoped to
change her mind. Latin blandus
(soothing).
11 . fidelity —[C] Constancy; loyalty;
as, I’ve never questioned your fidelity. Latin fidelis (faithful).
12. enamored —[B] Filled with love;
as, The student became enamored
of the girl at the next desk. French
amour (love).
13. tryst —[D] A secret meeting
arranged by lovers; as, They rendezvoused for a midnight tryst.
Middle English triste (appointed
station in hunting).
14. uxorious —[B] Exceedingly devoted to one’s wife; as, My husband
uxorious? Hardly! Latin uxor (wife).
15. coquette —[C] Flirtatious woman;
as, At parties she’s always the coquette. French, from coquet (young
rooster).
16. concord —[A] Harmony; agreement; as, a relationship marked by
concord. From Latin concors (literally, hearts together).
17 . indelible —[D] Permanent; unremovable; as, You occupy an indelible place in my heart. Latin
indelebilis (indestructible).
18. lothario —[B] Seducer or rake; deceiver; as, Don’t lose your heart to
that lothario. From a character in a
1703 play, The Fair Penitent.
19. pine —[D] To yearn; long; as, She
pined for her absent lover. Middle
English pinen (to torment).
20. oscular —[C] Pertaining to kissing;
as, Valentine’s Day is perfect for
some oscular activity. Latin oscularum (little mouth; kiss).
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-14 Good 15-17 Excellent 18-20 Exceptional
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FOOD WORDS
For many people, the holidays mean eating—and more eating. In his book,
Eating Your Words: 2000 Words to Tease Your Taste Buds, William Grimes of
The New York Times serves up the necessary ingredients for this hearty
quiz. Please dig in.
1 . sugarplum n.—A: fruit pie.
B: liquor-soaked plum. C: ballshaped candy. D: mulled cider
sweetener.
2. mesquite n.—A: spicy sauce.
B: wood used in cooking.
C: barbecue restaurant. D: type
of oven.
3. effervescent adj.—A: fizzy.
B: transparent. C: overflowing.
D: simmering.
4. ramekin n.—A: small baking dish.
B: Chinese noodle. C: vegetable
broth. D: large kettle.
5. gherkin n.—A: bean soup.
B: frilly apron. C: juicing device.
D: pickle.
6. julienne v.—A: to remove the pit.
B: mash into pulp. C: cook vegetables on a grill. D: cut into
thin strips.
7. aspic n.—A: clear jelly. B: game
bird. C: calculation to modify
recipes. D: roasting pan.
8. stollen n.—A: after-dinner drink.
B: sweet bread. C: type of bean.
D: meat pie.
9. braise v.—to cook A: quickly.
B: slowly. C: in broth. D: without
adding salt.
10. florentine adj.—served with
A: eggs. B: rice. C: spinach.
D: warm Italian bread.
11 . shirr v.—A: to mix together.
B: bake. C: trim the fat. D: pound
flat.
12. aioli n.—A: type of cooking oil.
B: low-fat butter. C: small whisk.
D: garlicky mayonnaise.
13. macerate v.—A: to slice lengthwise. B: chew carefully.
C: soften. D: stir slowly.
14. viscous adj.—A: thick. B: rotten.
C: runny. D: overcooked.
15. latke n.—A: sugar cookie.
B: dough ball served in soup.
C: seasoned meatball. D: potato
pancake.
16. roux n.—A: root vegetable.
B: mixture used in making
sauces. C: serving spoon. D: cup
used for serving poached eggs.
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F AV O R I T E S U B J E C T S
ANSWERS
1 . sugarplum —[C] Small candy in
the shape of a ball or disc; sweetmeat. Please don’t fill up on those
sugarplums before dinner is served.
2. mesquite —[B] Wood of spiny
trees or shrubs native to the southwestern United States that is often
used for grilling food. To my mind,
the best barbecued ribs have that
authentic mesquite aroma.
3. effervescent —[A] Fizzy; giving
off bubbles. She prefers seltzer to
plain bottled water because it’s effervescent.
4. ramekin —[A] A small baking dish
for preparing individual portions.
To make the perfect popovers, use
ramekins instead of muffin tins.
5. gherkin —[D] A small cucumber
used for pickling. I’ll skip the potato
chips, but a gherkin or two would go
nicely with this sandwich.
6. julienne —[D] To cut into thin
strips. Once you’ve peeled those
carrots, would you please julienne
them for the salad?
7. aspic —[A] A clear savory jelly.
Let’s leave time to prepare the traditional aspic in that odd hatshaped mold my brother gave us.
8. stollen —[B] A sweet yeast bread
of German origin containing fruit
and nuts. That loaf of my mother’s
stollen I brought to work yesterday?
I left it by the office coffee maker
and it was gone in five minutes.
9. braise —[B] To cook slowly in fat
and little moisture in a closed pot.
The first step in making a successful beef stew: Braise the meat carefully.
10. florentine —[C] Served with
spinach. His idea of a special breakfast? An order of eggs florentine.
11 . shirr —[B] To bake until set. What
makes those shirred eggs so tasty is
the dollop of heavy cream he adds
before putting them in the oven.
12. aioli —[D] Mayonnaise seasoned
with garlic. Dip those french fries in
this aioli, not that boring old
ketchup.
13. macerate —[C] To soften or separate by steeping in fluid. Blend the
cranberries and oranges together
until fine; add in sugar; then allow
to macerate for two days until
using.
14. viscous —[A] Resistant to flowing
in a fluid or semifluid; thick, sticky.
The hot fudge was so viscous that
she had trouble getting it out of the
jar and onto her ice cream.
15. latke —[D] Potato pancake. I always look forward to Hanukkah—
not for the presents, but because I’ll
get all the latkes I can eat.
16. roux —[B] Cooked mixture of flour
and fat used to thicken a soup or
sauce. If you burn the roux, you better start over; otherwise, no one’s
going to want to eat your gumbo.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-12 Good 13-14 Excellent 15-16 Exceptional
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CITIZENSHIP WORDS
Our nation, its welfare, and our relationships with other countries have
been much on our minds lately. So it is an opportune time to review words
that relate to citizenship, diplomacy and current events. The final word
(number 15) was new to us—and it’s tough, but give it a try!
1 . nationalism n.—A: ethnic heritage. B: political party. C: patriotism. D: pride.
2. unilateralist n.—someone who
A: acts alone. B: acts suspicious.
C: is tenacious. D: is dogmatic.
3. preempt v.—A: to claim. B: arrive
early. C: select. D: oppose.
4. stateless adj.—lacking a A: passport. B: nationality. C: bank
statement. D: visa.
5. civitas n.—A: body of people.
B: body of law. C: good manners.
D: characteristics of civilians.
6. mandate n.—A: division of the
United Nations. B: legal impediment. C: South African township. D: authorization to act.
7. enfranchise v.—A: to vote. B: extend credit. C: grant citizenship.
D: open a store.
8. appeasement n.—A: forgiving
and forgetting. B: yielding to demands. C: real estate regulation.
D: obsession with one’s appearance.
9. despotic adj.—A: despairing.
B: magical. C: extremely bombastic. D: tyrannical.
10. casus belli n.—an event that
A: triggers a declaration of war.
B: causes confusion. C: makes
church bells ring. D: is an omen
of good weather.
11 . sanctions n.—A: rewards.
B: rooms in a church. C: punitive measures. D: terms of employment.
12. consensus n.—A: implicit social
contract. B: burden. C: collective
opinion. D: understanding between two people.
13. accord n.—A: treaty. B: diplomatic agreement. C: peace.
D: letter of intent.
14. onus n.—A: misrepresentation.
B: body of work. C: guilt.
D: obligation.
15. vexillology* n.—A: the art of annoying people. B: the study of
flags. C: a branch of meteorology. D: a military science.
*Give yourself an extra 5 ratings points if
you know this one!
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F AV O R I T E S U B J E C T S
ANSWERS
1 . nationalism —[C] Patriotism; loyalty to one’s own nation; as, The
rally in Washington was imbued
with the spirit of nationalism.
2. unilateralist —[A] Someone who
acts alone or on behalf of only one
side, party or nation; as, Recent
newspaper accounts have described
President Bush as a unilateralist.
3. preempt —[A] To claim; forestall
by acting first. From preemption,
based on Latin praeemere (buy beforehand).
4. stateless —[B] Lacking a nationality; as, Those who seek political
asylum are sometimes stateless.
From Latin status.
5. civitas —[A] Body of people constituting a politically organized
community; as, Flags visually represent the civitas of a nation. Latin.
6. mandate —[D] Authorization to
act, given to a representative by the
electorate; any authoritative order
or command. From Latin mandare
(give as commission).
7. enfranchise —[C] To grant or
admit to citizenship; to set free; as,
Liberation movements seek to enfranchise the citizenry. From Middle
French enfranchir (to free).
9. despotic —[D] Tyrannical; oppressive; as, Many Third World governments are despotic. From the Greek
despotes (master).
10. casus belli —[A] An event that
triggers or justifies a declaration of
war; as, Pearl Harbor was a casus
belli.
11 . sanctions —[C] Punitive measures
usually taken by several nations together, designed to put pressure on
another country; also, approvals.
Latin sancto.
12. consensus —[C] Collective opinion or judgment; as, It was the consensus we should act now. Latin
consentire.
13. accord —[B] Diplomatic agreement without the binding force of a
treaty; as, The Camp David accords
were meant to be a framework for
peace in the Middle East.
14. onus —[D] Obligation or task, especially a difficult one; as, The onus of
peacekeeping around the world has
often fallen to Americans. Latin
(load, burden).
15. vexillology —[B] Study of flags; as,
Someone with no background in
vexillology may confuse the Irish
and Italian flags. Latin vexill(um).
8. appeasement —[B] Yielding to
often unreasonable demands; pacification; as, Allowing a dictator free
rein is appeasement of the worst
sort. Middle English apesen.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-11 Good 12-13 Excellent 14-15 Exceptional
10
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LAW ENFORCEMENT WORDS
Back in a simpler time, the only cop lingo you had to know was “Book ’em,
Danno.” It’s a lot tougher to follow the dialogue between the detectives and
the DAs on “Law and Order” and the many other police shows that seem to
dominate television these days. Here are some words to help you talk the talk.
1 . Mirandize v.—A: to frisk. B: advise of legal rights. C: question.
D: coerce a confession from.
2. appellant n.—someone who
A: makes a plea. B: files a police
report. C: falsifies his name.
D: recruits.
3. expedite v.—A: to turn over.
B: issue a warning. C: walk the
beat. D: do quickly.
4. skell n.—A: tainted physical evidence. B: vagrant. C: con man.
D: police informant.
5. recidivism n.—A: withholding information. B: racial profiling.
C: fingerprint analysis. D: relapse into crime.
6. arraign v.—A: to postpone.
B: bring before a court to answer charges. C: testify.
D: award a favorable verdict.
7. backlog n.—A: intentional delay.
B: low-priority incident. C: unfinished cases. D: cop hangout.
8. adjudicate v.—A: to do paperwork. B: treat equally. C: determine. D: bribe.
9. bailiff n.—A: court officer.
B: bondsman. C: fugitive. D: judicial assistant.
10. recognizance n.—A: lineup.
B: disguise. C: obligation. D: increased patrols.
11 . remand v.—A: to set free.
B: bring to trial again. C: send
back. D: handcuff.
12. bench warrant n.—A: security
guard. B: order to arrest. C: superior court judge. D: permission to speak.
13. perpetrator n.—A: snitch.
B: crime-doer. C: suspect. D: repeat offender.
14. depose v.—A: to affirm under
oath. B: corroborate. C: speculate. D: slouch.
15. due process n.—A: just punishment. B: waiting period. C: bureaucratic red tape. D: course of
laws and procedures.
16. exculpatory adj.—relating to
A: opening trial arguments.
B: disavowal. C: criminal behavior. D: exoneration.
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F AV O R I T E S U B J E C T S
ANSWERS
1 . Mirandize —[B] To advise someone being arrested of his rights,
under the Miranda rule, to remain
silent and have an attorney present
during questioning. From the U.S.
Supreme Court decision Miranda v.
Arizona.
2. appellant —[A] A person who
makes a plea for judgment from a
higher authority; as, The appellant
hoped a technicality would void his
verdict. Latin appellare (accost).
3. expedite —[D] To complete
9. bailiff —[A] An officer, similar to a
sheriff, who keeps order in the
court. Old French (porter).
10. recognizance —[C] A legal obligation or bond binding a person to appear for trial. Middle English.
11 . remand —[C] To send a prisoner
or accused person back into custody to await trial or further investigation; as, He was remanded to the
county jail while the grand jury was
selected. Old French remander (to
send word back).
quickly or in a timely fashion; as,
Defense motions made it impossible to expedite the trial. From Latin
ex- (out) and pedis (foot), meaning
to free feet from fetters.
12. bench warrant —[B] Order issued
4. skell —[B] Vagrant; police term for
commits a crime; as, A SWAT team
searched the abandoned building
for the perpetrator. (In cop talk,
shortened to perp.)
someone who looks like a drug user
or seems down-and-out. Shortened
form of skeleton.
5. recidivism —[D] Relapse into a
former behavior, especially criminal
activities. From Latin re- (back) and
cadere (to fall).
6. arraign —[B] To bring before a
court to hear and answer charges.
Latin ad- (to) and ratio (reason).
7. backlog —[C] An accumulation of
cases that the legal system is incapable of dealing with in a timely
manner; as, Busy municipal courts
often have a backlog of months.
by a judge or court for an arrest; as,
Worried the suspect might flee, the
DA requested a bench warrant.
13. perpetrator —[B] A person who
14. depose —[A] To affirm or testify
under oath, often in writing; as, The
witness was deposed beforehand.
Old French deposer (to put down).
15. due process —[D] The course of
legal proceedings that protect an individual’s rights and liberties; as, In
democracies, citizens are entitled to
due process of the law.
16. exculpatory —[D] Relating to vindication; tending to clear from guilt.
Latin ex- and culpare (to blame).
8. adjudicate —[C] To determine or
judge; as, His claim will be adjudicated. Latin ad- and judicare
(judge).
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-12 Good 13-14 Excellent 15-16 Exceptional
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TRAVEL WORDS
It may be two weeks at the shore, or perhaps a grand tour of Europe, or
something as simple as a long weekend with the grandparents. Whatever
we choose, most of us sure love our vacations. Before you hit the road or fly
the friendly skies, take our quiz of words you might need on holiday.
1 . agoraphobia n.—fear of A: flying.
B: getting lost. C: public places.
D: furry animals.
2. cay (key) n.—A: passageway.
B: reef. C: monetary unit.
D: valley.
3. amenities n.—A: useful features.
B: formal introductions.
C: taxes. D: young pickpockets.
4. halcyon adj.—A: foreign. B: tiring.
C: happy. D: mazelike.
5. traipse v.—A: to rush. B: walk
aimlessly. C: violate. D: crush.
6. red-eye n.—A: complicated form.
B: poorly lit room. C: bar.
D: overnight flight.
7. brasserie n.—A: lingerie shop.
B: airplane crew. C: restaurant.
D: souvenir stand.
8. queue n.—A: question. B: side
road. C: gate. D: waiting line.
9. concierge n.—A: wine specialist.
B: headwaiter. C: service representative. D: busboy.
10. baksheesh n.—A: tip. B: hallucinogenic drug. C: babble.
D: head covering.
11 . sultry adj.—A: unhappy. B: sweltering. C: assorted. D: colorful.
12. antipodean adj.—A: on foot.
B: opposite. C: unhealthful.
D: cleansing.
13. turista n.—A: tour bus. B: illness.
C: visa stamp. D: foot pain.
14. contraband n.—A: money belt.
B: Latin musical group. C: customs inspector. D: illegal goods.
15. tarn n.—A: tall tale. B: mountain
lake. C: meadow. D: runway.
16. ambiance n.—A: hostility. B: temporary camp. C: atmosphere.
D: medical vehicle.
17. incidentals n.—A: short encounters. B: minor expenses. C: forbidden carry-ons. D: mementos.
18. estivate v.—A: to change clothes.
B: guess at. C: exert oneself.
D: pass the summer.
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F AV O R I T E S U B J E C T S
ANSWERS
1 . agoraphobia —[C] Extreme fear of
public places or crowds; as, My agoraphobia kept me housebound.
Greek agora (marketplace).
2. cay —[B] Reef or low bank of coral
or sand; as, We went snorkeling to
explore the cay. Spanish cayo.
3. amenities —[A] Useful or desirable features of a place; as, a resort
with impressive amenities. Latin
amoenus (pleasant).
4. halcyon —[C] Idyllically happy;
peaceful; as, the halcyon summers
on Cape Cod. From Greek alkyon
(kingfisher), in legend a bird that
could calm the seas.
5. traipse —[B] To walk aimlessly or
wearily; wander; as, We traipsed all
over town looking for an ATM. Of
uncertain 16th-century origin.
6. red-eye —[D] Overnight flight; as,
I took the red-eye to be at work on
Monday morning.
7. brasserie —[C] Informal restaurant, usually with a selection of
drinks. French, from brasser (to
brew).
8. queue —[D] Waiting line; as, a
queue that stretched for blocks.
French, from Latin cauda (tail).
9. concierge —[C] Hotel service representative who assists guests with
special arrangements. French (originally, warden of a castle or prison).
10. baksheesh —[A] In Egypt, a form
11 . sultry —[B] Sweltering; hot and
humid; as, sultry August days. From
Middle English swelten (to swoon
away).
12. antipodean —[B] Directly opposite, especially in reference to sides
of the earth; as, The antipodean day
is the day gained when crossing the
International Dateline. Greek antipodes (having the feet opposite).
13. turista —[B] Gastrointestinal illness afflicting travelers; as, A street
snack gave me turista. Spanish
(tourist).
14. contraband —[D] Goods that have
been imported or exported illegally.
From Italian contra (against) and
bando (ban).
15. tarn —[B] Mountain lake; as, This
trail through the woods leads to the
tarn. Old Norse tjörn (literally, a
hole filled with water).
16. ambiance —[C] Atmosphere; character; as, the hotel’s luxurious ambiance. French (surroundings).
17 . incidentals —[B] Minor expenses
or items; as, Make sure you have
cash for incidentals. From Latin incidere (to fall upon, happen to).
18. estivate —[D] To pass or spend the
summer in a certain activity, especially (like some animals) in a dormant state; as, Snails estivate, but
children shouldn’t. From Latin aestivatus (resided during summer).
of tip or bribe; as, A little baksheesh
might get you in the museum a lot
quicker. From Persian bakhshidan
(to give).
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-12 Good 13-15 Excellent 16-18 Exceptional
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OCEAN WORDS
When life gets too fast and crazy, nothing puts things in perspective better
than standing along the ocean’s edge, watching the waves, listening to the
gulls, feeling the sand and rocks beneath our feet. If only the words of
oceanography were as calming! The Cousteau Society website (cousteau.org)
helped us create this quiz by, um, deepening our ocean knowledge.
1 . atoll n.—A: coral reef encircling
a lagoon. B: steep cliff. C: sound
of a ship’s bell. D: fishing net.
2. tack v.—A: to harvest. B: alter direction. C: drift. D: lose speed.
3. corolla n.—A: reddish coral.
B: undersea cave. C: tidal wave.
D: flower petals.
4. littoral adj.—relating to A: a
fish’s diet. B: breathing apparatus. C: ship cargo. D: the
seashore.
5. gestate v.—A: to grow. B: carry
during pregnancy. C: approach.
D: swim in formation.
6. estuary n.—A: where ocean
meets river. B: deep-sea predator. C: ocean bed. D: lighthouse.
7. floe n.—A: unit of tidal measure.
B: type of whale. C: floating ice
sheet. D: air-tank mouthpiece.
8. pelagic adj.—relating to A: ancient sea creatures. B: big waves.
C: the open sea. D: seaweed.
9. scuttle v.—A: to float. B: sink.
C: cut precisely. D: dive.
10. frond n.—A: microscopic ocean
plant. B: large tidal pool. C: endangered shellfish. D: large leaf.
11 . halyard n.—A: rope that raises
sail. B: ship’s kitchen. C: anchor
chain. D: veteran sailor.
12. mutate v.—A: to relocate. B: turn
suddenly. C: change. D: eat indiscriminately.
13. piscatory adj.—relating to
A: plant life. B: fish or fishing.
C: scuba gear. D: beach sand.
14. regenerate v.—A: to add new
traits. B: use twice. C: produce
anew. D: eat one’s own young.
15. osmosis n.—A: prehistoric fish.
B: how coral reproduces.
C: movement of water molecules. D: steady loss of appetite.
16. kelp n.—A: tiniest shark. B: dolphin sound. C: knot used by
sailors. D: type of seaweed.
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F AV O R I T E S U B J E C T S
ANSWERS
1 . atoll —[A] Coral island consisting
of a reef surrounding a lagoon. Who
wouldn’t love to chuck it all and escape to an atoll in the Pacific?
2. tack —[B] Alter direction when
sailing. If you see clouds on the
horizon, it’s time to tack toward
shore—in a hurry.
3. corolla —[D] Flower petals; inner
whorl of floral leaves. The corolla of
each sea-grass flower was visible
from the surface through the crystalclear water.
4. littoral —[D] Relating to—or growing on or near—a shore, especially
of the sea. What kind of strategies
can we come up with to stop the
further erosion of our littoral habitats?
5. gestate —[B] Carry in the uterus
during pregnancy. Whales gestate
for up to two years before giving
birth.
6. estuary —[A] A water passage
where the tide meets a river current. A Pacific salmon must pass
through a coastal estuary before
making its way upriver to spawn.
7. floe —[C] Floating ice formed in a
large sheet on the surface of a body
of water. During harsh winters, the
ice floes drifting south on the Hudson River can be immense.
8. pelagic —[C] Of, relating to, or living or occurring in the open sea.
The pelican is among the bestknown pelagic birds.
9. scuttle —[B] Sink or wreck, especially by making holes. They decided to scuttle the old ship to
create an artificial reef.
10. frond —[D] Large leaf, usually on a
palm or fern. On days when the
heat gets unbearable, I like to fan
myself with a palm frond.
11 . halyard —[A] Rope used to hoist a
sail. The captain ordered me to pull
hard on the halyard as we prepared
to leave the harbor for the open sea.
12. mutate —[C] Change. Pollution
can cause harmless plants to mutate
into toxic killers.
13. piscatory —[B] Relating to fish or
fishing. That seafood chowder
Frank whipped up last night was a
piscatory delight.
14. regenerate —[C] Produce anew.
Some experts believe our ocean
fishing stocks are becoming too depleted to regenerate.
15. osmosis —[C] Movement of water
molecules, via a membrane, from an
area of low-salt concentration to
one of high-salt concentration.
While it may sound like a harmless
process, osmosis can actually kill a
freshwater fish placed in salt water.
16. kelp —[D] Large brown seaweed
found in cold waters. I’m used to
having kelp tangled around my legs
when I’m swimming, not having it
served to me in a salad.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-12 Good 13-14 Excellent 15-16 Exceptional
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SCIENCE WORDS
We created this quiz using words from the new American Heritage Science
Dictionary. We took it easy too—there’s nothing like a science dictionary
for words as long as a sentence! Instead, we chose words that show up in
everyday conversation but that aren’t quite common.
1 . bayou n.—A: wooded area.
B: narrow bay. C: rotten stump.
D: marshy stream.
2. fissure n.—A: crack. B: crease.
C: dip. D: seam.
3. concave adj.—A: curved outward.
B: completely flat. C: curved inward. D: linked together in a
series.
4. hexagon n.—A: six-sided shape.
B: nine-sided shape. C: manmade fiber. D: twelve-sided
shape.
5. secrete v.—A: to steal. B: eliminate. C: stretch out. D: produce
and discharge.
6. absorption n.—act of A: expanding. B: removing. C: assimilating.
D: purifying.
7. proboscis n.—A: microscopic
creature. B: testing device.
C: sound theory. D: nose.
8. inoculate v.—A: to eliminate entirely. B: increase slowly. C: create as new. D: introduce for
purposes of protection.
9. deciduous adj.—A: shedding,
as with leaves. B: inconclusive.
C: divisible by units of ten.
D: related to sound, as in volume.
10. tundra n.—A: arid plain.
B: shootlike plant leaf. C: cold,
treeless area. D: extremely flammable substance.
11 . slough v.—A: to separate.
B: shed. C: wash. D: mix.
12. simian adj.—A: resembling a
monkey. B: chemically volatile.
C: polished. D: raw.
13. malleable adj.—A: erroneous.
B: precise. C: unable to be
shaped. D: able to be shaped.
14. berm n.—A: type of beaker. B: celestial body. C: narrow ledge.
D: iceberg.
15. indigenous adj.—A: marked by
a reddish blue tint. B: native to a
particular region. C: made via
volcanic action. D: in a fixed migratory pattern.
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F AV O R I T E S U B J E C T S
ANSWERS
1 . bayou —[D] Sluggish, marshy
stream linked to a river, lake or gulf.
Let’s take my old boat out on the
bayou.
2. fissure —[A] Narrow crack in a
rock’s face. Clawing at the nearest
fissure, I tried to pull myself up.
3. concave —[C] Curved inward, like
the inside of a circle or sphere. My
binoculars could use new concave
lenses.
4. hexagon —[A] A polygon with six
sides. His drawing of hexagons
looks like a honeycomb.
5. secrete —[D] To produce and discharge a substance. There are cells
in the pancreas that secrete the hormone insulin.
6. absorption —[C] Process by which
one substance, such as a solid, takes
up or assimilates another substance,
such as a liquid, through tiny pores
or spaces between molecules. A
paper towel will pick up that spilled
milk by absorption.
7. proboscis —[D] Long snout or
trunk; nose. We stared at the elephant’s proboscis as it swayed to
and fro.
8. inoculate —[D] To introduce a vaccine or other agent into a body to
create or hike immunity to a disease. The soldiers were inoculated
against typhoid.
10. tundra —[C] Cold, treeless, usually
lowland area of far northern regions. I’m not sure that planning a
picnic out on the tundra is a good
idea.
11 . slough —[B] To shed, as with an
outer layer of skin. The kids got a
kick out of watching that king cobra
slough its skin.
12. simian —[A] Resembling or characteristic of apes or monkeys. I
don’t know how the boss tolerates
all of his scratching and other
simian antics.
13. malleable —[D] Capable of being
shaped when subject to pressure.
Sculpting with iron, I was surprised
to find out what a malleable substance it is when it’s hot.
14. berm —[C] Narrow, man-made
shelf or ledge, typically at the top or
bottom of a slope; man-made
mound or wall of earth. If you must
walk along the berm at the top of
the dike, please be careful.
15. indigenous —[B] Native to a particular region or environment. I
never thought black bears were indigenous to this area, but I’ve come
across three of them rooting around
in my trash cans in the past year.
9. deciduous —[A] Shedding leaves at
the end of a growing season and regrowing them at the beginning of
the next season. When fall arrives
and the rakes come out, I often wish
I had fewer deciduous trees in my
backyard.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
7-9 Good 10-12 Excellent 13-15 Exceptional
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WEATHER WORDS
In the days before 24-hour weather reporting, hey, there was always the
window. But back then we didn’t have Al Roker, esteemed forecaster and
Quiz Master of RD’s National Word Power Challenge. We predict you’ll
breeze through his weather-ese.
1 . barometer n.—instrument used
to measure A: wind speed. B: atmospheric pressure. C: cloud
cover. D: thunderstorm activity.
2. convection n.—A: transport of
heat and moisture. B: overheating. C: mold. D: cold snap.
3. dew point n.—temperature to
which air must be cooled to be
A: comfortable to humans.
B: saturated. C: moderately
moist. D: able to form ice crystals.
4. cirrus adj.—of clouds that are
A: high and delicate. B: dense.
C: low and thick. D: towering.
5. UV index n.—indicator of A: sunburn. B: heat. C: radiation.
D: cloud cover.
6. Doppler radar n.—equipment to
measure A: wind velocity. B: radial velocity. C: downdrafts.
D: squall severity.
7. cell n.—A: air current. B: weather
forecasting room. C: isolated
storm. D: vortex.
8. Fujita scale n.—measure of
A: earthquake severity. B: wind
damage intensity. C: flood potential. D: tornado activity.
9. cumulus adj.—of clouds with
A: sharp outlines. B: wispy
trails. C: blobby shapes. D: gray
tops.
10. jet stream n.—A: horizontal air
stream. B: westerly flow. C: influence on weather patterns.
D: high-altitude winds.
11 . trough n.—area of A: precipitation. B: heat. C: low atmospheric pressure. D: cold.
12. blizzard n.—storm with A: wet,
heavy snow. B: thunder and
lightning. C: dry, driving snow.
D: sleet and snow.
13. cold front n.—A: transition zone.
B: approaching storm. C: Arctic
weather pattern. D: wind gust.
14. wind chill n.—A: chance of frost.
B: perceived cold. C: gusts
higher than 50 m.p.h. D: storm
warning.
15. meteorology n.—science of
A: weather. B: atmosphere.
C: climate. D: informed predictions.
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F AV O R I T E S U B J E C T S
ANSWERS
1 . barometer —[B] Instrument used
to measure atmospheric pressure.
Low barometric pressure likely
means clouds and rain. When pressure is high, air is forced closer to
the ground, preventing clouds.
2. convection —[A] Transport of heat
and moisture, especially by updrafts
and downdrafts in an unstable atmosphere. Thunderstorms are one
form of convection.
3. dew point —[B] Temperature to
which air must be cooled to be saturated. In layman’s terms, how much
water is in the air compared with
what it can hold. The dew point can
indicate the likelihood of fog and
thunderstorms.
4. cirrus —[A] Of clouds that are high
(16,000 feet and more), delicate and
wispy.
5. UV index —[C] Indicator of radiation, or exposure to ultraviolet rays.
It’s measured at noon, ranked from
0 to 15, and is highest on a clear
summer day. Without sunscreen,
you’ll burn.
6. Doppler radar —[B] Equipment to
measure radial velocity (motion)
toward or away from the radar. The
latest high-resolution Doppler is
NEXRAD. It shows where precipitation is occurring, where it’s going
and how fast it’s going there.
7. cell —[A] Air current; a single updraft, downdraft or couplet of both.
It’s often seen as a vertical dome, as
in a towering cumulus cloud.
8. Fujita scale (F scale) —[B] Measure of wind damage intensity from
F0 to F5. It ranks wind speed after
the fact, based on damage. A very
violent tornado might be an F3 (158206 m.p.h.).
9. cumulus —[A] Of clouds with
sharp outlines. They develop vertically as domes or towers and have
rounded tops and horizontal bases.
The top often looks like a cauliflower.
10. jet stream —[A, B, C & D] The jet
stream is a horizontal, westerly flow
of air that’s normally found at high
altitudes. Our weather is closely related to the position and strength of
the jet stream.
11 . trough —[C] Elongated area of low
atmospheric pressure, also known
as an upper-level low. Preceded by
stormy weather and colder air at
the surface.
12. blizzard —[C] Storm with dry,
wind-driven snow. Commonly lots
of storms are called blizzards, but
technically they need to last at least
3 hours and reduce visibility to
under 1 km to qualify.
13. cold front —[A] Transition zone
between cold air that’s advancing to
replace warmer air. Also, the “leading edge” of a cold air mass.
14. wind chill —[B] Perceived cold.
The difference between the actual
temperature and how it feels when
the wind is factored in. So if it’s 17°
out with a 10 m.p.h. wind, it feels
like 5°.
15. meteorology —[A, B, C & D] All of
these are part of the meteorologist’s
profession.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
8-10 Mild 11-12 Warm 13-15 Hot, Hot, Hot!
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GARDENING WORDS
While not everyone enjoys the work it takes to have a beautiful yard,
there are few who don’t appreciate beautiful flowers, soft, weed-free
grass, and a bountiful garden. Savor, too, these words—all related to gardening and plants.
1 . herbaceous adj.—A: edible.
B: green and leaflike. C: tasty.
D: vinelike.
2. leggy adj.—A: invasive. B: with
many roots. C: long and thin.
D: covered with aphids.
3. hybrid n.—A: fake. B: pure variety. C: producer. D: composite.
4. biennial n.—Plant that A: takes
two years to grow. B: blooms
twice a year. C: has two stems.
D: blossoms in pairs.
5. leach v.—A: to cling to. B: add
lime. C: dissolve out. D: discolor.
6. drip line n.—A: watering device.
B: perimeter of tree. C: erosion.
D: mark left by condensation.
7. thatch n.—A: dead grass. B: cluster of fruit. C: rake. D: disease.
8. loam n.—A: sand. B: acid. C: alkaline deposit. D: rich soil.
9. variegated adj.—A: in rows.
B: having different colors. C: genetically altered. D: well watered.
10. heirloom n.—A: squash. B: antique vegetable. C: trellis.
D: protective netting.
11 . sucker n.—A: melon. B: caterpillar. C: weed. D: unwanted shoot.
12. blanch v.—A: to exclude light.
B: trim. C: overwater. D: sun-dry.
13. cultivar n.—A: wildflower. B: gardener’s tool. C: cultivated variety. D: expert gardener.
14. dieback n.—Deterioration
A: from the root. B: from tips.
C: across a crop. D: inside fruit.
15. bolt v.—A: to secure with stakes.
B: produce seeds early. C: pinch
back. D: grow underground.
16. humus n.—A: dry dirt. B: bright
color. C: organic residue.
D: rock.
17. perennial n.—Plant that A: lasts a
year. B: flowers. C: grows from
bulbs. D: returns year after year.
18. deadhead v.—A: to remove flowers. B: pull weeds. C: stunt
growth. D: squish bugs.
19. trug n.—A: lawn pest. B: old
root. C: basket. D: climber.
20. rhizome n.—A: underground
stem. B: cornstalk. C: pesticide.
D: rose petal.
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F AV O R I T E S U B J E C T S
ANSWERS
1 . herbaceous —[B] Green and
leaflike, with soft, nonwoody tissues; as, Herbaceous plants die back
to the roots at the end of the growing season. Latin herbaceus (grassy).
2. leggy —[C] Long and thin; straggly;
as, Inadequate light can cause
plants to grow tall and leggy.
3. hybrid —[D] Composite of two different species or varieties, especially when bred for a desirable
trait. Latin hybrida (offspring of a
tame sow and a wild boar).
4. biennial —[A] A plant that takes
two years to complete its growth
cycle; as, Flowering biennials usually bloom in the second season.
5. leach —[C] To dissolve out; as,
Heavy rains have leached minerals
from the soil. Old English leccan (to
water).
6. drip line —[B] Perimeter of a tree
where water drips from overhanging leaves; as, Fertilize a tree along
the drip line.
7. thatch —[A] Buildup of dead grass
between soil and lawn; as, Remove
thatch so nutrients can reach the
soil. Old English theccan (to cover).
8. loam —[D] Rich, balanced, fertile
soil; as, Loam holds moisture well.
Middle English lam (clay).
9. variegated —[B] Having streaks or
spots of different colors; as, variegated ivy.
10. heirloom —[B] Vegetable variety
from the 19th century, preserved by
the passing of seeds from one generation to the next; as, Heirlooms
are known for their robust flavor.
11 . sucker —[D] Unwanted shoot from
the stem or root that draws nutrients
from the flower or fruit; as, Remove
suckers from staked tomato plants.
12. blanch —[A] To exclude light by
covering; as, Blanch endive to make
the leaves more tender. Old French
blanchir (to whiten).
13. cultivar —[C] Plant variety that
has been produced and maintained
by cultivation, rather than grown in
the wild.
14. dieback —[B] Deterioration from
the tips of branches or shoots
caused by disease or pests, leading
to the death of the plant.
15. bolt —[B] To produce seeds prematurely; as, Lettuce tends to bolt in
midsummer heat. Old English
(arrow).
16. humus —[C] Organic residue in
soil; as, Topsoil is rich in humus.
Latin (earth, ground).
17 . perennial —[D] Plant that grows
back year after year for three seasons or more. Latin perennis
(through the year).
18. deadhead —[A] To remove faded
or dead flowers; as, Deadhead plants
to encourage further blooming.
19. trug —[C] Basket made of wood
strips for carrying flowers or vegetables. British, of uncertain origin.
20. rhizome —[A] Underground, horizontal stem that produces shoots
and roots; as, Most common irises
grow from rhizomes. Greek rhiza
(root).
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-14 Good 15-17 Excellent 18-20 Exceptional
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BIRD WORDS
We listen to their songs, watch them soar, and marvel at their lives, but only
a small percentage of us know many details about birds. That’s changing,
though—backyard bird watching is one of America’s fastest-growing hobbies. These words will help your knowledge of birds take flight.
1 . plumage n.—A: downward
swoop. B: feathers. C: dense forest. D: edible seeds.
2. forage v.—A: to move forward.
B: fly in circles. C: search for
food. D: destroy crops.
3. fledgling n.—A: distinctive marking. B: tightened claw. C: hawk
trainer. D: young bird.
4. granivorous adj.—feeding A: on
greens. B: rarely. C: on grains.
D: in flocks.
5. clutch n.—A: nest of eggs. B: spot
for bird-watching. C: trained
hawk. D: field mouse.
6. aquiline adj.—related to A: waterfowl. B: eagles. C: small birds.
D: tropical breeds.
7. carrion n.—A: type of buzzard.
B: decaying flesh. C: mud nest.
D: bird-watching tool.
8. molt v.—A: to shed. B: build a
nest. C: migrate to the south.
D: migrate to the north.
9. keratin n.—A: bird’s eye. B: type
of egret. C: substance in a bird’s
bill. D: kind of enclosure.
10. chaparral n.—A: shrubby habitat.
B: windstorm. C: desert environment. D: marsh.
11 . frugivorous adj.—feeding A: on
small mammals. B: frequently.
C: on fruit. D: on fish.
12. predation n.—act of A: nesting.
B: migration. C: plundering.
D: reproduction.
13. savanna n.—A: stream. B: migratory pattern. C: group of swans.
D: grassland.
14. diurnal adj.—A: eating twice
daily. B: active during daytime.
C: in constant motion. D: prone
to sleeping for long periods of
time.
15. taxonomy n.—A: preservation of
an animal group. B: studying
and tracking of species. C: classification of organisms. D: stuffing of animals.
16. crest n.—A: breast markings.
B: perch. C: tail feather. D: tuft.
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F AV O R I T E S U B J E C T S
ANSWERS
1 . plumage —[B] Feathers. You can
10. chaparral —[A] Habitat composed
always tell the cardinal by its distinctive red plumage.
of shrubby plants adapted to dry
summers and moist winters. As
cities along California’s coast grow,
chaparral is disappearing and some
birds are struggling to survive.
2. forage —[C] To wander in search
of food. Birds that don’t fly south
for the winter must forage intensely
once the snow comes.
3. fledgling —[D] Young bird; immature, inexperienced person. We
were so happy to see the fledgling
make his way back to the nest.
4. granivorous —[C] Feeding on
grains or seeds. Would a granivorous bird like a handful of Cheerios?
5. clutch —[A] Nest of eggs; bunch or
group. My son’s class was surprised
to come across a clutch of robins’
eggs during their nature walk today.
6. aquiline —[B] Of, relating to, resembling an eagle; curving like an
eagle’s beak. From this angle, she
appears to have an extremely
aquiline profile.
7. carrion —[B] Dead, decaying flesh.
I’d rather not wind up as carrion for
the buzzards.
8. molt —[A] To shed, as with feathers, hair, shell, horns; to cast off. I
am guessing that the bird will molt
when it gets a bit older.
9. keratin —[C] Fibrous protein that
serves as the outer layer of a bird’s
bill. Beneath the keratin cover, the
parrot’s beak has a bony frame.
11 . frugivorous —[C] Feeding on fruit.
I put some apple slices in the feeder
for the frugivorous birds.
12. predation —[C] Act of plundering
or preying. There are few displays
of predation as dramatic as a peregrine falcon swooping in for the
kill.
13. savanna —[D] Mixture of grasslands and scattered trees. You can
expect to see finches living in savannas throughout the world.
14. diurnal —[B] Active chiefly in the
daytime; recurring daily. She wakes
up each morning to sounds of the
diurnal birds in her backyard trees.
15. taxonomy —[C] Classification, esp.
orderly classification of plants and
animals according to their natural
relationships. If you studied taxonomy, you’d know that blackbirds
and orioles are closely related.
16. crest —[D] Tuft on the head of a
bird or other animal; something
suggesting an upper edge or limit.
That kingfisher has a particularly
shaggy crest, don’t you think?
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-12 Good 13-14 Excellent 15-16 Exceptional
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FINANCE WORDS
Many people only focus on their financial condition around tax time. Still,
you can dazzle your accountant with your command of high-finance jargon
by learning these words of finance. Then drone on about your investment
savvy until his eyes glaze over. He’ll be putty in your hands.
1 . zombie n.—A: inept stockbroker.
B: insolvent company. C: littletraded security. D: write-off.
2. default v.—A: to fail to pay on
time. B: foreclose. C: engage in
short-selling. D: forgive a loan.
3. insider n.—a person who A: reports illegal practices. B: has
privileged information. C: predicts market changes. D: gossips.
4. teenie n.—A: penny stock. B: undervalued fund. C: inexperienced trader. D: 1/16 of a point.
5. fiduciary n.—one who A: holds
assets for another. B: gives financial advice. C: keeps stocks
long-term. D: offers credit.
6. contrarian adj.—an investment
style that is A: deceptive. B: not
profitable. C: cautious.
D: against market trends.
7. prospectus n.—A: positive outlook. B: banking agreement.
C: profit-and-loss statement.
D: formal business document.
8. syndicate n.—A: financial consortium. B: banking agreement.
C: oil cartel. D: underwriter.
9. bellwether n.—A: omen of a bear
market. B: name of the opening
bell on the NYSE. C: indicator
of trends. D: blue-chip stock.
10. annuity n.—A: canceled loan.
B: investment instrument. C: insurance policy. D: secret partner.
11 . hedge v.—to invest in order to
A: reduce risk. B: exclude certain industries. C: seem contrarian. D: support “green” causes.
12. shelter v.—A: to launder money.
B: reduce taxes. C: trick investors. D: protect assets.
13. arbitrage n.—A: portfolio diversification. B: earnings projection. C: illegal trading. D: simultaneous buying and selling.
14. margin n.—A: use of borrowed
funds to buy securities. B: profit.
C: difference between opening/
closing price. D: loss.
15. OTC adj.—of A: small transactions. B: unlisted stocks. C: P/E
ratios. D: brokers’ licenses.
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F AV O R I T E S U B J E C T S
ANSWERS
1 . zombie —[B] Insolvent company
that is still doing business. You
know ... the living dead. Zombies are
an unwise investment.
9. bellwether —[C] A leading indicator of trends. A bellwether stock can
help traders gauge the direction of
the market.
2. default —[A] Fail to pay interest or
10. annuity —[B] In its fixed form, it’s
principal when due. The IRS takes a
dim view of taxpayers who default.
an investment instrument that
makes predetermined payments
over a specific time period. A variable annuity has a minimum guarantee, but payments fluctuate.
3. insider —[B] A person who has
privileged, nonpublic information
about a company. Corporate directors and officers are insiders.
4. teenie —[D] A measure of value (in
the stock market) representing 1/16
(.0625) of a point. The difference
between the opening and closing
price of a stock is often just a teenie.
5. fiduciary —[A] A person or institution legally authorized to hold assets in trust for another and to
manage them for the other’s benefit.
6. contrarian —[D] An investment
style that bucks market trends and
popular opinion. David Denby’s
book American Sucker is a tale of
contrarian investing.
7. prospectus —[D] A formal business document with legal standing,
laying out a company’s capitalization, sales projections and the like.
Investors should study a prospectus
before putting money into an IPO.
8. syndicate —[A] Consortium of
bankers, insurers and others who
temporarily work together on, say,
an underwriting to spread the risk.
11 . hedge —[A] Invest to reduce the
risk of adverse changes in the price
of an asset. Investors often hedge
when they’re unsure where the
market’s going.
12. shelter —[B] Reduce taxes by
choosing investments offering favorable tax treatment. The IRS
closely watches those who shelter
their income.
13. arbitrage —[D] Simultaneous sale
and purchase of a security or commodity to profit from a price differential, often on different exchanges.
14. margin —[A] Use of borrowed
money to purchase securities. In a
margin account, the stocks you own
are collateral for the loan. You
could be forced to sell them if the
market fell and you got a margin
call.
15. OTC —[B] Of stocks unlisted on an
exchange (over-the-counter). The
NASDAQ is an OTC marketplace.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-11 Good 12-13 Excellent 14-15 Exceptional
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ROOTS AND BRANCHES
WORDS WITH
INTERESTING ORIGINS
Ever wonder how words are born? If so, check out Word Histories and
Mysteries (American Heritage Dictionaries). This book probes the roots
of dozens of words we toss around every day. We tossed 16 of them into
this quiz.
1 . bumpkin n.—A: loudmouthed
pest. B: unsophisticated person.
C: poor relative. D: country
road.
2. chortle v.—A: to jostle. B: resist
strenuously. C: snort like a
horse. D: chuckle.
3. kiosk n.—A: vendor’s small
structure. B: open-air theater.
C: Russian pastry. D: wooden
barrel.
4. filibuster v.—A: to cut patterns
into. B: add to. C: delay so as to
prevent action. D: punch softly.
5. dervish n.—A: tiny African rodent. B: root vegetable. C: one
who dances wildly. D: layer of
skin.
6. hobnob v.—A: to avoid. B: approach warily. C: associate familiarly. D: stomp.
7. ilk n.—A: sort or kind. B: Asian
fabric. C: type of hardwood tree.
D: opposite.
8. dirge n.—A: sharp edge. B: song
of grief. C: balloon-style airship.
D: uncontrolled anger.
9. pariah n.—A: talking bird. B: outcast. C: tropical fruit. D: manner
of speaking.
10. winsome adj.—A: victorious.
B: cheerful. C: thoughtful. D: annoying.
11 . caprice n.—A: large beetle.
B: ankle-length garment. C: leap.
D: impulsive notion.
12. pander v.—A: to cater to others’
weaknesses. B: praise. C: offer
solutions. D: seek help from.
13. hermetic adj.—A: wandering.
B. lonely, exiled. C: airtight, impervious. D: analytical.
14. lucre n.—A: money. B: good fortune. C: clear in thought. D: lack
of conviction.
15. internecine adj.—A: marked by
collaboration. B: endless. C: mutually destructive. D: infrequent.
16. zither n.—A: highest point.
B: flowering shrub. C: arrow
holder. D: stringed instrument.
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ROOTS A N D B RA N C H ES
ANSWERS
1 . bumpkin —[B] Awkward, unsophisticated person.[Probably fr.
Middle Dutch bommekijn, “little
barrel,” or Flemish boomken,
“shrub.”] What sort of bumpkin eats
with his hands?
2. chortle —[D] To laugh or chuckle,
esp. in satisfaction.[Coined by
Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass, 1872.] Having aced the
midterm, he chortled at the teacher.
3. kiosk —[A] Small structure with
one or more open sides, used for
selling goods, services.[Fr. Turkish
kösk, “pavilion.”] I get my gum at
the kiosk near the bus stop.
4. filibuster —[C] Delay so as to prevent action, esp. in a legislative
body.[Fr. Dutch vrijbuiter, “freebooter,” via Spanish filibustero.]
Don’t try to filibuster your way out
of doing your chores.
5. dervish —[C] Member of Muslim
order known to move as though entering a trance; one who dances
with the same abandon.[Fr. Persian
darvesh, “religious mendicant.”] She
moved like a whirling dervish.
6. hobnob —[C] To associate familiarly; drink together.[Fr. Middle
English hab or nab, “give or take.”]
It’s time to hobnob with the bosses.
7. ilk —[A] Sort or kind.[Fr. Old English ilca, “same.”] I’m afraid I don’t
like to read books of that ilk.
8. dirge —[B] Song or hymn of
grief.[Fr. Latin dirige, “direct.”] The
sadness of the funeral dirge haunts
me.
9. pariah —[B] Outcast.[Fr. Tamil
paraiyan, “drummer” from lower
class or caste.] The group may treat
a new member like a pariah.
10. winsome —[B] Generally pleasing;
cheerful.[Fr. Old English wynn,
“joy.”] Your winsome expression
tells me you’re happy to see me.
11 . caprice —[D] Impulsive notion.[Fr.
Italian capriccio, “state of fright” in
which one’s hairs stand up like
those of a hedgehog.] Jetting off to
Spain is the kind of caprice he’s
known for.
12. pander —[A] To cater to others’
weaknesses.[Derived fr. Pandare in
Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde, “gobetween in sexual intrigues, procurer.”] Don’t pander to the voters.
13. hermetic —[C] Airtight; impervious.[Fr. New Latin hermeticus, “pertaining to alchemy,” for Hermes,
Greek god of alchemy.] My container has a hermetic seal.
14. lucre —[A] Money; profit.[Fr. Latin
lucrum, “monetary gain.”] Let’s split
the lucre from our lemonade stand.
15. internecine —[C] Mutually destructive.[Fr. Latin internecinus,
“murderous.”] The clash between
the seniors and freshmen is the
worst internecine dispute this
school has seen.
16. zither —[D] Stringed
instrument.[Fr. Latin cithara.] He’s a
pretty good guitar player, but I’m
not sure he’s ever tried his hand at
the zither.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-12 Good 13-14 Excellent 15-16 Exceptional
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WORDS FROM ANCIENT GREECE
Thanks to their rotating summer and winter schedules, we are never more
than two years away from the next Olympics. Which means it’s always a
good time to tackle words with roots in ancient Greece. Consider this quiz
something of a vocabulary odyssey—and let the games begin.
1 . cacophony n.—A: false statement. B: sweet chocolate cake.
C: ancient casket. D: harsh
sound.
2. oenophile n.—A: food lover.
B: wine lover. C: wine hater.
D: purple flower.
3. spartan adj.—A: vast. B: lacking
in luxury. C: combative. D: of a
checked or plaid design.
4. synthesize v.—A: to make from
plastic. B: grow. C: combine. D:
develop a theory.
5. calisthenics n.—A: rubbing of
rough skin. B: tong-like tool.
C: form of exercise. D: changes.
6. calliope n.—A: disaster. B: precise handwriting. C: organ-like
instrument. D: unwelcome
guest.
7. asphyxiate v.—A: to clean skin.
B: help breathe. C: become obsessed with. D: deny breath.
8. Arcadian adj.—A: pastoral.
B: birdlike. C: related to coinoperated games. D: dark green.
9. tautological adj.—A: redundant.
B: tight. C: illogical. D: relating
to ships and sea.
10. panorama n.—A: movie screen.
B: all-night diner. C: arid plain.
D: unobstructed view in all directions.
11 . paradigm n.—A: clear example.
B: brief drumroll. C: best of its
kind. D: set of two coins.
12. demagogue v.—A: to lead by
emotional appeal. B: show.
C: discuss politics. D: explain in
shorthand.
13. onomatopoeic adj.—related to
A: words that sound like what
they mean. B: dry atmosphere.
C: nomadic people. D: free-verse
poetry.
14. ethos n.—A: upper regions of
space. B: sympathy. C: guiding
beliefs. D: shame.
15. euphoric adj.—A: harmonious.
B: elated. C: rural. D: inherited.
16. synchronize v.—A: to fix. B: turn
repeatedly. C: share. D: make
happen at the same time.
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ROOTS A N D B RA N C H ES
ANSWERS
1 . cacophony —[D] Harsh or discordant sound. How am I supposed to
get to sleep with that constant cacophony coming from upstairs?
9. tautological —[A] Redundant;
containing needless repetition.
“The giant was big” is a tautological
statement, to say the least.
2. oenophile —[B] Lover or connois-
10. panorama —[D] Unobstructed or
seur of wine. You’re known as such
an oenophile that I’d rather let you
pick the wine.
complete view of an area in every
direction. You can’t beat the
panorama from the top of the Empire State Building.
3. spartan —[B] Marked by simplicity, or avoidance of luxury. I’m
ditching all my electronic devices
and living a more spartan lifestyle.
4. synthesize —[C] To combine parts
to form a whole. Try to synthesize
your skills into an exciting new career.
5. calisthenics —[C] Systematic,
rhythmic bodily exercises. Let’s do
calisthenics every day before lunch
to try to improve the children’s fitness.
6. calliope —[C] Keyboard instrument resembling an organ, consisting of whistles sounded by steam or
compressed air. The carousel
slowed to a stop, but the calliope
played on.
7. asphyxiate —[D] To cause a lack
of oxygen in the body, usually by interruption of breathing. I know you
didn’t ask my opinion, but I think
you should loosen that tie before
you asphyxiate yourself.
8. Arcadian —[A] Idyllically pastoral,
innocent or simple. Taking in the
Arcadian view from the farmhouse
porch, I decided I needed more
time off before returning to the city.
11 . paradigm —[A] Example, especially an outstandingly clear or typical one. For a literary paradigm in
the area of obsession, see Captain
Ahab in Moby Dick.
12. demagogue —[A] To lead by using
emotional appeals and popular prejudices. Why is he trying to demagogue his way to victory if he knows
it’s wrong?
13. onomatopoeic —[A] Related to the
use of words whose sound suggest
their sense. Terms like buzz and
hiss give her poetry an onomatopoeic quality.
14. ethos —[C] Distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature or
guiding beliefs. The idea of cheating in any way offends my personal
ethos.
15. euphoric —[B] Elated. The euphoric smile on my face is there because I just found out I’m getting a
raise.
16. synchronize —[D] Make happen or
exist at precisely the same time.
Let’s synchronize our departures so
we both get to the stadium at 6:30.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
9-10 Bronze 11-13 Silver 14-16 Gold
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WORDS FROM GAELIC
Sláinte is táinte! (slawn-chuh iss tawn-chuh!) That’s an Irish toast to your
health and wealth. That might be a new expression for you, but you’ll likely
be surprised by the number of words that made their way into English from
Gaelic, the parent language of Irish and Scots Gaelic. Here are 17 good ones.
1 . keen v.—A: to sail. B: shout.
C: giggle. D: wail.
2. smidgen n.—A: smear of mud or
dirt. B: short person. C: small
amount. D: tiny dove.
3. bard n.—one who A: is excluded.
B: is angry. C: rides horses.
D: writes poetry.
4. cairn n.—A: alligator. B: collection of stones. C: spinning
wheel. D: statue.
5. smithereens n.—A: deep valleys.
B: particles of dirt. C: silver
pitchers. D: small pieces.
6. glom v.—A: to grab. B: boast.
C: indulge. D: depress.
7. galore adv.—A: in excess. B: in an
awkward manner. C: in plentiful
amounts. D: in an elegant way.
8. dour adj.—A: sullen. B: brave.
C: tart. D: penniless.
9. reel v.—A: to capsize. B: sway.
C: catch. D: sympathize.
10. blather v.—A: to annoy. B: wash.
C: stutter. D: talk foolishly.
11 . brogue n.—A: dishonest person.
B: shoe. C: elaborate needlework. D: foreign language.
12. dun adj.—A: grayish brown.
B: boring. C: uneducated. D: morose.
13. kibosh n.—A: bad advice.
B: magic spell. C: nonsense.
D: smoked sausage.
14. slew n.—A: large number.
B: hunter’s kill. C: horse-drawn
carriage. D: chimney air duct.
15. glean v.—A: to garden. B: polish
to a bright shine. C: scowl.
D: gather.
16. hooligan n.—A: thug. B: tin whistle player. C: commotion.
D: street gang.
17. slogan n.—A: long walk. B: untidy person. C: distinctive
phrase. D: rhyming song.
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ROOTS A N D B RA N C H ES
ANSWERS
1 . keen —[D] To wail in lament for
the dead; as, While the bagpipes
played, the keening widow was led
from the church. As an adjective,
keen means acute or piercing. From
the Irish caoine (lament).
2. smidgen —[C] A small amount; as,
The photographer asked the girl to
move a smidgen to the left. From
Gaelic smidin or smitch (small
amount or insignificant person).
3. bard —[D] Once, a person who
wrote and recited epic poetry;
today, an accomplished poet. From
bàrd (poet of a certain rank).
4. cairn —[B] A pile of stones set up
as a monument or landmark. From
càrn (heap, pile).
5. smithereens —[D] Small pieces;
as, The mirror was broken into
smithereens. From the Irish
smidiríní (fragment, little bits).
6. glom —[A] To catch or grab; to
steal. From glam (snatch at, grab).
7. galore —[C] In plentiful amounts;
as, The victory was celebrated with
food and drink galore. Irish go leor,
Gaelic gu leòr (enough, plenty).
8. dour —[A] Sullen; gloomy; as, The
headmaster had a dour disposition.
Gaelic dùr (rough and rocky land),
borrowed from the Latin durus
(hard and severe).
9. reel —[B] To sway from a blow or
shock, often as in dizziness; as, Her
mind reeled at her husband’s accusation. Also, as a noun, a Celtic
dance. Gaelic righil.
11 . brogue —[B] Sturdy shoe (and
originally a peasant’s heavy shoe);
also, strong Irish accent in the pronunciation of English. Irish bróg
(shoe).
12. dun —[A] A dull grayish brown.
Also, a description of a horse of that
color. From Old Irish donn (dark).
13. kibosh —[C] Nonsense; most often
used in the phrase “put the kibosh
on,” meaning put an end to. Perhaps
from Gaelic cie báis (cap of death).
Kye-bosh was used in Dickens’s
Sketches of Boz, 1836.
14. slew —[A] A large number or
quantity; as, A slew of people
waited for the mayor-elect to arrive.
From Irish sluagh (crowd or army).
15. glean —[D] To gather, learn, find
out; as, The detective tried to glean
clues from the crime scene. From
Old Irish do-glenn (he gathers).
16. hooligan —[A] A young thug or
street hoodlum. From Irish surname
Houlihan or O hUallachain. An
1890s music-hall song about the
rowdy Hooligan family was popular
at the same time that a street gang
of that name terrorized London.
17 . slogan —[C] A distinctive phrase
often associated with a product or
political party; as, Eisenhower campaigners wore buttons with the slogan “I Like Ike.” From Irish slogorne
(battle cry), Gaelic sluagh ghairm
(army cry; call to the multitude).
10. blather —[D] To talk foolishly or
babble; as, He blathered on, making
feeble excuses. Gaelic blether or
bladar (chatter).
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VOCABULARY RATINGS
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WORDS THAT START WITH “QU”
We wanted to think up a quirky quiz, something a little queer and quixotic,
and it came to us! Here are 16 words that start with “qu”—some common,
some quite challenging. But don’t quit!
1 . quisling n.—A: traitor. B: young
goose. C: hissing sound. D: eccentric person.
2. quiddity n.—A: oddness. B: financial security. C: fine point.
D: stock transaction.
3. query v.—A: to dig deep. B: question. C: accuse. D: explore.
4. quidnunc n.—A: falsehood.
B: snow shelter. C: busybody.
D: clam from Maine.
5. querulous adj.—A: ornery. B: inquisitive. C: open to criticism.
D: full of complaints.
6. quizzical adj.—A: comical.
B: stumped. C: watchful. D: full
of questions.
7. quintessence n.—A: uniqueness.
B: credibility. C: sweetest part.
D: purest form.
8. quasar n.—A: celestial object.
B: laser gun. C: molecule.
D: ousted dictator.
9. quandary n.—A: word puzzle.
B: dilemma. C: English maze of
hedges. D: target.
10. quiescent adj.—A: psychic.
B: translucent. C: inactive. D: in
turmoil.
11 . quixotic adj.—A: impractical.
B: mesmerizing. C: sappy.
D: mood-altering.
12. quell v.—A: to sound off. B: surrender. C: usurp. D: suppress.
13. quibble v.—A: to bicker. B: make
bets. C: fidget. D: play mind
games.
14. quorum n.—A: Senate chamber.
B: medicinal substance. C: majority. D: Arabic letter.
15. quail v.—A: to cry loudly.
B: shiver from the cold. C: feel
under the weather. D: lose heart.
16. quantum adj.—A: related to astronomy. B: significant. C: mathematical. D: giant-sized.
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ROOTS A N D B RA N C H ES
ANSWERS
1 . quisling —[A] Traitor; someone
who double-crosses his country by
aiding an invading enemy. After Vidkun Quisling, the Norwegian politician who betrayed his country to the
Nazis and became its puppet ruler.
10. quiescent —[C] Inactive, at rest; as,
A winter landscape often appears
quiescent. Latin, from the present
participle of quiescere (to rest).
11 . quixotic —[A] Impractical; foolishly
distinction in an argument; as, The
professor’s erudition made it difficult
to grasp the quiddity of his lecture.
Latin quidditas (essence of a thing).
idealistic, like Don Quixote, hero of
the Cervantes novel, who tries in a
chivalrous but unrealistic way to rescue the oppressed and fight evil; as,
Some people consider Ralph Nader
to be a quixotic crusader.
3. query —[B] To question, ask about;
12. quell —[D] To suppress, silence; as,
2. quiddity —[C] Fine point or subtle
as, Few people queried his absence
from the office. Latin quaere.
4. quidnunc —[C] Busybody; person
eager to know the latest news and
gossip; as, Our chatty barber is also
the local quidnunc. Latin, literally
“what now?”
5. querulous —[D] Full of complaints;
given to finding fault; as, He was annoyed with all her querulous remarks. Latin queri (to complain).
6. quizzical —[A] Comical; also, puzzled. As the little girl took a bite of
spinach, the quizzical look on her
face made her family laugh.
7. quintessence —[D] The purest
essence or form of a thing. In ancient philosophy, the fifth essence
was believed to compose the heavenly bodies. Latin quinta (fifth) essentia (essence).
8. quasar —[A] Celestial object that
emits powerful light and radio
waves from beyond our galaxy.
Originally an acronym coined in the
1960s from quasi-stellar object.
The police were called to quell the
disturbance in the neighborhood.
Old English cwellan (to kill).
13. quibble —[A] To bicker or complain
about trivial matters; as, With all the
couple’s quibbling, it’s a wonder
they’re still together. From Latin quis
(who) and then quibus (by what
things), which gave rise to the noun
form of quibble (equivocation).
14. quorum —[C] A majority, in most
cases; the number of members of a
group required to be present to
conduct official business; as, Without a quorum, the board of directors
couldn’t pass the resolution.
15. quail —[D] To lose heart or
courage in the face of difficulties or
danger; as, A Doberman will not
quail from an intruder. Middle
Dutch quelen (suffer, be ill).
16. quantum —[B] Significant and sudden; as, The company experienced
a quantum increase in productivity.
Latin quantus (how much).
9. quandary —[B] Dilemma; state of
uncertainty; as, Difficult decisions
can often leave one in a quandary.
Unknown origin.
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VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-12 Good 13-14 Excellent 15-16 Exceptional
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WORDS THAT CONTAIN “TEN”
Let us honor the number ten by challenging ourselves with words that
begin or end with it. Listen for the ten in everyday words: Often it’s shy and
silent, but other times it’s bold, demanding your attention.
1 . tenacious adj.—A: vicious. B: extremely ambitious. C: persistent.
D: succulent.
2. chasten v.—A: to rub raw.
B: scold. C: follow closely.
D: seal tightly.
3. tendentious adj.—A: biased.
B: risky. C: superficial. D: arrogant.
4. molten adj.—A: milky. B: feathery. C: glowing. D: liquefied by
heat.
5. tenor n.—A: portly Italian man.
B: purport. C: high point.
D: wooden flute.
6. tauten v.—A: to genuflect. B: instruct. C: tease. D: tighten up.
7. marten n.—A: cat. B: weasel.
C: tropical bird. D: fish.
8. tensile adj.—A: stretchable.
B: shimmery. C: slender. D: on
edge.
9. tenuous adj.—A: rigid. B: abrupt.
C: plentiful. D: flimsy.
10. christen v.—A: to name. B: induct. C: pray. D: sprinkle.
11 . tendril n.—A: bird call. B: ballet
move. C: threadlike plant organ.
D: hat.
12. batten n.—A: hood. B: strip of
wood. C: wand. D: boat.
13. tenet n.—A: small covering.
B: Eastern philosophy. C: doctrine. D: lodger.
14. hearten v.—A: palpitate. B: irk.
C: endear. D: encourage.
15. tender v.—A: to offer formally.
B: count. C: marinate. D: massage.
16. heighten v.—A: inform. B: salute.
C: intensify. D: stimulate.
17. tenderfoot n.—A: young boy.
B: novice. C: hiker. D: horse
trainer.
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ROOTS A N D B RA N C H ES
ANSWERS
1 . tenacious —[C] Persistent in adhering to something valued or habitual; highly retentive; as, a
tenacious memory. Latin tenax
(holding fast).
2. chasten —[B] Scold; punish with
the aim of correcting or improving;
also, to purify; as, Reward humility,
chasten pridefulness. Old French
chastier.
3. tendentious —[A] Biased; favoring
or promoting a point of view; as,
Talk-show hosts often take a tendentious approach to topics. Latin
tendentia (tendency).
4. molten —[D] Liquefied by heat; as,
Molten lava from Hawaii’s Kilauea
volcano is a constant threat to
nearby homes. From Greek meldein
(to melt).
5. tenor —[B] Purport; drift or general meaning; also, the second highest range of the male singing voice;
as, The tenor of the President’s
speech was patriotic. Latin tenere
(to hold).
6. tauten —[D] To tighten or pull
close together. Old English togian
(to pull).
7. marten —[B] Member of the
weasel family, which lives in northern forests and is prized for its fur.
Middle English martren.
8. tensile —[A] Capable of being
stretched or drawn out; as, Plastics
are tested for tensile strength. Latin
tensus.
9. tenuous —[D] Flimsy; lacking a
sound basis; as, The judge dismissed the lawsuit because of tenuous evidence. Latin tenuitas
(thinness).
10. christen —[A] To name; dedicate;
baptize; as, The owner christened
his yacht with a bottle of Dom
Pérignon. Old English cristen.
11 . tendril —[C] Threadlike, often spiral part of a climbing plant used for
support; as, Tendrils from a pumpkin covered the garden fence. Middle French tendron (a sprout).
12. batten —[B] Board or strip of
wood used on sailboats and in construction to span joints or reinforce.
Middle English batent (finished
board).
13. tenet —[C] Any doctrine, principle
or opinion held as true by a group;
as, the tenets of conservatism. From
Latin tenere (to hold).
14. hearten —[D] Encourage; cheer
up; as, Your kind words heartened
me. Middle English herte.
15. tender —[A] To make an official
offer; present formally for acceptance; as, to tender one’s resignation.
16. heighten —[C] Intensify; increase;
as, Musical scores helped heighten
suspense in Hitchcock films. From
Old English hiehtho.
17 . tenderfoot —[B] Novice; raw, inexperienced person; also, newcomer
to ranching or mining lands in the
Old West.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-13 Good 14-15 Excellent 16-17 Exceptional
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ADVERBS
Here we spotlight the most versatile modifiers in the English language—
the adroit adverbs. They usually wear an -ly ending like an ID badge and
stand ready and able to intensify verbs, amplify adjectives or even rev up
other adverbs.
1 . jauntily—A: with jerky motion.
B: in a lively manner. C: heavily.
D: at an angle.
2. wantonly—A: drily. B: rudely.
C: unjustifiably. D: seriously.
3. contritely—A: pompously. B: in
brief. C: humbly. D: at rest.
4. pusillanimously—A: cordially.
B: aggressively. C: with sarcasm.
D: timidly.
5. manifestly—A: aptly. B: regularly. C: plainly. D: with skill.
6. ignominiously—A: in a tasteful
way. B: without grounds. C: foolishly. D: dishonorably.
7. unequivocally—A: cruelly.
B: conclusively. C: harmlessly.
D: uncomfortably.
8. meretriciously—A: with merit.
B: deceptively. C: neatly. D: joyfully.
9. obsequiously—A: cruelly. B: in a
stubborn way. C: proudly. D: like
a servant.
10. profusely—A: in a stingy manner. B: without limitation.
C: subtly. D: obscenely.
11 . inscrutably—A: solemnly.
B: with great tenderness.
C: mysteriously. D: without
laughing.
12. eminently—A: quietly. B: with
modesty. C: very. D: religiously.
13. expeditiously—A: selfishly.
B: with curiosity. C: in an efficient way. D: laboriously.
14. egregiously—A: violently. B: extremely. C: superbly. D: eagerly.
15. indubitably—A: formally. B: in
an awkward way. C: without
question. D: easily.
16. decorously—A: heavily. B: politely. C: warmly. D: vigorously.
17. blithely—A: sadly. B: hopelessly.
C: with sly intent. D: cheerfully.
18. vicariously—A: loudly. B: by substitute. C: with deliberation.
D: daringly.
19. utterly—A: repeatedly. B: in no
time. C: fully. D: superficially.
20. preposterously—A: absurdly.
B: boringly. C: humorously.
D: unconventionally.
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ROOTS A N D B RA N C H ES
ANSWERS
1 . jauntily —[B] In a lively manner;
lightly; as, The actor stepped jauntily onto the stage. From French
gentil (noble, gentle).
2. wantonly —[C] Unjustifiably; recklessly; as, They wantonly disregard
my advice. Middle English wantowen (undisciplined).
3. contritely —[C] Humbly; with remorse and regret; as, She sighed
contritely over her error. From Latin
contritus (worn down).
4. pusillanimously —[D] Timidly; in
a faint-hearted way; as, He left the
room pusillanimously at the first
hint of discord. Latin pusillus (very
small) and animus (spirit).
5. manifestly —[C] Plainly; in a way
that is easily understood; as, a manifestly wise decision. Latin manufestus (literally, struck with the hand).
6. ignominiously —[D] Dishonorably;
with disgrace; as, to retreat ignominiously. Latin ignominia (literally,
depriving of one’s name).
7. unequivocally —[B] Conclusively;
without conditions; as, I support
him unequivocally. From un- (not)
and Latin aequivocus (ambiguous).
8. meretriciously —[B] Deceptively;
in an insincere or vulgar way; as, He
argued meretriciously. Latin meretrix (prostitute).
9. obsequiously —[D] Like a servant;
obediently; as, The staff was obsequiously attendant to their boss’s
needs. Latin obsequi (to yield).
11 . inscrutably —[C] Mysteriously; in
an incomprehensible way; as, The
judge gazed inscrutably at the jury.
12. eminently —[C] Very; to a high degree; as, She is eminently qualified.
Latin eminere (to stand out).
13. expeditiously —[C] In an efficient
way; speedily; as, We reached our
destination expeditiously. Latin expedire (literally, to free the feet, as
from a trap).
14. egregiously —[B] Extremely; in a
notorious or glaring fashion; as, His
behavior was egregiously selfish.
Latin egregius (preeminent).
15. indubitably —[C] Without question or doubt; as, indubitably true.
16. decorously —[B] Politely; with
proper manners; as, The audience
applauded decorously. Latin decor
(grace, beauty).
17 . blithely —[D] Cheerfully; in a
lighthearted, carefree way; as, Children blithely ignore our cautions.
18. vicariously —[B] By substitute;
through the experience of another;
as, vicariously thrilling. Latin vicarius (substituting).
19. utterly —[C] Fully; to a total extent; as, The house was utterly
ruined. Middle English utter (outward).
20. preposterously —[A] Absurdly;
ridiculously; as, He was preposterously underdressed for the occasion. Latin praeposterus (literally,
with the back part forward).
10. profusely —[B] Without limitation;
extravagantly; as, She praised the
policeman profusely. Latin profundere (to pour forth).
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VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-14 Good 15-17 Excellent 18-20 Exceptional
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FUN WITH LANGUAGE
COMMONLY
MISPRONOUNCED WORDS
What a difference one little letter (or two) makes—between saying something correctly and putting your foot in your mouth! This quiz consists of
commonly mispronounced words. The wrong—but popular—way to say
them is in parentheses next to the word. (And in a few cases, the “wrong”
way is in the dictionary.)
1 . cardsharp (card shark) n.—
A: cheater. B: expert. C: magician. D: Japanese delicacy.
2. affidavit (affadavid) n.—A: summons. B: statement. C: religious
tract. D: court order.
3. lambaste (lambast) v.—A: to
shear wool. B: stitch. C: berate.
D: saturate.
4. miniature (miniture) adj.—
A: shriveled up. B: microscopic.
C: reduced. D: invisible.
5. liable (libel) adj.—A: flexible.
B: dishonest. C: at fault. D: responsible.
6. orient (orientate) v.—A: to remain still. B: adjust. C: look
skyward. D: spin around.
7. peremptory (preemptory) adj.—
A: final. B: interrupted. C: required. D: depleted.
8. barbiturate (barbituate) n.—
A: tonic. B: sharp object.
C: sedative. D: cleaning agent.
9. dilate (dialate) v.—A: stall. B: expand. C: swell. D: contract.
10. pernickety (persnickety) adj.—
A: spiteful. B: fussy. C: wholesome. D: greedy.
11 . tenterhooks (tenderhooks) n.—
Nails that hold: A. meat. B: flags.
C: clothing. D: plants.
12. candidate (cannidate) n.—A: opponent. B: seeker. C: revealing
photo. D: apology.
13. founder (flounder) v.—A: to
swim poorly. B: stumble. C: discover. D: forget.
14. asterisk (asterik) n.—A: danger.
B: space rock. C: computer chip.
D: starlike mark.
15. prerogative (perogative) n.—
A: opinion. B: wealth. C: privilege. D: knowledge.
16. relevant (revelant) adj.—A: enlightening. B: boisterous.
C: important. D: relating to.
17. excerpt (excerp) n.—A: plagiarism. B: selection. C: bestseller.
D: omission.
18. recur (reoccur) v.—A: to agree.
B: heal. C: happen. D: pester.
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FUN WITH LANGUAGE
ANSWERS
1 . cardsharp —[A] Professional
cheater at cards; as, Saloons of the
Old West were full of cardsharps.
2. affidavit —[B] Written statement
given under oath; as, an affidavit
submitted to the court. Latin fidere
(to trust).
3. lambaste —[C] Berate; scold; also
beat or whip soundly; as, The
mayor lambasted the crooked police
chief. Of Scandinavian origin.
4. miniature —[C] Reduced; on small
scale. Originally, small pictures in
medieval manuscripts. Latin
miniare (to color with red lead).
5. liable —[D] Responsible; legally
obligated; likely to suffer from; as,
Manufacturers are liable for product defects. Old French lier (to
bind).
6. orient —[B] To adjust to one’s circumstances or surroundings, especially in reference to the east. Latin
oriens (sunrise).
7. peremptory —[A] Final; leaving no
opportunity for debate or denial; as,
her peremptory refusal to share custody. Latin perimere (to destroy).
8. barbiturate —[C] Sedative; hypnotic drug; as, Doctors may prescribe barbiturates to treat
insomnia.
9. dilate —[B] To expand; make
wider; as, Her eyes dilated with surprise. Latin dilatare (spread out).
10. pernickety —[B] Fussy; hard to
please; meticulous; as, Editors are
known to be pernickety about grammar. Scottish.
11 . tenterhooks —[C] Hooks or bent
nails on a framework that hold cloth
taut for setting and drying. Often
used to signify tension or suspense;
as, The murder mystery kept him
on tenterhooks. French tendre (to
stretch).
12. candidate —[B] Seeker of office;
someone vying for a position or selected for an honor; as, the best candidate for the job. Latin candidus
(white), a reference to the togas
worn by office seekers in ancient
Rome.
13. founder —[B] Stumble; fail utterly;
to fill with water and sink as with
ships; as, The project foundered.
Old French fondrer (fall to the bottom).
14. asterisk —[D] Small starlike symbol used in writing and printing as a
reference mark, omission, etc. From
the Greek aster (star).
15. prerogative —[C] Privilege or
right by virtue of rank or position;
as, woman’s prerogative to change
her mind. Latin (voting first).
16. relevant —[D] Relating to the matter at hand; pertinent; as, information relevant to the case. Latin
relevare (to lift up).
17 . excerpt —[B] Small selection from
a book or document; as, The author
discussed an excerpt of his novel.
Latin excerpere (to pick out).
18. recur —[C] To happen again; return to mind, as recurring thoughts
of one’s first love. Latin recurrere (to
run back).
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-12 Good 13-15 Excellent 16-18 Exceptional
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WONDERFUL WORD PAIRS
Some words have been together so long they’re like old married folks.
Where would hunky be without dory? High and dry, that’s where! In this
quiz we’ve gathered the Fred and Gingers of our language.
1 . cut and run v.—A: to dance.
B: take a loss. C: depart. D: sail
into the wind.
2. flotsam and jetsam n.—A: valuables. B: useless items. C: fishing
tackle. D: chemical by-products.
3. talk turkey v.—A: to speak in
code. B: speak candidly. C: haggle. D: mislead.
4. paper tiger n.—A: weak nation.
B: phony corporation. C: child’s
party game. D: fallen regime.
5. red herring n.—A: fish from tropical waters. B: chess move.
C: misleading clue. D: downand-out neighborhood.
6. yin and yang n.—principles of
A: harmony. B: Chinese medicine. C: physics. D conflict resolution.
7. mumbo jumbo n.—A: babble.
B: seafood stew. C: excuses.
D. spice mixture.
8. hammer and tongs adv.—A: with
proper training. B: noisily.
C: willy-nilly. D: vigorously.
9. hue and cry n.—A: complaints.
B: struggle. C: regrets. D: public
clamor.
10. dark horse n.—A: long shot.
B: outsider. C: guarded secret.
D: Independent party candidate.
11 . nip and tuck adj.—A: closely contested. B: aesthetically superior.
C: stylishly dressed. D: tipsy.
12. lion’s share n.—A: stolen goods.
B: the best portion. C: surplus.
D: controlling interest.
13. hem and haw v.—A: to sew.
B: dawdle. C: delay. D: hesitate.
14. cloud nine n.—A: grave circumstance. B: freedom. C: purgatory.
D: state of exaltation.
15. sticky wicket n.—A: scandal.
B: lewd remark. C: awkward situation. D: opponent.
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FUN WITH LANGUAGE
ANSWERS
1 . cut and run —[C] Depart; leave
hastily; as, Hosts don’t like guests
who cut and run. From the days
when ships had ropes of hemp. To
leave a mooring quickly, a sailor
could cut the vessel’s anchor rope.
2. flotsam and jetsam —[B] Useless
items; odds and ends. Literally, cargo
thrown overboard. Old French floter
(to float) and Latin jactare (to throw).
3. talk turkey —[B] To speak candidly, frankly. Possibly from talks
between Indians and settlers about
the wild turkey supply, or from
hunters mimicking bird sounds.
4. paper tiger —[A] A country or
person appearing powerful but
weak in actuality. Oriental in origin.
5. red herring —[C] Misleading clue;
diversion; also, a financial prospectus issued before an IPO. From the
practice of dragging a fish across a
trail to mislead fox hunting dogs.
6. yin and yang —[A] Principles of
harmony and balance. In Chinese
philosophy, yin represents the negative, dark and feminine; yang, the
positive, bright and masculine. Opposite yet complementary, their interaction influences our destiny.
7. mumbo jumbo —[A] Babble; senseless language meant to confuse; also,
an incantation. From a West African
word for a masked figure.
8. hammer and tongs —[D] Vigorously; with great energy and determination; as, He went at the project
hammer and tongs. Reflecting the
use of a blacksmith’s main tools.
9. hue and cry —[D] Public clamor or
outcry; as, a hue and cry against the
war. Historically, those in pursuit of
42
felons were obliged to shout or cry
out if they spotted the culprit.
Anglo-French hu et cri.
10. dark horse —[A] Long shot; an almost unknown contestant regarded
by just a few as the likely winner; as,
Being a dark horse candidate, the
politician’s odds of media coverage
were slim. A horse-racing term.
11 . nip and tuck —[A] Closely contested; equally likely to win or lose;
as, The two boys were nip and tuck
in the spelling bee.
12. lion’s share —[B] The biggest and
best part, or the entire thing; as, According to the will, the oldest
daughter gets the lion’s share of the
inheritance. From the Aesop’s fable
in which the lion takes all the spoils
of a hunt.
13. hem and haw —[D] To hesitate
while talking; speak noncommittally; as, He hemmed and hawed to
avoid answering. Originating in the
17th century, this term echoed the
sound of someone clearing his
throat (as in Ahem!) and then stammering to find the right words.
14. cloud nine —[D] State of exaltation
or euphoria; as, I’ve been on cloud
nine since hearing the good news.
Supposedly a meteorological term
for the cumulonimbus cloud, which
stretches vertically to great heights.
15. sticky wicket —[C] Awkward situation. In cricket, a wicket is the set
of sticks in the ground at which the
bowler aims the ball. This area becomes “sticky” and difficult to play
in during damp weather.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-12 Good 12-13 Excellent 14-15 Exceptional
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SMALL WORDS
WITH BIG MEANINGS
You’ve likely heard the expression “Big things come in little packages.” For
proof, consider these puny but powerful words. Despite having just three or
four letters, these words add oomph to sentences like hot sauces add spark
to food.
1 . mote n.—A: meaningless argument. B: deep trench. C: small
speck. D: brief correspondence.
2. coy adj.—A. cowardly. B: modest.
C: hooded. D: crude.
3. jibe v.—A: to be in harmony.
B: play jazz music. C: tease relentlessly. D: cast away.
4. crux n.—A: calamity. B: crosspiece on a ladder. C: construction debris. D: main point.
5. mete v.—A: to whine or complain. B: introduce. C: distribute.
D: act submissively.
6. faux adj.—A: socially embarrassing. B: alluring. C: critically
flawed. D: artificial.
7. opus n.—A: artistic composition.
B: sea animal. C: visual lens.
D: ornamental border.
8. noir adj.—A: bleakly pessimistic.
B: tightly coiled. C: offensive.
D: overly harsh.
9. tic n.—A: spot of color. B: bloodsucking arachnid. C: sudden
spasm. D: end of a pencil.
10. ergo conj.—A. however. B: nevertheless. C: unless. D: therefore.
11 . mar v.—A: to damage. B: normalize. C: meet expectations. D: vibrate or shake.
12. pall v.—A: to grow cloudy. B: become tiresome. C: horrify.
D: conduct an opinion survey.
13. apt adj.—A: off topic. B: agile.
C: oafish. D: likely.
14. glib adj.—A: readily fluent. B: sarcastic. C: flashy. D: malicious.
15. gawk v.—A: to exhale deeply.
B: stare stupidly. C: talk incessantly. D: wish.
16. wry adj.—A: distilled. B: twisted.
C: painful. D: torn up.
17. rout n., v.—A: overwhelming defeat. B: heated quarrel. C: specific course. D: fixed procedure.
18. boor n.—someone who is A: dull.
B: shy. C: rude. D: loud.
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FUN WITH LANGUAGE
ANSWERS
1 . mote (rhymes with moat) —[C]
Small speck or particle, especially
of dust; as, Oscar was a slob and
Felix despised every mote of dust.
2. coy (rhymes with Roy) —[B] Modest; affectedly shy or reserved; as,
She was coy about whether she and
her boyfriend planned marriage.
3. jibe —[A] Be in harmony or agree;
as, Reports of the housing market’s
decline don’t jibe with the facts.
4. crux —[D] Main point; heart of the
matter; as, The district attorney
quickly got to the crux of his closing
argument.
5. mete (rhymes with meet) —[C] Distribute; apportion by measure; as, A
will metes assets to heirs.
6. faux (rhymes with foe) —[D] Artificial; fake; as, Some people wear
faux fur for ideological reasons. But
a faux pas is a socially embarrassing
mistake.
7. opus (oh pis) —[A] Artistic composition, usually numbered in music;
literary work; as, The author labored at his 1,000-page opus for
10 years.
8. noir (nu ar) —[A] Bleakly pessimistic; dark; as, Grim films are
called cinema noir. French for
“black.”
9. tic —[C] Sudden spasm or muscular contraction; as, Facial tics are
very common.
10. ergo (ur go) —[D] Therefore; as, I
think, ergo I am (Cogito ergo sum).
A Latin word, most commonly
found in legal and scientific documents.
11 . mar —[A] Damage the attractiveness or appeal of someone or something; as, The antique armoire was
marred by several deep gouges.
12. pall (rhymes with fall) —[B] Become tiresome; make dull or distasteful; as, The novelty of my job
palled after a few weeks of commuting.
13. apt —[D] Likely, prone; suitable for
the purpose; as, an apt remark.
Also, quick to learn, bright.
14. glib —[A] Readily fluent, often insincerely so; quick with a response;
as, The crowd at the town meeting
found the mayor’s assurances too
glib.
15. gawk (rhymes with walk) —
[B] Stare stupidly; gape; as, It’s hard
not to gawk at celebrities you see.
16. wry (rhymes with rye) —
[B] Twisted or lopsided; bitingly
ironic or amusing; as, a wry smile.
17 . rout (rhymes with doubt) —
[A] Overwhelming defeat; as, The
primary was a rout for the incumbent. As a verb, to beat decisively;
also, to root out or find by searching.
18. boor (rhymes with poor) —
[C] Rude, unmannerly person; as,
Only a boor would ignore a dinner
invitation.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-12 Good 13-15 Excellent 16-18 Exceptional
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PHRASES DRAWN
FROM THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
Take a walk on the wild side and test your knowledge of these words and
phrases that all have connections to the animal kingdom. And don’t be dismayed—their bark is worse than their bite.
1 . buffalo v.—A: to push down.
B: baffle. C: polish. D: chuckle.
2. dogged adj.—A: tired. B: shabbylooking. C: tenacious. D: full of
enthusiasm.
3. white elephant n.—A: classic car.
B: all-cheese pizza. C: full moon.
D: burdensome possession.
4. phoenix n.—A: flirt. B: illusion.
C: survivor. D: opponent.
5. pecking order n.—A: fast-food
menu. B: frivolous command.
C: sneak attack. D: hierarchy.
6. feral adj.—A: soft. B: catlike.
C: domesticated. D: wild.
7. eat crow v.—A: to challenge.
B: struggle. C: admit mistake.
D: bow to pressure.
8. jackal n.—A: comedian. B: wild
card. C: leader of the pack.
D: flunky.
9. lupine adj.—A: stretched out.
B: eccentric. C: keenly aware.
D: savage.
10. duck soup n.—A: confused situation. B: easy task. C: weak opponent. D: dilemma.
11 . bevy n.—A: large group. B: angled surface. C: shiver. D: wellworn path.
12. loaded for bear adj.—A: angry.
B: burdened. C: fully prepared.
D: ill-equipped.
13. greenhorn n.—someone who is
A: overly sensitive. B: aggressive. C: loud. D: inexperienced.
14. kangaroo court n.—A: mock tribunal. B: springboard. C: long
trial. D: Australian racket sport.
15. lionize v.—A: treat as a celebrity.
B: shame. C: honor. D: eulogize.
16. brood v.—A: to conspire. B: think
deeply. C: insult. D: bury.
17. ferret v.—A: to search. B: hide.
C: store. D: disclose.
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FUN WITH LANGUAGE
ANSWERS
1 . buffalo —[B] To baffle; overawe;
intimidate by show of power; as,
The lawyer tried to buffalo the witness. From the noun; perhaps taken
from the verb “cow,” to frighten.
2. dogged —[C] Stubbornly tenacious; persistent in effort; as, The
detective was dogged in following
leads.
3. white elephant —[D] Possession
that is a burden or hard to get rid of.
From tales that kings of Siam gave
such animals as gifts, the upkeep of
which was meant to ruin the recipients.
4. phoenix —[C] Survivor; remarkable person. In mythology, a unique
bird that lived for centuries, burned
on a funeral pyre and rose from the
ashes to live again.
5. pecking order —[D] Hierarchy of
authority or status; as, the manager’s position in the pecking order.
From behavior among birds.
6. feral —[D] Wild; untamed; as, Feral
cats roamed the alleys. Latin ferus.
7. eat crow —[C] To admit a mistake;
accept humiliating defeat; as, If I’m
wrong, I’ll eat crow. Thought to be
based on a crow-eating incident
during the War of 1812.
8. jackal —[D] Flunky; accomplice,
especially in disreputable acts.
From the animal, which feeds on
carrion and hunts in packs.
10. duck soup —[B] Easy task or assignment. Unfortunately, tracing the
history of the phrase is not duck
soup. Its origins are unclear.
11 . bevy —[A] Large group; as, a bevy
of beauties on the runway. Originally, a reference to quails closely
gathered on the ground.
12. loaded for bear —[C] Fully prepared, especially for confrontation;
as, He went to the meeting loaded
for bear. Bear hunters took maximum powder and shot for their
firearms.
13. greenhorn —[D] Inexperienced
person; raw recruit; novice. Originally, a young ox with new, or
“green,” horns.
14. kangaroo court —[A] Selfappointed mock tribunal that disregards normal legal procedure. Apparently so-called because justice
progresses by leaps and bounds.
15. lionize —[A] Treat as a celebrity or
object of interest; as, The dinner
was meant to lionize the mayor.
16. brood —[B] To think deeply; dwell
on; worry; as, She brooded over her
growing debts. Figurative use based
on the sense of birds sitting on
eggs.
17 . ferret —[A] To search; rummage;
as, ferret around the desk. From the
use of the animal in hunting rabbits.
9. lupine —[D] Savage; vicious; wolflike; as, A lupine struggle to succeed
the CEO ensued. Latin lupus (wolf).
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-13 Good 14-15 Excellent 16-17 Exceptional
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EMBELLISHMENT WORDS
It’s not bad advice to avoid using a $5 word when a 50¢ word will do. But
every now and then, a big word is just the thing to embellish your correspondence or conversation. Here are 15 to try.
1 . serendipity n.—A: peace and
quiet. B: luck. C: joy. D: fate.
2. twee adj.—A: small. B: threesided. C: shy. D: quaint.
3. ingratiate v.—A: to pay back.
B: pledge servitude to. C: seek
favor. D: charm.
4. panache n.—A: array of bright
colors. B: European hat. C: flamboyance. D: originality.
5. feckless adj.—A: free from imperfection. B: ineffective. C: uninhibited. D: emotional.
6. quotidian adj.—A: everyday.
B: verbose. C: constant. D: meek.
7. hector v.—A: to browbeat.
B: jeer. C: impress upon. D: support.
8. donnybrook n.—A: tiny stream.
B: stalemate. C: rowdy brawl.
D: dapper fellow.
9. sybaritic adj.—A: Web-savvy.
B: achy. C: self-indulgent.
D: prudent.
10. flummery n.—A: water park.
B: head on a beer. C: cheap
motel. D: nonsense.
11 . penultimate adj.—A: superbly
written. B: conclusive. C: next to
last. D: highest.
12. lugubrious adj.—A: multitalented.
B: healthy. C: tightfitting. D: excessively mournful.
13. preen v.—A: to praise. B: primp.
C: smooth over. D: take to task.
14. puckish adj.—A: overly cheerful.
B: disclike. C: gullible. D: mischievous.
15. chortle v.—A: to chuckle gleefully. B: tease playfully. C: walk
sluggishly. D: talk incessantly.
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FUN WITH LANGUAGE
ANSWERS
1 . serendipity —[B] Luck in finding
something accidentally; as, the
serendipity of getting the first job
you apply for. Coined by English author Horace Walpole after heroes of
the Persian fairy tale The Three
Princes of Serendip (Sri Lanka), who
make lucky discoveries.
2. twee —[D] Dainty; quaint; affectedly clever; as, It was a twee room,
the way it was decorated with pillows and doilies. British expression,
from children’s pronunciation of
“sweet.”
3. ingratiate —[C] To seek favor by
getting into someone’s good graces;
as, You’d be wise to ingratiate yourself with the new boss. Latin in gratiam (for the favor of).
4. panache —[C] Flamboyance; grand
manner; also, a plume of feathers or
tassels on a helmet; as, Liberace
dressed with panache. Latin pinna
(feather, wing).
5. feckless —[B] Ineffective; incompetent; having no sense of responsibility; as, His feckless attempts to fix
the roof showed his lack of interest.
Of Scottish origin, from combination of “effect” and “less.”
6. quotidian —[A] Everyday; recurring daily; as, Stockbrokers are
eager for their quotidian market reports. Latin cottidi.
7. hector —[A] To browbeat; bully;
harass. Name of the Trojan War
hero, later slain by the Greek warrior Achilles to avenge the death of
his friend Patroclus.
after a Dublin, Ireland, suburb,
which until 1855 hosted a fair constantly fraught with rowdiness.
9. sybaritic —[C] Self-indulgent; desiring of luxury; as, For many, the
’80s was a decade of sybaritic pleasures. From Sybaris, an ancient
Greek city in southern Italy known
for its wealth and extravagance.
10. flummery —[D] Nonsense; empty
compliment; also, any soft food, especially custard or gruel. Welsh
llymru (soured oatmeal).
11. penultimate —[C] Next to last; as,
the penultimate position on the race
track. Latin paene (almost) and ultimus (last).
12. lugubrious —[D] Mournful or very
sad, especially to the point of being
ridiculous; as, Their lugubrious conversation seemed out of place at the
party. Latin lugere (to mourn).
13. preen —[B] Primp; dress smartly;
also, of birds, to clean and trim
feathers with the beak. Middle English preonen (to prick with a pin).
14. puckish —[D] Full of mischief;
impish; as, I won’t tolerate any
more of your puckish behavior! In
English folklore, Puck is a troublemaking sprite. Middle English puke
(devil).
15. chortle —[A] To chuckle or snort
gleefully; as, The comedian was a
hit, drawing many chortles from the
crowd. Coined by English writer
Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass, probably a combination
of “chuckle” and “snort.”
8. donnybrook —[C] Brawl; free-forall; as, An argument can sometimes
escalate into a donnybrook. Named
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VOCABULARY RATINGS
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“HIP” KID WORDS
Do you have one-way conversations with teenagers because you have no
idea what they’re saying? This quiz will give you the dope (info) on how to
talk their dope (cool) talk. Yo!
1 . down adj.—A: in agreement with.
B: type of jacket Santa wears.
C: furry. D: attractive.
2. hooptie n.—A: motorized sleigh.
B: merriment. C: old car. D: annual tradition.
3. tight adj.—A: fantastic. B: uncomfortable. C: grumpy.
D: cheap.
4. whatevs interj.—A: don’t worry,
be happy. B: no comment.
C: I see. D: who cares?
5. jet v.—A: to go sledding. B: use
Jet Skis. C: leave in a hurry.
D: drive fast.
6. wack adj.—A: difficult. B: weird
or strange. C: extremely tired.
D: overly excited.
7. chill v.—A: to be unfriendly.
B: become angry. C: stiffen.
D: relax.
8. bling-bling n.—A: a twinkling
star. B: expensive item. C: champagne cocktail. D: hand signal.
9. my bad n.—A: my bad self. B: my
mistake. C: my generation.
D: my problem.
10. crib n.—A: furniture for a
manger. B: residence. C: dead
end. D: childish person.
11 . player n.—a person who A: dates
many at once. B: follows trends.
C: goes to clubs. D: enjoys board
games.
12. yo interj.—A: ouch. B: hey. C: part
of a secret message. D: ugh.
13. dis v.—A: to gossip. B: challenge.
C: struggle. D: insult.
14. peace out salutation—A: happy
birthday. B: see you later. C: traditional greeting at church services. D: check it out.
15. homey n.—A: rustic person.
B: close friend. C: feel of your
house. D: singer.
16. phat adj.—A: well put-together.
B: flirtatious. C: condition after
Thanksgiving dinner. D: energetic.
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FUN WITH LANGUAGE
ANSWERS
1 . down —[A] In agreement with;
willing; as, I’m down for a road trip
to Florida at spring break.
2. hooptie —[C] Old car that’s in bad
shape; as, It may be a hooptie, but
it’s better than nothing at all.
3. tight —[A] Fantastic; cool; interesting; as, Have you heard the new CD
from Dido? It is totally tight!
4. whatevs —[B] No comment; short
for whatever. Adolescent equivalent
of “what will be, will be.” Also,
whatev.
5. jet —[C] Leave in a hurry; as, I’d
better jet or the rents (parents) will
be all bent out of shape.
6. wack —[B] Weird or strange; unfair or unacceptable; as, You’re
breaking up with me? That’s wack.
Also wacked.
7. chill —[D] To relax or calm down;
often used with “out”; as, Let’s just
chill at my house tonight; or, Getting that C is no big deal. You need
to chill out.
8. bling-bling —[B] Something expensive; often jewelry, especially
diamonds; also can be an adjective
meaning “flashy”; as, His girlfriend
is all about the bling-bling.
9. my bad —[B] My mistake or fault;
It’s my bad that we haven’t finished
shopping yet.
10. crib —[B] A house, apartment or
any kind of residence; as, Come on
over to my crib and we’ll watch the
game. In Victorian times, it was
slang for one’s lodgings.
11 . player —[A] A person who dates
many people at the same time; as,
Tom’s such a player. He has a different girl every weekend. Also spelled
playa.
12. yo —[B] Hey or hello; an attentiongetter; as, Yo, Jeremy, you coming?
Can be doubled as a greeting; as,
Yo, yo, Mike, what’s up? Can be substituted for a name; as, Let’s get
some dinner, yo.
13. dis —[D] To insult, dishonor or disrespect; as, My brother said he’d be
there, but he dissed us and never
showed up.
14. peace out —[B] See you later;
goodbye; as, Gotta go to dinner.
Peace out for now. Perhaps a combination of Peace, man and Over and
out.
15. homey —[B] A close friend; as, I’m
going skiing with my homeys next
month. Also spelled homie. Probably derived from term homeboy, a
person from one’s hometown or
neighborhood.
16. phat —[A] Well put-together; excellent; great; as, That song has a
really phat bass line.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-12 Good 13-14 Excellent 15-16 Exceptional
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RECENT ADDITIONS
TO THE DICTIONARY
Has your vocabulary grown old and tired? Our changing world and shifting
interests have added hundreds of new words and meanings to the English
language in just the last two decades. Try some of these newbies!
1 . bork v.—A: to hit. B: jump over.
C: attack. D: fasten.
2. netizen n.—A: career counselor.
B: Internet user. C: resident.
D: weaver.
3. cocooning n.—the practice of
A: staying at home. B: oversleeping. C: knitting. D: making silk.
4. tree hugger n.—A: South American frog. B. environmentalist.
C: many-winged insect. D: arborist’s tool.
5. codependent adj.—pertaining to
A: relationships. B: intimidation.
C: lawsuits. D: having children.
6. karaoke n.—A: canoe. B: martial
arts. C: singing. D: nightclub.
7. nutraceutical n.—A: supplemented food. B: healthy seed.
C: pharmacy. D: vitamin.
8. digerati n.—people who know
about A: math. B: soil. C: electronic hookups. D: computers.
9. fashionista n.—someone who is
A: clothing-savvy. B: a designer.
C: a right-winger. D: intriguing.
10. wannabe n.—one who A: takes
identities. B: has aspirations.
C: studies kangaroos. D: is
angry.
11 . ecotourism n.—traveling A: very
cheaply. B: around the equator.
C: to natural lands. D: in teams.
12. prioritize v.—A: to organize.
B: send early. C: join a
monastery. D: boast.
13. pathography n.—A: study of
tropical diseases. B: sports medicine. C. biography. D: X rays.
14. agita n.—A: fright. B: anxiety
C: restlessness. D: harmony.
15. channel v.—A: to influence.
B: dig. C: listen. D: get across.
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FUN WITH LANGUAGE
ANSWERS
1 . bork —[C] To attack someone, especially in the media. From Judge
Robert Bork, whose nomination to
the Supreme Court was blocked by
negative information.
2. netizen —[B] A person who uses
the Internet. A combination of Net
and citizen.
3. cocooning —[A] Spending leisure
time at home, especially watching
TV or using a VCR.
4. tree hugger —[B] Environmentalist; campaigner for the preservation
of trees and forests, who literally
hugs a tree to prevent its being cut
down.
5. codependent —[A] Regarding
a relationship based on addiction
or unhealthy dependence; as,
Psychiatrists look for codependent
behavior in families with problems.
6. karaoke —[C] The act of singing
along to music videos from which
the vocals have been eliminated.
From the Japanese kara (empty)
and oke (orchestra).
7. nutraceutical —[A] A food or
other substance that has been supplemented with ingredients believed to have health benefits. From
the combination of nutrition and
pharmaceutical.
9. fashionista —[A] Someone who is
savvy about fashion trends, is stylish or works in the industry. From
fashion and the Italian -ista.
10. wannabe —[B] One who aspires,
often vainly, to emulate or attain the
success and prominence of another
person. Derivative of I wanna be.
11 . ecotourism —[C] Traveling to natural, unspoiled areas; as, Ecotourism
has raised awareness of the fragility
of rain forests.
12. prioritize —[A] To organize according to importance; as, One key
to time management is learning to
prioritize.
13. pathography —[C] Biography focusing on the negative elements of
a subject, popularized by U.S.
writer Joyce Carol Oates; also, the
study of the effects of illness on a
historical person’s life.
14. agita —[B] Anxiety or agitation;
heartburn or indigestion; as, Too
much stress causes agita. From Italian agitare.
15. channel —[D] To get across or convey the spirit and style of someone
else; as, Her outfit suggested she
was channeling Liza Minnelli.
8. digerati —[D] Those with knowledge about computers; as, The publisher specialized in books for the
digerati. From the combination of
digital and literati.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-11 Good 12-13 Excellent 14-15 Exceptional
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B I G TA L K E R S
FOUNDING FATHER WORDS
It seems that each political election, we are bombarded with negative ads
and emotionally charged debates. Some call it “extreme campaigning.” But
there was a time we expected better from our leaders. Our first President,
George Washington, was the epitome of humility and sincerity. These
words, spoken from the heart, come from his inaugural address.
1 . vicissitudes n.—A: spiteful actions. B: ups and downs. C: positive feelings. D: cowardly
maneuvers.
2. aver v.—A: to declare. B: avoid
or prevent. C: show a dislike.
D: openly oppose.
3. supplication n.—A: excessive
amount. B: important addition.
C: earnest request. D: forced
ending.
4. immutable adj.—A: weakened.
B: biased. C: unchangeable.
D: silent.
5. predilection n.—A: introduction.
B: prophecy. C: harmony.
D: preference.
6. transcendent adj.—A: always
changing. B: beyond ordinary
limits. C: lost or displaced.
D: written out.
7. discernment n.—A: an act of defeat. B: good judgment or understanding. C: distributed funds.
D: debilitating anxiety.
8. presage v.—A: to separate. B: get
older. C: make a prediction.
D: intentionally deceive.
9. rectitude n.—A: mass destruction. B: anger. C: geographical
measurement. D: moral virtue.
10. magnanimous adj.—A: appealing.
B: high-minded. C: secretive.
D: in agreement.
11 . felicity n.—the state of A: feeling
happy. B: being lucky. C: helping
others. D: earning wealth.
12. propitious adj.—A: foretelling.
B: overly sarcastic. C: confident.
D: favorable.
13. despondence n.—A: letter writing. B: depression. C: craving.
D: poverty.
14. palliate v.—A: to relieve. B: carefully examine. C: respect or revere. D: apologize.
15. pecuniary adj.—A: referring to
money. B: acting strangely.
C: educated or refined. D: being
a talented cook.
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B I G TA L K E R S
ANSWERS
1 . vicissitudes —[B] Ups and downs;
changing conditions; as, Washington recognized the vicissitudes affecting the evolution of America.
Latin vicissim (in turn) and cessim
(giving away).
2. aver —[A] To declare or assert in a
positive manner. Derived from
Latin verus (true).
3. supplication —[C] An earnest,
humble request; as, He made divine
supplication for the success of the
new nation. Latin supplex (submissive).
4. immutable —[C] Unchangeable;
unalterable. Latin mutare (to
change).
5. predilection —[D] Preference; as,
Though he had a predilection for life
as a private citizen, Washington answered his country’s call. Latin
praediligere (to prefer).
6. transcendent —[B] Beyond ordinary limits; surpassing. Latin transcendere (to surmount).
7. discernment —[B] Good judgment
and understanding; as, Washington
had faith in Congress’s “discernment
and pursuit of the public good.”
Latin discernere (to separate).
8. presage —[C] To make a predic-
9. rectitude —[D] Moral virtue;
rightness of principle. Latin rectitudo (straightness).
10. magnanimous —[B] High-minded
or noble; as, Washington felt that a
magnanimous government would
help America prosper. Latin magnus
(large) and animus (soul).
11 . felicity —[A] The state of feeling
happy; as, The people of our new
nation looked forward to prosperity
and felicity. Latin felicitas (happy).
12. propitious —[D] Favorable; as, The
“propitious smiles of Heaven,”
Washington believed, would be
awarded only to a righteous nation.
13. despondence —[B] Depression of
spirits from loss of courage; as, Our
first President confessed to feeling
despondence about his qualifications
for office. Latin despondere (to give
up).
14. palliate —[A] To relieve without
curing; to alleviate; as, Washington
hoped that any error in his judgment would be palliated by his motives. Latin palliatus (cloaked).
15. pecuniary —[A] Referring to
money; as, While President, Washington stated he would “renounce
every pecuniary compensation.”
tion; as, Washington anticipated
“the future blessings which the past
seem to presage.” Latin praesagus
(having a foreboding).
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-11 Good 12-13 Excellent 14-15 Exceptional
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ISAAC ASIMOV WORDS
In his 72 years of life, author Isaac Asimov wrote more than 500 books, making
him one of the most prolific authors of our time. What is amazing is that the
quality of his work often matched the quantity. His explorations of robots, outer
space, and the future potential of mankind continue to spark debate more than a
decade after his passing. These words are taken from some of Asimov’s stories.
1 . verbatim adj.—A: talkative. B: unusual. C: exceedingly green. D:
word for word.
2. chirrup n.—A: leather stirrup.
B: cherry-flavored cough syrup.
C: chirp. D: warm breeze.
3. pince-nez n.—A: kind of candy.
B: type of eyeglasses. C: princely
robe. D: crab’s claw.
4. prosaic adj.—A: dull. B: prehistoric. C: legal in nature.
D: rhyming.
5. deduce v.—A: to trim. B: form
into pairs. C: infer. D: prepare
for cooking.
6. forestall v.—A: to lie in front of.
B: hinder. C: warn. D: abandon.
7. sluice n.—A: passage for water.
B: strawberry-lime soft drink.
C: very thin slice. D: comfort.
8. tremulous adj.—A: related to
an earthquake. B: gigantic.
C: high-pitched. D: affected
with trembling.
9. buttress v.—A: to link, as a
bridge. B: strengthen. C: sit up
in bed. D: increase by half.
10. crystalline adj.—A: breakable.
B: futuristic. C: minuscule.
D: sparkling.
11 . subside v.—A: to sink or fall.
B: exert control. C: exist on very
little. D: underestimate.
12. aberration n.—A: refusal to
consider. B: unsoundness.
C: unwavering concentration.
D: constant nagging.
13. proficiency n.—A: offensive slang.
B: motel room with hot plate.
C: unusual talent. D: advancement in skill.
14. cower v.—A: to intimidate.
B: shrink away. C: manipulate
through flattery. D: call out to.
15. thrum v.—A: to make a monotonous sound. B: pull toward with
one’s thumb. C: drag. D: unload.
16. erratic adj.—A: by design. B: in
sequence. C: characterized by
inconsistency. D: irrelevant.
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B I G TA L K E R S
ANSWERS
1 . verbatim —[D] Word for word;
being in or following the exact
words. Don’t blame me—I’m repeating Dad’s instructions to you
verbatim.
2. chirrup —[C] Chirp. The morning
quiet was disturbed only by the odd
chirrup of a nearby robin.
3. pince-nez —[B] Eyeglasses clipped
to the nose by a spring. The librarian peered at me over the lenses of
his pince-nez and said, “That book
is two years overdue.”
4. prosaic —[A] Dull, unimaginative;
also, everyday, ordinary. Unfortunately, I’ll spend the weekend doing
a bunch of prosaic chores.
5. deduce —[C] Infer from a general
principle. When my son said he
hated cereal, I deduced that I
needed to fix a different breakfast.
6. forestall —[B] Exclude or hinder;
also, to obstruct; beset. I planned to
forestall his leaving by asking him
to shine my shoes.
7. sluice —[A] Artificial passage for
water fitted with a valve or gate for
regulating flow. Once the sluice
opened, we pretty much got soaked.
8. tremulous —[D] Characterized by
or affected with trembling or
tremors, such as might be caused by
nervousness or shakiness. His
tremulous smile told me he wasn’t
as relaxed as he hoped to appear.
10. crystalline —[D] Sparkling; strikingly clear; resembling crystal. Gazing at the crystalline lake, I decided
it was too beautiful to swim in.
11 . subside —[A] Sink or fall to the
bottom; settle; also, to become
quiet; diminish. Once my initial
anger subsided, I began laughing at
all those pancakes stuck to the wall.
12. aberration —[B] Unsoundness;
that which departs significantly
from the standard. Sleeping with
your pillow beneath your feet
would be considered something of
an aberration.
13 . proficiency —[D] Quality or state
of being advanced; highly skilled.
You show real proficiency in the art
of making the perfect pizza.
14. cower —[B] Shrink away or
crouch, especially from something
that menaces or dismays. Horror
movies always make me cower in
my seat.
15. thrum —[A] To sound with a monotonous hum. Suddenly, a loud vibration began to thrum the wall I
was leaning against.
16. erratic —[C] Characterized by lack
of consistency, regularity or order.
His erratic behavior convinced me
he wouldn’t be reliable in the job.
9. buttress —[B] Strengthen; support.
I think you should try to buttress
your opinion with a few small facts.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
10-12 Good 13-14 Excellent 15-16 Exceptional
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BROADWAY MUSICAL WORDS
Wouldn’t life be grand if orchestras followed us around and we could break
into song whenever we wanted? A little far-fetched, but it’s exactly what
makes Broadway musicals such a wonderful and enduring American art
form. We turned to the lyrics from some popular musicals for the words
used here. And now, it’s on with the show.
1 . heinous adj.—A: following behind. B: final. C: abominable.
D: unusual.
2. accrue v.—A: to accentuate.
B: accelerate. C: acclimate.
D: accumulate.
3. iniquity n.—A: wickedness.
B: uneasiness. C: unhelpfulness.
D: rudeness.
4. sanitorium n.—A: sacred place.
B: rehabilitation facility. C: hideout. D: trash-haulers’ garage.
5. impetuous adj.—A: impatient.
B: impulsively passionate. C: unable to be moved. D: immature.
6. finagle v.—A: to obtain by trickery. B: adjust carefully. C: finalize. D: scrutinize.
7. beguile v.—A: to restart. B: befriend. C: charm. D: leave back.
8. flaunt v.—A: to whip mercilessly.
B: flatten. C: promote above all
others. D: show off.
9. palazzo n.—A: open-air market.
B: large building. C: castle entrance. D: enclosed terrace.
10. inquisition n.—A: harsh questioning. B: excessive penalty. C: sudden acquisition. D: formal
invitation.
11 . gaudy adj.—A: clumsy. B: windy.
C: self-centered, egotistical.
D: flashy.
12. fop n.—A: vain man. B: spectacular failure. C: cleaning utensil.
D: rare shellfish.
13. ennui n.—A: high-heeled slipper.
B: excitement. C: boredom.
D: lone exit.
14. ken n.—A: member of the immediate family. B: range of
knowledge. C: geographic surroundings. D: ancient percussion instrument.
15. equipoise n.—state of A: equality.
B: readiness. C: equilibrium.
D: fluid movement.
16. virago n.—A: passenger. B: loud
woman. C: sign of the zodiac.
D: mirage.
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B I G TA L K E R S
ANSWERS
1 . heinous —[C] Abominable; reprehensible. If she says your behavior is
heinous/Kick her right in the Coriolanus—“Brush Up Your Shakespeare”
2. accrue —[D] To accumulate or be
added periodically; to come as a result of some state or action. The
hobbies you pursue together/Savings
you accrue together—“Little Things”
3. iniquity —[A] Wickedness; gross
injustice. In our little den of iniquity/Our arrangement is good—“Den
Of Iniquity”
4. sanitorium —[B] An institution for
resting, recuperating. Sir Charles
came from a sanitorium/And yelled
for drinks in my emporium—“To
Keep My Love Alive”
5. impetuous —[B] Marked by impulsive passion or force. Yet there’s that
upturned chin/And the grin of impetuous youth—“I Believe In You”
6. finagle —[A] To obtain by trickery,
indirect means. Throw ’em a fake
and a finagle/They’ll never know
you’re just a bagel—“Razzle Dazzle”
7. beguile —[C] To charm or divert;
pass time pleasantly. I’m wild again/
Beguiled again/A simpering, whimpering child again—“Bewitched”
10. inquisition —[A] Harsh or severe
questioning. I’d prefer a new edition
of the Spanish Inquisition—“I’m An
Ordinary Man”
11 . gaudy —[D] Flashy; marked by extravagance. Naughty, bawdy, gaudy,
sporty/Forty-Second Street—“42nd
Street”
12. fop —[A] Vain man; silly person.
It’s fop/Finest in the shop/And we
have some shepherd’s pie/With actual shepherd on top—“A Little
Priest”
13 . ennui —[C] Boredom; feeling of
weariness. When I’m out on a quiet
spree/Fighting vainly the old ennui—
“I Get A Kick Out Of You”
14. ken —[B] Range of knowledge.
Timid and shy and scared are
you/Of things beyond your ken—
“Sixteen Going On Seventeen”
15. equipoise —[C] State of equilibrium. And just a minute boys/I got
the feed box noise/It says the greatgrandfather was Equipoise—“Fugue
For Tinhorns”
16. virago —[B] Loud, overbearing woman; woman of strength. Where is
Fedora, the wild virago? —“Where Is
The Life That Late I Led?”
8. flaunt —[D] To display ostentatiously. Ven you got it, flaunt it—
“When You Got It, Flaunt It”
9. palazzo —[B] Large building, especially in Italy. Could still she be
drinkin’ in her stinkin’ pink palazzo?
—“Where Is The Life That Late I
Led?”
VOCABULARY RATINGS
8-10 Good 11-13 Excellent 14-16 Exceptional
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KELSEY GRAMMER WORDS
Ever since Dr. Frasier Crane’s first pompous appearance on “Cheers,” we’ve
laughed at his pretensions and foibles. Kelsey Grammer dazzled us as the
charm-challenged psychiatrist on “Frasier,” so we salute his comedic talent
and his way with words. Deliver a few bons mots of your own with vocabulary from the show.
1 . empathize v.—A: to experience
vicariously. B: fish for sympathy.
C: testify. D: build an empire.
2. patronizing adj.—A: mocking.
B: condescending. C: deliberately insulting. D: neighborly.
3. enigma n.—A: boredom. B: puzzle. C: preoccupation. D: commitment.
4. ploy n.—A: dramatic reading.
B: elaborate illusion. C: heavy
farm equipment. D: strategic
maneuver.
5. charlatan n.—A: volunteer for a
nonprofit organization. B: conniving fraud. C: delicate lace.
D: nightclub singer.
6. hellacious* adj.—A: torrid. B: sinful. C: agonizing. D: hypnotic.
7. grovel v.—A: to whine. B: behave
obsequiously. C: laugh ominously. D: stumble.
8. archetype n.—A: original model.
B: school of architecture. C: anarchy. D: ancient musical instrument.
9. lout n.—A: comedian. B: noisy
child. C: leader of the pack.
D: boorish person.
10. al dente adj.—A: robust. B: firm.
C: softly, in music. D: with brio.
11 . prattle v.—A: to lie through your
teeth. B: tell tall tales. C: shiver
with cold. D: talk meaninglessly.
12. legerdemain n.—A: ear for languages. B: interference. C: incredible courage. D: artful
trickery.
*Although “Frasier” knows this word, Webster’s doesn’t. So it won’t affect your score.
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B I G TA L K E R S
ANSWERS
1 . empathize —[A] Experience vicariously or identify with the feelings of
another person. Lilith is chatting
with the nervous man next to her on
a plane, who’s turned white as a
sheet. “I can empathize,” she says.
“After a late night, I cover my undereye circles with Liquid Paper.”
2. patronizing —[B] Condescending;
of behavior that implies superiority.
A 13-year-old calls the show to tell
Frasier his advice was patronizing.
Frasier says: “Kids. You can’t live
with ’em, and you can’t shove ’em
back in the womb.”
3. enigma —[B] Puzzling thing or
person. As Eddie the dog stares
balefully at him, Frasier asks, “Is my
head a large piece of kibble? Am I a
canine enigma?”
4. ploy —[D] Maneuver or strategy to
gain advantage. The new boss at the
station has announced a wage
freeze. Angry employees gather at
Frasier’s, where he tells them: “It’s
simply a ploy of an overly ambitious
station manager. ... Time we said no
to this Princess of Darkness.”
5. charlatan —[B] Fraud; quack;
someone who pretends to have
knowledge or skill. Frasier thinks
Martin underestimates his skill at
“reading” people. “What troubles
are to pigs, so are the charlatans and
pettifoggers to my mental acuity.”
6. hellacious —[C] Agonizing; miserable. Roz is telling Frasier about her
weekend: “I had the most hellacious
date of my life. I pick him up from
work, stop for gas—and I had to
pump it myself while he read the
sports section.”
7. grovel —[B] Behave obsequiously
in seeking favor or forgiveness. “Remember why you left Maris in the
first place?” Frasier asks his brother.
“You were tired of groveling.” “Yes,
but I’m rested now,” says Niles.
8. archetype —[A] Original model or
type, after which similar things are
patterned. Frasier, speaking of basketball: “It’s the archetypal malebonding ritual.” Niles says,
“Couldn’t we just go into the
woods, kill something and have
done with it?”
9. lout —[D] Boorish, insensitive person. Martin is trying to convince
Frasier that it’s all right to lie in
some circumstances—in this case,
about Niles’s affection for Daphne.
“You make me sound like some sort
of lout,” says Frasier.
10. al dente —[B] Firm to the bite, especially pasta. “I specifically requested my macaroni and cheese al
dente,” complains a young Frasier.
11 . prattle —[D] Talk idly or meaninglessly; babble. Frasier remarks to
Niles, “You’re a psychiatrist; you
know what it’s like to listen to people prattling on about their mundane lives.” Niles comes back with:
“And on that subject, I heard your
show today.”
12. legerdemain —[D] Artful trickery;
sleight of hand. “It’s better that our
political legerdemain remain sub
rosa, hmm?” Frasier asks his father.
Then he adds, “How would a normal person say that, Dad?”
VOCABULARY RATINGS
4-6 Good 7-8 Excellent 9-11 Exceptional
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WILLIAM SAFIRE WORDS
Be there at the birth of a word! Impress friends with how hip you are to
contemporary idiom. Each Sunday, William Safire’s witty take on language
appears in The New York Times Magazine. Here are usages he loved and
hated in recent years.
1 . tipping point n.—a state of
A: being unbalanced. B: having
had too much to drink. C: indecision. D: no return.
2. dead-ender n., adj.—A: pointless
effort. B: waste of time. C: unwillingness to accept defeat.
D: one-way street.
3. diva n.—a female who is A: a
rock star. B: opera singer.
C: model. D: glamorous, newsworthy.
4. über- adj.—a prefix indicating
A: superlative status. B: Slavic
origin. C: diminutive size. D: latest version.
5. jonesing n.—A: grooving to
music. B: hankering for something. C: using street slang.
D: being obsequious.
6. trash talk n., v.—A: idle boasting.
B: impolite cursing. C: insulting
language. D: ranting and raving.
7. embed v.—A: to set in concrete.
B: crush with a mallet. C: get
something engraved. D: place a
journalist among the troops.
8. rope-a-dope adj.—relating to a
strategy that A: plays off someone’s lack of knowledge. B: is
based on a frustrating defense.
C: cowboys use on cattle drives.
D: is taught to car salespeople.
9. tank v.—A: fill up with gas. B: fail
spectacularly. C: go scubadiving. D: frequent a pub.
10. props n.—A: emotional support.
B: costumes. C: proper respect.
D: tentative proposals.
11 . shooz n.—A: idiom for flip-flops.
B: concerns. C: motorcycle
boots. D: rare gemstone.
12. voguism n.—A: fashionable word
or phrase. B: indirect reference.
C: trendy dress. D: opponent.
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B I G TA L K E R S
ANSWERS
1 . tipping point —[D] A state of no
return by a movement or trend.
Critical mass was once a popular
phrase and means much the same.
As, The drive to take dot-coms public had its tipping point in the late
’90s.
2. dead-ender —[C] A foolish unwillingness to accept defeat. The military’s substitute for die-hard, which
implied nobly fighting on for a lost
cause. In sports, dead-ender suggests a loser.
3. diva —[A, B, C, D] Originally, a diva
meant a leading woman singer, especially in opera. Today, it refers to
any glamorous and successful female personality or performer. It’s
also come to mean an arbiter of
taste, as in cultural diva and domestic diva.
4. über- —[A] A prefix indicating superlative status; the ultimate. It
seems to have more oomph than the
overused super- and inadequate
hyper-; as, Much of Europe now has
an übercurrency, the euro.
5. jonesing —[B] A hankering or craving; as, Sometimes only Ben &
Jerry’s will do when you’ve got a
jonesing for ice cream.
6. trash talk —[C] Insulting language
intended to upset or intimidate a
rival, particularly in sports; as, Ball
players and rappers are masters of
trash talk. Also seen as talkin’ trash.
7. embed —[D] As military jargon, it
means to place a journalist with a
unit of troops, where he or she lives
with and follows the soldiers into
combat. As a noun, emphasize em-.
8. rope-a-dope —[B] Relating to a defensive strategy that frustrates and
ultimately weakens an offense, making it vulnerable. First used by
boxer Muhammad Ali, the term has
now crossed over into diplomatic
lingo (diplolingo).
9. tank —[B] Fail spectacularly; collapse; as, Bogus accounting led
Enron to tank. In athletics, tank
connotes failing deliberately, or
throwing a game.
10. props —[C] Proper respect; honor.
Usually used with give. Began life
on the West Coast in the music industry, where shorthand speech is a
way of life and giving props to your
collaborators is vital.
11 . shooz —[B] Concerns or issues; can
also be represented as shoes; as, A
management consultant needs to
wrap up an open shooz list.
12. voguism —[A] A fashionable, hip
word or phrase that is picked up by
politicians, intellectuals and talking
heads and repeated endlessly. This
term first appeared in Safire’s “On
Language” column. He admits,
though, to little success in getting it
adopted.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
7-8 Good 9-10 Excellent 11-12 Exceptional
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BOB DYLAN WORDS
Bob Dylan is no longer the skinny folksinger we remember from the 1960s,
but to many of us he still represents youthful rebellion. Amazingly, he continues to write and perform great music well into his 60s. His skill with
words also infuses his autobiographical work from 2004, entitled Chronicles, Volume One. That’s where we got the words used in this quiz.
1 . cryptic adj.—A: close to death.
B: sarcastic. C: causing illness.
D: mysterious.
2. zeal n.—A: fervor. B: high point.
C: witty remark. D: closure.
3. renounce v.—A: to criticize
sharply. B: give up. C: restate.
D: break, as in an agreement.
4. bucolic adj.—A: pastoral.
B: marked by constant crying.
C: hard-working. D: idle.
5. firebrand n.—A: dragon. B: type
of small handgun. C: agitator.
D: large, heavy skillet.
6. citadel n.—A: house of worship.
B: lighthouse. C: military university. D: stronghold.
7. gaunt adj. A: clumsy. B: very tall.
C: very thin. D: very muscled.
8. transcend v.—A: to rise above.
B: change forms. C: send, as
with a signal. D: move slowly.
9. affirmation n.—A: military unit.
B: legal statement. C: act of validation. D: related item.
10. vernacular n.—A: type of receptacle. B: moon phase. C: local dialect. D: wart.
11 . deity n.—A: person trying to lose
weight. B: supreme being.
C: devil. D: clue.
12. debauched adj.—A: corrupted.
B: unusual. C: questioned
closely. D: powerful.
13. retract v.—A: to assault quickly.
B: review. C: redraw, as with a
map. D: take back.
14. antebellum adj.—A: anti-war.
B: connected to the roof of a
house. C: pre-Civil War. D: agricultural.
15. portico n.—A: porchlike structure. B: creeping vine. C: navigator’s perch on a ship.
D: backyard.
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B I G TA L K E R S
ANSWERS
1 . cryptic —[D] Having or seeming to
have a hidden meaning; mysterious.
His cryptic remarks made me think
he knew something he wasn’t revealing.
2. zeal —[A] Fervor. Your zeal for exposing the truth is thrilling.
3. renounce —[B] To give up, refuse
or resign, usually by formal declaration; repudiate. If you must enforce
those ancient rules, I must renounce
my allegiance to your cause.
4. bucolic —[A] Relating to or typical
of rural life; pastoral. Things got
tense in the city, so he fled for more
bucolic surroundings up north.
5. firebrand —[C] One who creates
unrest or strife; agitator. The crowd
was eerily quiet, as though waiting
for the firebrand to set it off.
6. citadel —[D] Fortress that commands a city; stronghold. For close
to three years, she treated the tiny
house as their citadel.
7. gaunt —[C] Excessively thin and
angular; barren, desolate. He played
up his gaunt appearance by smearing white makeup on his face.
8. transcend —[A] To rise above or
go beyond the limits of; overcome.
Whenever I hear the melody of that
song, I’m able to transcend whatever petty task I’m doing.
10. vernacular —[C] Language or dialect native to a group, region or
country. When writing great folk
songs, use a distinctly American
vernacular.
11 . deity —[B] A god or goddess; a
person or thing considered
supremely powerful. He scoffs at
those who treat him as a deity.
12. debauched —[A] To be corrupted
by intemperance or sensuality; debased. Before you criticize the behavior of others, you should take a
moment to consider your own debauched past.
13. retract —[D] To draw back or in;
take back, withdraw. The problem
with a lie is that once you’ve told it,
it’s not so easy to retract.
14. antebellum —[C] Existing before a
war, specifically the U.S. Civil War.
Driving through Natchez, Mississippi, on Highway 61, you see plenty
of antebellum homes.
15. portico —[A] A covered structure,
usually supported by columns or
piers, often at a building’s entrance.
We kicked off our boots and spent
the afternoon sipping lemonade inside the mansion’s portico.
9. affirmation —[C] Act of validation, confirmation. His return to
regular performing served as affirmation for the fans who knew it was
inevitable.
VOCABULARY RATINGS
7-9 Good 10-12 Excellent 13-15 Exceptional
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