05

Question 1

compound

Answer 1

adjective | ˈkämˌpound, kəmˈpound |
made up or consisting of two or more existing parts or elements: a compound noun.
verb | kəmˈpound, ˈkämˌpound | [with object]
1 make up (a composite whole); constitute: a dialect compounded of Spanish and Dutch.
• mix or combine (ingredients or constituents): yellow pastas compounded with lemon zest or saffron.
• calculate (interest) on previously accumulated interest: the yield at which the interest is compounded.
2 make (something bad) worse; intensify the negative aspects of: I compounded the problem by trying to make wrong things right.

Question 2

compromise

Answer 2

verb
1 [no object] settle a dispute by mutual concession: in the end we compromised and deferred the issue.
• [with object] archaic settle (a dispute) by mutual concession: I should compromise the matter with my father.
2 [no object] accept standards that are lower than is desirable: we were not prepared to compromise on safety.
• [with object] weaken (a reputation or principle) by accepting standards that are lower than is desirable: commercial pressures could compromise safety.
3 [with object]
• cause to become vulnerable or function less effectively: yo-yo dieting can compromise your immune system | last month’s leak of source code will not compromise your IT security.

Question 3

compunction

Answer 3

noun [usually with negative]
a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad: spend the money without compunction | he had no compunction about behaving blasphemously.

Question 4

concoct

Answer 4

verb [with object]
make (a dish or meal) by combining various ingredients: they concoct relish from corn that is so naturally sweet no extra sugar is needed.
• create or devise (said especially of a story or plan): they concocted a preposterous but entertaining story.

Question 5

concede

Answer 5

verb
1 [reporting verb] admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it: [with clause] : I had to concede that I’d overreacted | [with object] : that principle now seems to have been conceded.
• [with object] admit (defeat) in a contest: he conceded defeat.
• [with object] admit defeat in (a contest): ready to concede the gold medal.
2 [with object] surrender or yield (something that one possesses): to concede all the territory he’d won.
• grant (a right, privilege, or demand): their rights to redress of grievances were conceded once more.
• (in sports) fail to prevent the scoring of (a goal or point) by an opponent: the coach conceded three safeties rather than kick into the wind.
• allow (a lead or advantage) to slip: he took an early lead that he never conceded.

Question 6

concerted

Answer 6

adjective
1 jointly arranged, planned, or carried out; coordinated: determined to begin a concerted action against them.
• strenuously carried out; done with great effort: it would take a concerted effort for a burglar to break into my home.

Question 7

conciliate

Answer 7

verb [with object]
1 stop (someone) from being angry or discontented; placate; pacify: concessions were made to conciliate the peasantry.
• [no object] act as a mediator: he sought to conciliate in the dispute.
• formal reconcile; make compatible: all complaints about charges will be conciliated if possible.

Question 8

concord

Answer 8

noun
1 formal agreement or harmony between people or groups: a pact of peace and concord.
• a treaty.
2 Grammar agreement between words in gender, number, case, person, or any other grammatical category which affects the forms of the words.

Question 9

concur

Answer 9

verb (concurs, concurring, concurred) [no object]
1 be of the same opinion; agree: the authors concurred with the majority | “That’s right,” the chairman concurred | they concurred in the creation of the disciplinary procedures.
• (concur with) agree with (a decision, opinion, or finding): we strongly concur with this recommendation.
2 happen or occur at the same time; coincide: in tests, cytogenetic determination has been found to concur with enzymatic determination.

Question 10

condign

Answer 10

adjective formal
(of punishment or retribution) appropriate to the crime or wrongdoing; fitting and deserved.

Question 11

condole

Answer 11

verb [no object] (condole with)

express sympathy for (someone); grieve with: the priest came to condole with Madeleine.

Question 12

condone

Answer 12

verb [with object, often with negative]
accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue: the college cannot condone any behavior that involves illicit drugs.
• approve or sanction (something), especially with reluctance: the practice is not officially condoned by any airline.

Question 13

conducive

Answer 13

adjective
making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible: the harsh lights and cameras were hardly conducive to a relaxed atmosphere.

Question 14

cantankerous

Answer 14

adjective

bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative: a crusty, cantankerous old man.

Question 15

confluence

Answer 15

noun
the junction of two rivers, especially rivers of approximately equal width: here at the confluence of the Laramie and North Platte Rivers.
• an act or process of merging: a major confluence of the world’s financial markets.

Question 16

confound

Answer 16

verb [with object]
1 cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by acting against their expectations: the inflation figure confounded economic analysts.
• prove (a theory, expectation, or prediction) wrong: the rise in prices confounded expectations.
• defeat (a plan, aim, or hope): we will confound these tactics by the pressure groups.
• archaic overthrow (an enemy).
2 (often be confounded with) mix up (something) with something else so that the individual elements become difficult to distinguish: ‘nuke’ is now a cooking technique, as microwave radiation is confounded with nuclear radiation.

Question 17

congeal

Answer 17

verb [no object]
solidify or coagulate, especially by cooling: the blood had congealed into blobs | (as adjective congealed) : congealed egg white.
• take shape or coalesce, especially to form a satisfying whole: the ballet failed to congeal as a single oeuvre.

Question 18

congenial

Answer 18

adjective
(of a person) pleasant because of a personality, qualities, or interests that are similar to one’s own: his need for some congenial company.
• (of a thing) pleasant or agreeable because suited to one’s taste or inclination: he went back to a climate more congenial to his cold stony soul.

Question 19

congruent

Answer 19

adjective
1 in agreement or harmony: the rules may not be congruent with the requirements of the law | institutional and departmental objectives are largely congruent.
2 Geometry (of figures) identical in form; coinciding exactly when superimposed.

Question 20

conjecture

Answer 20

noun
an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information: conjectures about the newcomer were many and varied | the purpose of the opening in the wall is open to conjecture.
• an unproven mathematical or scientific theorem: the Goldbach conjecture.
• (in textual criticism) the suggestion or reconstruction of a reading of a text not present in the original source.
verb [reporting verb]
form an opinion or supposition about (something) on the basis of incomplete information: many conjectured that the jury could not agree | he conjectured the existence of an otherwise unknown feature.
• (in textual criticism) propose (a reading).

Question 21

connive

Answer 21

verb [no object] (connive at/in)
secretly allow (something considered immoral, illegal, wrong, or harmful) to occur: you have it in your power to connive at my escape.
• (usually connive to do something) conspire to do something considered immoral, illegal, or harmful: the government had connived with security forces in permitting murder.

Question 22

conscientious

Answer 22

adjective
1 (of a person) wishing to do what is right, especially to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly: a conscientious and hardworking clerk.
2 relating to a person's conscience: the act does not provide exemption from service on the basis of personal conscientious beliefs.

Question 23

conservatory

Answer 23

noun (plural conservatories)
1 North American a college for the study of classical music or other arts.
2 a room with a glass roof and walls, attached to a house at one side and used as a greenhouse or a sun parlor.

Question 24

consilience

Answer 24

noun

agreement between the approaches to a topic of different academic subjects, especially science and the humanities.

Question 25

console

Answer 25

verb [with object] comfort (someone) at a time of grief or disappointment: she tried to console him but he pushed her gently away | you can console yourself with the thought that you did your best.

Question 26

consonant

Answer 26

noun a basic speech sound in which the breath is at least partly obstructed and which can be combined with a vowel to form a syllable. Contrasted with vowel. • a letter representing a consonant. adjective 1 denoting or relating to a consonant sound or letter: a consonant phoneme. 2 (consonant with) in agreement or harmony with: the findings are consonant with other research. • Music making a harmonious interval or chord: the bass is consonant with all the upper notes.

Question 27

conspicuous

Answer 27

adjective standing out so as to be clearly visible: he was very thin, with a conspicuous Adam's apple. • attracting notice or attention: he showed conspicuous bravery.

Question 28

conspire

Answer 28

verb [no object] make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act: they conspired against him | they deny conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service. • (of events or circumstances) seem to be working together to bring about a particular result, typically to someone's detriment: everything conspires to exacerbate the situation.

Question 29

constitute

Answer 29

``` verb [with object] 1 be (a part) of a whole: single parents constitute a great proportion of the poor. • (of people or things) combine to form (a whole): there were enough members present to constitute a quorum. • be or be equivalent to (something): his failure to act constituted a breach of duty. 2 (usually be constituted) give legal or constitutional form to (an institution); establish by law. ```

Question 30

constrain

Answer 30

verb [with object] compel or force (someone) toward a particular course of action: children are constrained to work in the way the book dictates. • (usually as adjective constrained) cause to appear unnaturally forced, typically because of embarrassment: he was acting in a constrained manner. • severely restrict the scope, extent, or activity of: agricultural development is considerably constrained by climate | we can constrain data access. • archaic bring about (something) by compulsion: Calypso in her caves constrained his stay. • literary confine forcibly; imprison.

Question 31

construct

Answer 31

noun | ˈkänˌstrəkt | an idea or theory containing various conceptual elements, typically one considered to be subjective and not based on empirical evidence: history is largely an ideological construct. • Linguistics a group of words forming a phrase. • a physical thing which is deliberately built or formed.

Question 32

consummate

Answer 32

verb | ˈkänsəˌmāt | [with object] make (a marriage or relationship) complete by having sexual intercourse: they did not consumate their marriage until months after it took place. • complete (a transaction or attempt); make perfect: his scheme of colonization was consummated through bloodshed. adjective | ˈkänsəmət | showing a high degree of skill and flair; complete or perfect: she dressed with consummate elegance.

Question 33

contagious

Answer 33

adjective 1 (of a disease) spread from one person or organism to another by direct or indirect contact: a contagious infection. • (of a person or animal) likely to transmit a disease by contact with other people or animals. 2 (of an emotion, feeling, or attitude) likely to spread to and affect others: her enthusiasm is contagious.

Question 34

content

Answer 34

verb [with object] satisfy (someone): nothing would content her. • (content oneself with) accept as adequate despite wanting more or better: we contented ourselves with a few small purchases.

Question 35

contentious

Answer 35

adjective causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial: a contentious issue. • involving heated argument: the socioeconomic plan had been the subject of contentious debate. • (of a person) given to arguing or provoking argument: a contentious politician haranguing a crowd.

Question 36

contiguous

Answer 36

adjective sharing a common border; touching: the 48 contiguous states. • next or together in sequence: five hundred contiguous dictionary entries.

Question 37

contort

Answer 37

verb twist or bend out of the normal shape: [with object] : a spasm of pain contorted his face | [no object] : her face contorted with anger | (as adjective contorted) : contorted limbs | figurative : a contorted version of the truth.

Question 38

contract

Answer 38

3 | kənˈtrakt | [with object] catch or develop (a disease or infectious agent): three people contracted a killer virus. 4 | kənˈtrakt | [with object] become liable to pay (a debt): he contracted a debt of $3,300.

Question 39

contravene

Answer 39

verb [with object] violate the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty, or code of conduct): this would contravene the rule against hearsay. • conflict with (a right, principle, etc.), especially to its detriment: this contravened Washington's commitment to its own proposal.

Question 40

contrite

Answer 40

adjective | feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt: a broken and a contrite heart.

Question 41

convalesce

Answer 41

verb [no object] recover one's health and strength over a period of time after an illness or operation: he spent eight months convalescing after the stroke.

Question 42

cloak

Answer 42

noun • something serving to hide or disguise something: lifting the cloak of secrecy on the arms trade. verb [with object] • hide, cover, or disguise (something): the horror of war was cloaked in the trappings of chivalry.

Question 43

converge

Answer 43

* (converge on/upon) come from different directions and meet at (a place): half a million sports fans will converge on the capital. * (of a number of things) gradually change so as to become similar or develop something in common: two cultures converged as the French settled Vermont.

Question 44

conversant

Answer 44

adjective | familiar with or knowledgeable about something: many ladies are conversant with the merits of drill-eyed needles.

Question 45

consort

Answer 45

noun | ˈkänsôrt | a wife, husband, or companion, in particular the spouse of a reigning monarch. • a ship sailing in company with another. verb | kənˈsôrt, ˈkänˌsôrt | [no object] (consort with) habitually associate with (someone), typically with the disapproval of others: you chose to consort with the enemy. • (consort with/to) archaic agree or be in harmony with.

Question 46

cagey

Answer 46

adjective informal reluctant to give information owing to caution or suspicion: manufacturers are cagey about the recipes they use to create a wine.

Question 47

conviction

Answer 47

2 a firmly held belief or opinion: she takes pride in stating her political convictions | his conviction that the death was no accident. • the quality of showing that one is firmly convinced of what one believes or says: his voice lacked conviction.

Question 48

convoke

Answer 48

verb [with object] formal | call together or summon (an assembly or meeting): she sent messages convoking a Council of Ministers.

Question 49

convoluted

Answer 49

``` adjective 1 (especially of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow: its convoluted narrative encompasses all manner of digressions. ```

Question 50

convulsion

Answer 50

noun (often convulsions) 1 a sudden, violent, irregular movement of a limb or of the body, caused by involuntary contraction of muscles and associated especially with brain disorders such as epilepsy, the presence of certain toxins or other agents in the blood, or fever in children. • (convulsions) uncontrollable laughter: the audience collapsed in convulsions. • an earthquake or other violent or major movement of the earth's crust: the violent convulsions of tectonic plates. 2 a violent social or political upheaval: the convulsions of 1939–45.

Question 51

coop

Answer 51

noun a cage or pen for confining poultry: a chicken coop. verb [with object] (usually be cooped up) confine in a small space: being cooped up indoors all day makes him fidgety. • put or keep (a fowl) in a cage or pen.

Question 52

coquette

Answer 52

1 a woman who flirts.

Question 53

countervail

Answer 53

verb [with object] (usually as adjective countervailing) offset the effect of (something) by countering it with something of equal force: the dominance of the party was mediated by a number of countervailing factors.

Question 54

cornucopia

Answer 54

noun a symbol of plenty consisting of a goat's horn overflowing with flowers, fruit, and corn. • an ornamental container shaped like a goat's horn. • an abundant supply of good things of a specified kind: the festival offers a cornucopia of pleasures.

Question 55

coronation

Answer 55

noun | the ceremony of crowning a sovereign or a sovereign's consort.

Question 56

corporeal

Answer 56

adjective relating to a person's body, especially as opposed to their spirit: he was frank about his corporeal appetites. • having a body: a corporeal God.

Question 57

corroborate

Answer 57

verb [with object] confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding): the witness had corroborated the boy's account of the attack.

Question 58

corrugated

Answer 58

adjective | (of a material, surface, or structure) shaped into alternate ridges and grooves: the roof was made of corrugated iron.

Question 59

cosmopolitan

Answer 59

adjective 1 including or containing people from many different countries: immigration transformed the city into a cosmopolitan metropolis. • familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures: his knowledge of French, Italian, and Spanish made him genuinely cosmopolitan. • having an exciting and glamorous character associated with travel and a mixture of cultures: their designs became a byword for cosmopolitan chic. 2 (of a plant or animal) found all over the world. noun 1 a cosmopolitan person. 2 a plant or animal found all over the world.

Question 60

cosset

Answer 60

verb (cossets, cosseting, cosseted) [with object] | care for and protect in an overindulgent way: all her life she'd been cosseted by her family.

Question 61

countenance

Answer 61

noun 1 a person's face or facial expression: his impenetrable eyes and inscrutable countenance give little away. 2 support: she was giving her specific countenance to the occasion. verb [with object] admit as acceptable or possible: he was reluctant to countenance the use of force.

Question 62

counterfeit

Answer 62

adjective made in exact imitation of something valuable or important with the intention to deceive or defraud: two men were remanded on bail on a charge of passing counterfeit $10 bills. • pretended; sham: a counterfeit image of reality. noun a fraudulent imitation of something else; a forgery: he knew the tapes to be counterfeits. verb [with object] imitate fraudulently: my signature is extremely hard to counterfeit. • pretend to feel or possess (an emotion or quality): no pretense could have counterfeited such terror. • literary resemble closely: sleep counterfeited Death so well.

Question 63

countermand

Answer 63

verb [with object] revoke (an order): an order to arrest the strike leaders had been countermanded. • revoke an order issued by (another person): he was already countermanding her. • declare (a vote or election) invalid: the election commission has countermanded voting on the grounds of intimidation. noun an order revoking a previous one: I forthwith mounted, and went off, lest I should receive a countermand.

Question 64

court

Answer 64

verb [with object] dated be involved with romantically, typically with the intention of marrying: he was courting a girl from the neighboring farm | [no object] : we went to the movies when we were courting. • (of a male bird or other animal) try to attract (a mate). • pay special attention to (someone) in an attempt to win their support or favor: Western politicians courted the leaders of the newly independent states. • go to great lengths to win (favorable attention): he never had to court the approval of the political elite. • risk incurring (misfortune) because of the way one behaves: he has often courted controversy.

Question 65

covert

Answer 65

adjective | ˈkōvərt, kōˈvərt | 1 not openly acknowledged or displayed: covert operations against the dictatorship. noun | ˈkəvər(t), ˈkōvərt | 1 a thicket in which game can hide.

Question 66

covetous

Answer 66

adjective having or showing a great desire to possess something belonging to someone else: she fingered the linen with covetous hands.

Question 67

cow

Answer 67

verb [with object] (usually be cowed) | cause (someone) to submit to one's wishes by intimidation: the intellectuals had been cowed into silence.

Question 68

cower

Answer 68

verb [no object] | crouch down in fear: children cowered in terror as the shoot-out erupted.

Question 69

cozen

Answer 69

verb [with object] literary trick or deceive: do not think to cozen your contemporaries. • obtain by deception: he was able to cozen a profit.

Question 70

cramped

Answer 70

adjective 1 feeling or causing someone to feel uncomfortably confined or hemmed in by lack of space: the staff had to work in cramped conditions. • restricting or inhibiting the development of someone or something: he felt cramped in a large organization. • (of handwriting) small and difficult to read. 2 suffering from a cramp: cramped muscles.

Question 71

crass

Answer 71

adjective | lacking sensitivity, refinement, or intelligence: the crass assumptions that men make about women.

Question 72

crave

Answer 72

verb [with object] | feel a powerful desire for (something): a program to give the infants the human touch they crave.

Question 73

craven

Answer 73

adjective | contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly: a craven abdication of his moral duty.

Question 74

contingency

Answer 74

noun (plural contingencies) a future event or circumstance which is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty: a detailed contract that attempts to provide for all possible contingencies. • a provision for an unforeseen event or circumstance: a contingency reserve. • an incidental expense: allow an extra fifteen percent in the budget for contingencies. • the absence of certainty in events: the island's public affairs can be invaded by contingency. • Philosophy the absence of necessity; the fact of being so without having to be so.

Question 75

credence

Answer 75

noun 1 belief in or acceptance of something as true: psychoanalysis finds little credence among laymen. • the likelihood of something being true; plausibility: being called upon by the media as an expert lends credence to one's opinions.

Question 76

credulous

Answer 76

adjective | having or showing too great a readiness to believe things.

Question 77

caterwaul

Answer 77

verb [no object] (often as noun caterwauling) (of a cat) make a shrill howling or wailing noise: the caterwauling of a pair of bobcats | (as adjective caterwauling) figurative : a caterwauling guitar. noun a shrill howling or wailing noise.