25 Short

Question 1

sunder

Answer 1

verb [with object] literary

split apart: the crunch of bone when it is sundered.

Question 2

supercilious

Answer 2

adjective

behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others: a supercilious lady’s maid.

Question 3

superfluous

Answer 3

adjective

unnecessary, especially through being more than enough: the purchaser should avoid asking for superfluous information.

Question 4

supine

Answer 4

adjective
1 (of a person) lying face upward.
• technical having the front or ventral part upward.
• (of the hand) with the palm upward.
2 failing to act or protest as a result of moral weakness or indolence: supine in the face of racial injustice.

Question 5

supplant

Answer 5

verb [with object]

supersede and replace: another discovery could supplant the original finding.

Question 6

supplicate

Answer 6

verb [no object]

ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly: [with infinitive] : the plutocracy supplicated to be made peers.

Question 7

supposition

Answer 7

noun
an uncertain belief: they were working on the supposition that his death was murder | their outrage was based on supposition and hearsay.

Question 8

surcharge

Answer 8

noun
1 an additional charge or payment: we guarantee that no surcharges will be added to the cost of your trip.
• a charge made by assessors as a penalty for false returns of taxable property.
• the showing of an omission in an account for which credit should have been given.
2 a mark printed on a postage stamp changing its value.
verb [with object]
1 exact an additional charge or payment from: retailers will be able to surcharge credit-card users.
2 mark (a postage stamp) with a surcharge.

Question 9

surfeit

Answer 9

noun [usually in singular]
an excessive amount of something: a surfeit of food and drink.
• archaic an illness caused or regarded as being caused by excessive eating or drinking: he died of a surfeit.
verb (surfeits, surfeiting, surfeited) [with object] (usually be surfeited with)
cause (someone) to desire no more of something as a result of having consumed or done it to excess: I am surfeited with shopping.
• [no object] archaic consume too much of something: he never surfeited on rich wine.

Question 10

surreptitous

Answer 10

adjective

kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of: they carried on a surreptitious affair.

Question 11

suture

Answer 11

noun
1 a stitch or row of stitches holding together the edges of a wound or surgical incision.
• a thread or wire used for suturing a wound or incision.
• the action of stitching together the edges of a wound or incision.
2 a seamlike immovable junction between two bones, such as those of the skull.
verb [with object]
stitch up (a wound or incision) with a suture: the small incision was sutured.

Question 12

svelte

Answer 12

adjective

(of a person) slender and elegant.

Question 13

sweltering

Answer 13

adjective

uncomfortably hot: the sweltering afternoon heat.

Question 14

swerve

Answer 14

verb
change or cause to change direction abruptly: [no object] : a car swerved around a corner | [with object] : he swerved the truck, narrowly missing a teenager on a skateboard.
noun
an abrupt change of direction: do not make sudden swerves, particularly around parked vehicles.

Question 15

sterling

Answer 15

noun
British money: prices in sterling are shown | [as modifier] : issues of sterling bonds.
• short for sterling silver:[as modifier] : a sterling spoon.
adjective
(of a person or their work, efforts, or qualities) excellent or valuable: this organization does sterling work for youngsters.

Question 16

sybarite

Answer 16

noun

a person who is self-indulgent in their fondness for sensuous luxury.

Question 17

syllogism

Answer 17

noun
an instance of a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn (whether validly or not) from two given or assumed propositions (premises), each of which shares a term with the conclusion, and shares a common or middle term not present in the conclusion (e.g., all dogs are animals; all animals have four legs; therefore all dogs have four legs).
• deductive reasoning as distinct from induction: logic is rules or syllogism.

Question 18

synergy/synergic

Answer 18

noun
the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects: the synergy between artist and record company.

Question 19

synopsis

Answer 19

noun (plural synopses | -ˌsēz | )
a brief summary or general survey of something: a synopsis of the accident.
• an outline of the plot of a book, play, movie, or episode of a television show.

Question 20

tacit

Answer 20

adjective

understood or implied without being stated: your silence may be taken to mean tacit agreement.

Question 21

taciturn

Answer 21

adjective

(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.

Question 22

tact/tactless/tactful

Answer 22

noun
adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues: the inspector broke the news to me with tact and consideration.

Question 23

tactile

Answer 23

adjective
of or connected with the sense of touch: vocal and visual signals become less important as tactile signals intensify.
• perceptible by touch or apparently so; tangible: she had a distinct, almost tactile memory.
• designed to be perceived by touch: tactile exhibitions help blind people enjoy the magic of sculpture.
• (of a person) given to touching others, especially as an unselfconscious expression of sympathy or affection.

Question 24

tangent

Answer 24

noun
1 a straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point, but if extended does not cross it at that point.
2 a completely different line of thought or action: he quickly went off on a tangent about wrestling.
adjective
(of a line or plane) touching, but not intersecting, a curve or curved surface.

Question 25

tangy

Answer 25

adjective (tangier, tangiest) | having a strong, piquant flavor or smell: a tangy salad.

Question 26

tantalize

Answer 26

verb [with object] torment or tease (someone) with the sight or promise of something that is unobtainable: such ambitious questions have long tantalized the world's best thinkers. • excite the senses or desires of (someone): she still tantalized him | (as adjective tantalizing) : the tantalizing fragrance of fried bacon.

Question 27

tantamount

Answer 27

adjective [predicative] (tantamount to) | equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as: the resignations were tantamount to an admission of guilt.

Question 28

tantrum

Answer 28

noun an uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child: he has temper tantrums if he can't get his own way.

Question 29

taper

Answer 29

verb diminish or reduce or cause to diminish or reduce in thickness toward one end: [no object] : the tail tapers to a rounded tip | [with object] : David asked my dressmaker to taper his trousers. • [no object] gradually lessen: the impact of the dollar's depreciation started to taper off. noun 1 a slender candle. • a wick coated with wax, used for conveying a flame. 2 a gradual narrowing: the current industry standard taper of 5 degrees. • a gradual or incremental reduction: with the taper in training, athletes can feel less hungry.

Question 30

tardy

Answer 30

adjective (tardier, tardiest) delaying or delayed beyond the right or expected time; late: please forgive this tardy reply. • slow in action or response; sluggish.

Question 31

tatty

Answer 31

adjective (tattier, tattiest) informal worn and shabby; in poor condition: the room was furnished in slightly tatty upholstered furniture. • of poor quality: his gap-toothed smile and tatty haircut.

Question 32

taut

Answer 32

adjective 1 stretched or pulled tight; not slack: the fabric stays taut without adhesive. • (especially of muscles or nerves) tense; not relaxed. 2 (of writing, music, etc.) concise and controlled: a taut text of only a hundred and twenty pages. 3 (of a ship) having a disciplined and efficient crew.

Question 33

tawdry

Answer 33

adjective (tawdrier, tawdriest) showy but cheap and of poor quality: tawdry jewelry. • sordid or unpleasant: the tawdry business of politics.

Question 34

taxing

Answer 34

adjective | physically or mentally demanding: they find the work too taxing.

Question 35

teeter

Answer 35

verb [no object, usually with adverbial] move or balance unsteadily; sway back and forth: she teetered after him in her high-heeled sandals. • (often teeter between) be unable to decide between different courses; waver: she teetered between tears and anger.

Question 36

teetotalism/teetotal

Answer 36

adjective | choosing or characterized by abstinence from alcohol: a teetotal lifestyle.

Question 37

telling

Answer 37

adjective | having a striking or revealing effect; significant: a telling argument against this theory.

Question 38

temerity

Answer 38

noun | excessive confidence or boldness; audacity: no one had the temerity to question his conclusions.

Question 39

temporize

Answer 39

verb 1 [no object] avoid making a decision or committing oneself in order to gain time: the opportunity was missed because the mayor still temporized. 2 temporarily adopt a particular course in order to conform to the circumstances: their unwillingness to temporize had driven their country straight into conflict with France.

Question 40

temperate

Answer 40

adjective 1 relating to or denoting a region or climate characterized by mild temperatures. 2 showing moderation or self-restraint: Charles was temperate in his consumption of both food and drink.

Question 41

tempestuous

Answer 41

adjective 1 characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion: he had a reckless and tempestuous streak. 2 very stormy: a tempestuous wind.

Question 42

tenable

Answer 42

adjective 1 able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection: such a simplistic approach is no longer tenable. 2 (of an office, position, scholarship, etc.) able to be held or used: the post is tenable for three years.

Question 43

tendentious

Answer 43

adjective expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, especially a controversial one: a tendentious reading of history.

Question 44

tender

Answer 44

adjective (tenderer, tenderest) 1 showing gentleness and concern or sympathy: he was being so kind and tender. verb [with object] offer or present (something) formally: he tendered his resignation as leader. • offer (money) as payment: she tendered her fare. • [no object] make a formal written offer to carry out work, supply goods, or buy land, shares, or another asset for a stated fixed price: firms of interior decorators have been tendering for the work. • [with object] make a formal offer giving (a stated fixed price): what price should we tender for a contract?

Question 45

tenuous

Answer 45

adjective very weak or slight: the tenuous link between interest rates and investment. • very slender or fine; insubstantial: a tenuous cloud.

Question 46

tepid

Answer 46

adjective 1 (especially of a liquid) only slightly warm; lukewarm. 2 showing little enthusiasm: the applause was tepid.

Question 47

terminus | ˈtərmənəs |

Answer 47

noun (plural termini | -nī | or terminuses) | 1 a final point in space or time; an end or extremity: the exhibition's terminus is 1962.

Question 48

terse

Answer 48

adjective (terser, tersest) | sparing in the use of words; abrupt: a terse statement.

Question 49

testy

Answer 49

adjective | easily irritated; impatient and somewhat bad-tempered.

Question 50

tether

Answer 50

verb [with object] 1 tie (an animal) with a rope or chain so as to restrict its movement: the horse had been tethered to a post. 2 (usually as noun tethering) use (a smartphone) in order to connect a computer or other device to the Internet: one prediction is that tethering will cost around $30 per month, probably with some cap on the amount of data transfer allowed. noun a rope or chain with which an animal is tied to restrict its movement.

Question 51

theatrical

Answer 51

adjective of, for, or relating to acting, actors, or the theater: theatrical productions. • exaggerated and excessively dramatic: Henry looked over his shoulder with theatrical caution. noun a professional actor or actress: a boarding house that catered for theatricals.

Question 52

thorny thwart, ticklish, tiff

Answer 52

adjective (thornier, thorniest) having many thorns or thorn bushes. • causing distress, difficulty, or trouble: a thorny problem for our team to solve.

Question 53

threadbare

Answer 53

adjective (of cloth, clothing, or soft furnishings) becoming thin and tattered with age: shabby rooms with threadbare carpets. • (of a person, building, or room) poor or shabby in appearance. • (of an argument, excuse, idea, etc.) used so often that it is no longer effective: the song was a tissue of threadbare clichés.

Question 54

throng

Answer 54

noun a large, densely packed crowd of people or animals: he pushed his way through the throng | a throng of birds. verb [with object] (of a crowd) fill or be present in (a place or area): a crowd thronged the station | the streets are thronged with people. • [no object, with adverbial of direction] flock or be present in great numbers: tourists thronged to the picturesque village.

Question 55

thwart

Answer 55

verb [with object] prevent (someone) from accomplishing something: he never did anything to thwart his father | he was thwarted in his desire to punish Uncle Fred. • oppose (a plan, attempt, or ambition) successfully: the government had been able to thwart all attempts by opposition leaders to form new parties. noun a structural crosspiece sometimes forming a seat for a rower in a boat.

Question 56

ticklish

Answer 56

adjective 1 sensitive to being tickled: Lhasa apsos are ticklish on their feet. • (of a cough) characterized by persistent irritation in the throat. 2 (of a situation or problem) difficult to deal with; requiring careful handling: her skill in evading ticklish questions. • (of a person) easily upset.

Question 57

tiff

Answer 57

noun informal | a petty quarrel, especially one between friends or lovers: Joanna had a tiff with her boyfriend.

Question 58

tightfisted

Answer 58

adjective informal | not willing to spend or give much money; miserly.

Question 59

timeworn

Answer 59

adjective damaged or impaired, or made less striking or attractive, as a result of age or much use: the timeworn faces of the veterans | a timeworn aphorism.

Question 60

timorous

Answer 60

adjective | showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence: a timorous voice.

Question 61

tinge

Answer 61

verb (tinges, tinging or tingeing, tinged) [with object] color slightly: a mass of white blossom tinged with pink | [with object and complement] : toward the sun the sky was tinged crimson. • have a slight influence on; imbue slightly with a feeling or quality: this visit will be tinged with sadness. noun a tendency toward or trace of some color: there was a faint pink tinge to the sky. • a slight trace of a feeling or quality.

Question 62

tinker

Answer 62

noun 1 (especially in former times) a person who travels from place to place mending metal utensils as a way of making a living. • US a person who makes minor mechanical repairs, especially on a variety of appliances and apparatuses, usually for a living. • British, chiefly derogatory a Gypsy or other person living in an itinerant community. 2 an act of attempting to repair something. verb [no object] attempt to repair or improve something in a casual or desultory way, often to no useful effect: he spent hours tinkering with the car. • [with object] archaic attempt to mend (something) by tinkering.

Question 63

truism

Answer 63

noun a statement that is obviously true and says nothing new or interesting: the truism that you get what you pay for. • Logic a proposition that states nothing beyond what is implied by any of its terms.

Question 64

toady

Answer 64

noun (plural toadies) a person who behaves obsequiously to someone important. verb (toadies, toadying, toadied) [no object] act in an obsequious way: she imagined him toadying to his rich clients.

Question 65

tonic

Answer 65

noun 1 a medicinal substance taken to give a feeling of vigor or well-being. • something with an invigorating effect: being needed is a tonic for someone at my age. 2 short for tonic water. 3 Music the first note in a scale which, in conventional harmony, provides the keynote of a piece of music. adjective 1 giving a feeling of vigor or well-being; invigorating. 2 Music relating to or denoting the first degree of a scale. 3 Phonetics denoting or relating to the syllable within a tone group that has greatest prominence, because it carries the main change of pitch. 4 relating to or restoring normal tone to muscles or other organs. • Physiology relating to, denoting, or producing continuous muscular contraction.