Wordly Wise 2

Question 1

Adjudicate

Ad-ju-di-cate

Answer 1

V.
To judge

Since her case was still being adjudicated, the defendant didn’t want to speak to the press.

Question 2

Centennial

Cen-ten-ni-al

Answer 2

N.
A one-hundredth anniversary

The nation celebrated its centennial in 1876, one hundred years after the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776.

Question 3

Countenance

Coun-ten-ance

Answer 3

N.
A persons face

Luke’s countenance was doleful when he heard the news that the class trip was cancelled.

Question 4

Disgruntle

Dis-grun-tle

Answer 4

V.
To make dissatisfied

The employees, who haven’t been given a raise in over two years, are disgruntled with their wages and want an increase in pay.

Question 5

Equilibrium

E-qui-lib-ri-um

Answer 5

N.
A state of balance

The United States government is most effective when its executive, legislative, and judicial branches are all working in equilibrium.

Question 6

Expedite

Ex-pe-dite

Answer 6

V.
To speed up a process

The company hired additional workers to expedite the delivery of holiday orders.

Question 7

Gird

-

Answer 7

V.
To encircle, bind, or surround

He girded his waist with a wide leather belt.

Question 8

Gratuitous

Gra-tu-it-ous

Answer 8

Adj.
free

Did you think the skating lessons would be gratuitous, or did you expect to pay for them

Question 9

Illusory

Il-lu-sory

Answer 9

Adj. unreal or imagined

His chances of getting a raise were illusory since he had such a poor work record.

Question 10

Implacable

Im-pla-ca-ble

Answer 10

Adj.
Relentless

Despite Gina’s apologies, Karen still felt hurt by her friends betrayal and remained implacable.

Question 11

Luminary

Lu-mi-nar-y

Answer 11

N.
A source of light

The moon far outshines any luminaries in the night sky.

Question 12

Manifesto

Man-i-fes-to

Answer 12

N.
A public statement of a groups motives

In their 1848 communist manifesto, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels outlined their philosophies about class and economies.

Question 13

Mesmerize

Mes-mer-ize

Answer 13

V.
To hypnotize

The agile, death defying moves of the trapeze artist kept the audience mesmerized during her performance.

Question 14

Precedent

Pre-ce-dent

Answer 14

N.
An act that may serve as a justification for a later one

The successful revolt of the American colonies provided precedent for the French Revolution.

Question 15

Spurious

Spur-i-ous

Answer 15

Adj.
False

Spurious reports that Elvis Presley was alive kept appearing in the tabloids