Word List 20

Question 1

Fester (v)

Answer 1

rankle; produce irritation or resentment

Question 2

Fiat (n)

Answer 2

command; authorisation

It was put into effect by presidential fiat

Question 3

Filibuster (v)

Answer 3

block legislation by making long speeches
Even though we disapproved of Senator Foghorn’s political goals, we were impressed by his ability to filibuster endlessly to keep an issue from coming to a vote

Question 4

Finicky (adj)

Answer 4

too particular; fussy

The little girl was finicky when it comes to her food, leaving anything that wasn’t to her taste

Question 5

Firebrand (n)

Answer 5

hothead; troublemaker

The police tried to keep away all the firebrands when the president came to town

Question 6

Fitful (adj)

Answer 6

spasmodic; intermittent

On the airplane, Sharon managed to doze off, but it was a fitful, restless sleep

Question 7

Flaccid (adj)

Answer 7

flabby

His sedentary life had left him flaccid muscles

Question 8

Flagrant (adj)

Answer 8

conspicuously wicked; blatant; outrageous

The governor’s appointment of second in command was a flagrant violation of the state laws against nepotism

Question 9

Flippant (adj)

Answer 9

lacking proper seriousness

Question 10

Florid (adj)

Answer 10

ruddy; reddish; flowery

If you go to Florida and get a sunburn, your complexion will look florid

Question 11

Flounder (v)

Answer 11

struggle and thrash about

Question 12

Flout (v)

Answer 12

reject; mock; show contempt for

The painter Schnabel is known for works that flout the conventional and contemporary art

Question 13

Foible (n)

Answer 13

minor eccentricity; slight weakness or flaw

Eating oysters for desserts is just one of David’s little foibles

Question 14

Foist (v)

Answer 14

insert improperly; palm off
Susan had no desire to have her late aunt’s ancient Boston terrier foisted on her, but someone had to look after the poor beast

Question 15

Foment (v)

Answer 15

stir up; instigate

Heather spread some nasty rumours that fomented trouble in the club

Question 16

Foolhardy (adj)

Answer 16

rash

Don’t be foolhardy. Get the advice of experienced people before undertaking this venture

Question 17

Foray (n)

Answer 17

raid

The company staged a midnight foray against the enemy’s outpost

Question 18

Forbearance (n)

Answer 18

patience

Be patient with John. Treat him with forbearance, he is still weak from his illness

Question 19

Forebears (n)

Answer 19

ancestors

Question 20

Foreboding (n)

Answer 20

premonition of evil

Suspecting no conspiracies against him, Caesar gently ridiculed his wife’s forebodings about the Ides of March

Question 21

Forestall (v)

Answer 21

prevent by taking action in advance
By setting up a prenuptial agreement, the prospective bride and groom hoped to forestall any potential arguments about money in the event of a divorce

Question 22

Forlorn (adj)

Answer 22

sad and lonely; wretched

Deserted by her big sisters and her friends, the forlorn child sat sadly on the steps awaiting their return

Question 23

Forswear (v)

Answer 23

renounce; abandon
The captured knight could escape death only if he agreed to forswear Christianity and embrace Islam as the one true faith

Question 24

Forthright (adj)

Answer 24

straightforward; direct; frank

Question 25

Fortitude (n)

Answer 25

bravery; courage

Question 26

Fortuitous (adj)

Answer 26

accidental; by chance
Though he pretended their encounter was fortuitous, he’d actually been hanging around her usual haunts for the past two weeks, hoping she’d turn up