blue book #09

Question 1

cull

Answer 1

1.
to choose; select; pick.

2.
to gather the choice things or parts from.

3.
to collect; gather; pluck.

Question 2

culminate

Answer 2

1.
to reach the highest point, summit, or highest development (usually followed by in).

2.
to end or arrive at a final stage:
The argument culminated in a fistfight.

3.
to rise to or form an apex; terminate:
The tower culminates in a tall spire.

4.
to bring to a close; complete; climax:
A rock song culminates the performance.

Question 3

culpable

Answer 3

deserving blame or censure; blameworthy.

Question 4

culprit

Answer 4

1.
a person or other agent guilty of or responsible for an offense or fault.

2.
a person arraigned for an offense.

Question 5

cult

Answer 5

1.
a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

2.
an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, especially as manifested by a body of admirers:
the physical fitness cult.

3.
a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.

4.
a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.

5.
a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.

Question 6

cumbersome

Answer 6

1.
burdensome; troublesome.

2.
unwieldy; clumsy.

Question 7

cumulative

Answer 7

1.
increasing or growing by accumulation or successive additions:
the cumulative effect of one rejection after another.

2.
formed by or resulting from gradual increases or the addition of successive parts or elements.

Question 8

cupidity

Answer 8

eager or excessive desire, especially to possess something; greed; avarice.

Question 9

curator

Answer 9

1.
the person in charge of a museum, art collection, etc.

2.
a person who selects content for presentation, as on a website.

3.
a manager; superintendent.

Question 10

curmudgeon

Answer 10

a bad-tempered, difficult, cantankerous person.

Question 11

currency

Answer 11

1.
something that is used as a medium of exchange; money.

2.
general acceptance; prevalence; vogue.

3.
a time or period during which something is widely accepted and circulated.

4.
the fact or quality of being widely accepted and circulated from person to person.

Question 12

cursory

Answer 12

going rapidly over something, without noticing details; hasty; superficial:
a cursory glance at a newspaper article.

Question 13

curt

Answer 13

1.
rudely brief in speech or abrupt in manner.

2.
brief; concise; terse; laconic.

3.
short; shortened.

Question 14

curtail

Answer 14

to cut short; cut off a part of; abridge; reduce; diminish.

Question 15

cygnet

Answer 15

a young swan.

Question 16

cynic

Answer 16

1.
a person who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions and who disbelieves in or minimizes selfless acts or disinterested points of view.

2.
a person who shows or expresses a bitterly or sneeringly cynical attitude.

3.
(initial capital letter) one of a sect of Greek philosophers who advocated the doctrines that virtue is the only good, that the essence of virtue is self-control, and that surrender to any external influence is beneath human dignity.

Question 17

dais

Answer 17

a raised platform, as at the front of a room, for a lectern, throne, seats of honor, etc.

Question 18

dalliance

Answer 18

1.
a trifling away of time; dawdling.

2.
amorous toying; flirtation.

Question 19

daunt

Answer 19

1.
to overcome with fear; intimidate:
to daunt one’s adversaries.

2.
to lessen the courage of; dishearten:
Don’t be daunted by the amount of work still to be done.

Question 20

deadlock

Answer 20

1.
a state in which progress is impossible, as in a dispute, produced by the counteraction of opposing forces; standstill; stalemate:
The union and management reached a deadlock over fringe benefits.

2.
deadbolt.

Question 21

dearth

Answer 21

1.
an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack:
There is a dearth of good engineers.

2.
scarcity and dearness of food; famine.

Question 22

debacle

Answer 22

1.
a general breakup or dispersion; sudden downfall or rout:
The revolution ended in a debacle.

2.
a complete collapse or embarrassing failure.

Question 23

debase

Answer 23

1.
to reduce in quality or value; adulterate:
They debased the value of the dollar.

2.
to lower in rank, dignity, or significance:
He wouldn’t debase himself by doing manual labor.

Question 24

debauch

Answer 24

1.
to corrupt by sensuality, intemperance, etc.; seduce from virtue.

2.
to corrupt or pervert; sully:
His honesty was debauched by the prospect of easy money.

3.
to lead away, as from allegiance or duty.

Question 25

debilitate

Answer 25

to make weak or feeble; enfeeble: | The siege of pneumonia debilitated her completely.

Question 26

debonair

Answer 26

1. courteous, gracious, and having a suavely sophisticated charm: a debonair gentleman. 2. jaunty; carefree; sprightly.

Question 27

debunk

Answer 27

to expose or excoriate (a claim, assertion, sentiment, etc.) as being pretentious, false, or exaggerated: to debunk advertising slogans.

Question 28

decadence

Answer 28

1. the act or process of falling into an inferior condition or state; deterioration; decay: Some historians hold that the fall of Rome can be attributed to internal decadence. 2. moral degeneration or decay; turpitude. 3. unrestrained or excessive self-indulgence.

Question 29

decathlon

Answer 29

an athletic contest comprising ten different track-and-field events and won by the contestant amassing the highest total score.

Question 30

decibel

Answer 30

1. a unit used to express the intensity of a sound wave, equal to 20 times the common logarithm of the ratio of the pressure produced by the sound wave to a reference pressure, usually 0.0002 microbar. 2. a unit of power ratio, the number of units being equal to a constant times the logarithm to the base 10 of the intensities of two sources. 3. a unit used to compare two voltages or currents, equal to 20 times the common logarithm of the ratio of the voltages or currents measured across equal resistances.

Question 31

deciduous

Answer 31

1. shedding the leaves annually, as certain trees and shrubs. 2. falling off or shed at a particular season, stage of growth, etc., as leaves, horns, or teeth. 3. not permanent; transitory.

Question 32

decimate

Answer 32

1. to destroy a great number or proportion of: The population was decimated by a plague. 2. to select by lot and kill every tenth person of.

Question 33

declaim

Answer 33

1. to speak aloud in an oratorical manner; make a formal speech: Brutus declaimed from the steps of the Roman senate building. 2. to inveigh (usually followed by against): He declaimed against the high rents in slums. 3. to speak or write for oratorical effect, as without sincerity or sound argument. 4. to utter aloud in an oratorical manner: to declaim a speech.

Question 34

déclassé

Answer 34

1. reduced to or having low or lower status: a once-chic restaurant that had become completely déclassé. 2. reduced or belonging to a lower or low social class, position, or rank.

Question 35

declivity

Answer 35

a downward slope, as of ground (opposed to acclivity).

Question 36

decorous

Answer 36

characterized by dignified propriety in conduct, manners, appearance, character, etc.

Question 37

decry

Answer 37

1. to speak disparagingly of; denounce as faulty or worthless; express censure of: She decried the lack of support for the arts in this country. 2. to condemn or depreciate by proclamation, as foreign or obsolete coins.

Question 38

deface

Answer 38

1. to mar the surface or appearance of; disfigure: to deface a wall by writing on it. 2. to efface, obliterate, or injure the surface of, as to make illegible or invalid: to deface a bond.

Question 39

defamatory

Answer 39

containing defamation; injurious to reputation; slanderous or libelous: She claimed that the article in the magazine was defamatory.

Question 40

defer

Answer 40

1. to put off (action, consideration, etc.) to a future time: The decision has been deferred by the board until next week. 2. to exempt temporarily from induction into military service. 3. to put off action; delay.

Question 41

deferential

Answer 41

showing respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, will, etc., of another; respectful and courteous.

Question 42

deficient

Answer 42

1. lacking some element or characteristic; defective: deficient in taste. 2. insufficient; inadequate: deficient knowledge.

Question 43

defile

Answer 43

1. to make foul, dirty, or unclean; pollute; taint; debase. 2. to violate the chastity of. 3. to make impure for ceremonial use; desecrate. 4. to sully, as a person’s reputation.

Question 44

definitive

Answer 44

1. most reliable or complete, as of a text, author, criticism, study, or the like: the definitive biography of Andrew Jackson. 2. serving to define, fix, or specify definitely: to clarify with a definitive statement. 3. having its fixed and final form; providing a solution or final answer; satisfying all criteria: the definitive treatment for an infection; a definitive answer to a dilemma.

Question 45

deflation

Answer 45

1. the act of depressing or reducing: Her rebuff thoroughly deflated me. 2. a fall in the general price level or a contraction of credit and available money (opposed to inflation). 3. the erosion of sand, soil, etc., by the action of the wind.

Question 46

defray

Answer 46

to bear or pay all or part of (the costs, expenses, etc.): | The grant helped defray the expenses of the trip.

Question 47

deft

Answer 47

dexterous; nimble; skillful; clever: | deft hands; a deft mechanic.

Question 48

defunct

Answer 48

1. no longer in effect or use; not operating or functioning: a defunct law; a defunct organization. 2. no longer in existence; dead; extinct: a defunct person; a defunct tribe of Indians.

Question 49

defuse

Answer 49

1. to remove the fuse from (a bomb, mine, etc.). 2. to make less dangerous, tense, or embarrassing: to defuse a potentially ugly situation. 3. to grow less dangerous; weaken.

Question 50

dehumanizing

Answer 50

to deprive of human qualities or attributes; divest of individuality: Conformity dehumanized him.

Question 51

deign

Answer 51

1. to think fit or in accordance with one’s dignity; condescend: He would not deign to discuss the matter with us. 2. to condescend to give or grant: He deigned no reply.

Question 52

deity

Answer 52

1. a god or goddess. 2. divine character or nature; divinity. 3. the estate or rank of a god: The king attained deity after his death. 4. a person or thing revered as a god or goddess: a society in which money is the only deity.

Question 53

delectable

Answer 53

1. delightful; highly pleasing; enjoyable: a delectable witticism. 2. delicious: a delectable dinner. 3. an especially appealing or appetizing food or dish: a buffet table spread with delectables.

Question 54

delegate

Answer 54

1. a person designated to act for or represent another or others; deputy; representative, as in a political convention. 2. to send or appoint a person as deputy or representative. ``` 3. to commit (powers, functions, authority, etc.) to another as agent or deputy. ```

Question 55

deleterious

Answer 55

1. injurious to health: deleterious gases. 2. harmful; injurious: deleterious influences.

Question 56

deliberate

Answer 56

1. carefully weighed or considered; studied; intentional: a deliberate lie. 2. characterized by deliberation or cautious consideration; careful or slow in deciding: Moving away from the city and all its advantages required a deliberate decision. 3. leisurely and steady in movement or action; slow and even; unhurried: moving with a deliberate step. 4. to weigh in the mind; consider: to deliberate a question. 5. to think carefully or attentively; reflect: She deliberated for a long time before giving her decision. 6. to consult or confer formally: The jury deliberated for three hours.

Question 57

delineate

Answer 57

1. to trace the outline of; sketch or trace in outline; represent pictorially: He delineated the state of Texas on the map with a red pencil. 2. to portray in words; describe or outline with precision: In her speech she delineated the city plan with great care.

Question 58

delirium

Answer 58

1. a more or less temporary disorder of the mental faculties, as in fevers, disturbances of consciousness, or intoxication, characterized by restlessness, excitement, delusions, hallucinations, etc. 2. a state of violent excitement or emotion; frenzy.

Question 59

delude

Answer 59

to mislead the mind or judgment of; deceive: | His conceit deluded him into believing he was important.

Question 60

deluge

Answer 60

1. a great flood of water; inundation; flood; a drenching rain; downpour. 2. anything that overwhelms like a flood: a deluge of mail. 3. to flood; inundate. 4. to overrun; overwhelm: She was deluged with congratulatory letters.

Question 61

demagogue

Answer 61

1. a person, especially an orator or political leader, who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people. 2. to treat or manipulate (a political issue) in the manner of a demagogue; obscure or distort with emotionalism, prejudice, etc.

Question 62

demarcation

Answer 62

1. the determining and marking off of the boundaries of something. 2. separation by distinct boundaries: line of demarcation.

Question 63

demean

Answer 63

to lower in dignity, honor, or standing; debase: | He demeaned himself by accepting the bribe.

Question 64

demeanor

Answer 64

1. behavior; attitude; conduct; deportment. 2. facial appearance; mien.

Question 65

demise

Answer 65

1. death or decease. 2. termination of existence or operation: the demise of the empire.

Question 66

demographics

Answer 66

the statistical data of a population, especially those showing average age, income, education, etc.

Question 67

demonstrative

Answer 67

1. characterized by or given to open exhibition or expression of one’s emotions, attitudes, etc., especially of love or affection: She wished her fiancé were more demonstrative. 2. serving to demonstrate; explanatory or illustrative. 3. serving to prove the truth of anything; indubitably conclusive.

Question 68

demur

Answer 68

1. to express objection, especially on the grounds of scruples; take exception; object: They wanted to make him the treasurer, but he demurred. 2. the act of making objection. 3. an objection raised. 4. to linger; hesitate.

Question 69

demure

Answer 69

1. characterized by shyness and modesty; reserved. 2. affectedly or coyly decorous, sober, or sedate.

Question 70

denigrate

Answer 70

1. to speak damagingly of; criticize in a derogatory manner; sully; defame: to denigrate someone’s character. 2. to treat or represent as lacking in value or importance; belittle; disparage: to denigrate someone’s contributions to a project. 3. to make black; blacken: rain clouds denigrating the sky.

Question 71

denizen

Answer 71

1. an inhabitant; resident. 2. a person who regularly frequents a place; habitué: the denizens of a local bar. 3. an alien admitted to residence and to certain rights of citizenship in a country. 4. anything adapted to a new place, condition, etc., as an animal or plant not indigenous to a place but successfully naturalized.

Question 72

denote

Answer 72

1. to be a mark or sign of; indicate: A fever often denotes an infection. 2. to be a name or designation for; mean. 3. to represent by a symbol; stand as a symbol for.

Question 73

denouement

Answer 73

1. the final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as of a drama or novel. 2. the place in the plot at which this occurs. 3. the outcome or resolution of a doubtful series of occurrences.

Question 74

denounce

Answer 74

1. to condemn or censure openly or publicly: to denounce a politician as morally corrupt. 2. to make a formal accusation against, as to the police or in a court. 3. to announce or proclaim, especially as something evil or calamitous.

Question 75

denude

Answer 75

1. to make naked or bare; strip: The storm completely denuded the trees. 2. to subject to denudation.

Question 76

depict

Answer 76

1. to represent by or as if by painting; portray; delineate. 2. to represent or characterize in words; describe.

Question 77

deplete

Answer 77

to decrease seriously or exhaust the abundance or supply of: The fire had depleted the game in the forest. Extravagant spending soon depleted his funds.

Question 78

deplore

Answer 78

1. to regret deeply or strongly; lament: to deplore the present state of morality. 2. to disapprove of; censure. 3. to feel or express deep grief for or in regard to: The class deplored the death of their teacher.

Question 79

deploy

Answer 79

1. to strategically spread out military troops so as to form an extended front or line. 2. to arrange in a position of readiness, or to move strategically or appropriately: to deploy a battery of new missiles. 3. to come into a position ready for use: the plane can’t land unless the landing gear deploys.

Question 80

depose

Answer 80

1. to remove from office or position, especially high office: The people deposed the dictator. 2. to testify or affirm under oath, especially in a written statement: to depose that it was true. 3. in law, to take the deposition of; examine under oath: Two lawyers deposed the witness.

Question 81

depravity

Answer 81

1. the state of being morally bad or evil; corruption. 2. a depraved act or practice.

Question 82

deprecate

Answer 82

1. to disparage; belittle. 2. to urge reasons against; protest against (a scheme, purpose, etc.). 3. to express earnest disapproval of.

Question 83

depreciate

Answer 83

1. to reduce the purchasing value of money. 2. to lessen the value or price of. 3. to represent as of little value or merit; belittle. 5. to decline in value.

Question 84

derail

Answer 84

``` 1. to cause (a train, streetcar, etc.) to run off the rails of a track. ``` 2. to cause to fail or become deflected from a purpose; reduce or delay the chances for success or development of: Being drafted into the army derailed his career for two years. 3. to become derailed; go astray.

Question 85

derelict

Answer 85

1. left or deserted, as by the owner or guardian; abandoned: a derelict ship. 2. neglectful of duty; delinquent; negligent. 3. a person abandoned by society, especially a person without a permanent home and means of support; vagrant; bum. 4. a vessel abandoned in open water by its crew without any hope or intention of returning.