Common Words II

Question 1

meticulous

Answer 1

adjective: marked by extreme care in treatment of details

Question 2

diffident

Answer 2

adjective: showing modest reserve; lacking self confidence

Question 3

gossamer

Answer 3

adjective: characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy

Question 4

eschew

Answer 4

verb: avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of

Question 5

didactic

Answer 5

adjective: instructive (especially excessively)

Question 6

fortuitous

Answer 6

adjective: occurring by happy chance; having no cause or apparent cause

Question 7

aesthetic

Answer 7

adjective: concerned with the appreciation of beauty
noun: a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement

Question 8

torpor

Answer 8

noun: inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy

Question 9

culpability

Answer 9

noun: a state of guilt

Question 10

cryptic

Answer 10

adjective: mysterious or vague, usually intentionally

Question 11

querulous

Answer 11

adjective: habitually complaining

Question 12

audacious

Answer 12

adjective: willing to be bold in social situations or to take risks

Question 13

dogmatic

Answer 13

adjective: highly opinionated, not accepting that one’s own beliefs may not be correct

Question 14

perfidy

Answer 14

noun: an act of deliberate betrayal; a breach of a trust

Question 15

glut

Answer 15

noun: an excessive supply
verb: supply with an excess of

Question 16

deferential

Answer 16

adjective: showing respect

Question 17

decorous

Answer 17

adjective: characterized by good taste in manners and conduct

Question 18

prescience

Answer 18

noun: the power to foresee the future

Question 19

preclude

Answer 19

verb: keep from happening or arising; make impossible

Question 20

superfluous

Answer 20

adjective: serving no useful purpose
adjective: more than is needed, desired, or required

Question 21

obscure

Answer 21

verb: make unclear
adjective: known by only a few

Question 22

apathetic

Answer 22

adjective: marked by lack of interest

Question 23

platitude

Answer 23

noun: a trite or obvious remark

Question 24

rustic

Answer 24

adjective: characteristic of rural life; awkwardly simple and provincial

Question 25

volubility

Answer 25

noun: the quality of talking or writing easily and continuously

Question 26

incisive

Answer 26

adjective: having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

Question 27

dictatorial

Answer 27

adjective: expecting unquestioning obedience; characteristic of an absolute ruler

Question 28

bucolic

Answer 28

adjective: relating to the pleasant aspects of the country

Question 29

conspicuous

Answer 29

adjective: without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious

Question 30

impudent

Answer 30

adjective: improperly forward or bold

Question 31

frivolous

Answer 31

adjective: not serious in content or attitude or behavior

Question 32

culminate

Answer 32

verb: to reach the highest or most decisive point

Question 33

reticent

Answer 33

adjective: disinclined to talk, not revealing one's thoughts

Question 34

gall

Answer 34

noun: the trait of being rude and impertinent noun: feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will

Question 35

aesthete

Answer 35

noun: one who professes great sensitivity to the beauty of art and nature

Question 36

gainsay

Answer 36

verb: deny or contradict; speak against or oppose

Question 37

concede

Answer 37

verb: acknowledge defeat verb: give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another

Question 38

recondite

Answer 38

adjective: difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge

Question 39

mitigate

Answer 39

verb: make less severe or harsh verb: lessen the severity of an offense

Question 40

chortle

Answer 40

verb: to chuckle, laugh merrily, often in a breathy, muffled way

Question 41

engender

Answer 41

verb: give rise to

Question 42

germane

Answer 42

adjective: relevant and appropriate

Question 43

exacerbate

Answer 43

verb: make worse

Question 44

vociferous

Answer 44

adjective: conspicuously and offensively loud; given to vehement outcry

Question 45

inexorable

Answer 45

adjective: impossible to stop or prevent

Question 46

lambast

Answer 46

verb: criticize severely or angrily

Question 47

entrenched

Answer 47

adjective: fixed firmly or securely

Question 48

banal

Answer 48

adjective: repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

Question 49

mawkish

Answer 49

adjective: overly sentimental to the point that it is disgusting

Question 50

predilection

Answer 50

noun: a strong liking