Midterm: Units 6-9

Question 1

agnostic

Answer 1

(n.) one who believes that nothing can be known about God; a skeptic; (adj.) without faith, skeptical
Synonyms: doubter
Antonyms: believer

Question 2

derelict

Answer 2

(n.) someone or something that is abandoned or neglected; (adj.) left abandoned; neglectful of duty
Synonyms: (n.) vagrant; (adj.) remiss, delinquent
Antonyms: (adj.) punctilious, conscientious, scrupulous

Question 3

effigy

Answer 3

(n.) a crude image of a despised person

Synonyms: figure, figurine, likeness

Question 4

inane

Answer 4

(adj.) silly, empty of meaning or value
Synonyms: vapid, idiotic, moronic, fatuous
Antonyms: sensible, meaningful, profound

Question 5

indubitable

Answer 5

(adj.) certain, not to be doubted or denied
Synonyms: unquestionable, indisputable
Antonyms: questionable, debatable, dubious

Question 6

moot

Answer 6

(adj.) open to discussion and debate, unresolved; (v.) to bring up for discussion; (n.) a hypothetical law case argued by students
Synonyms: (adj.) debatable, questionable; (v.) broach
Antonyms: (adj.) undebatable, indisputable, self-evident

Question 7

neophyte

Answer 7

(n.) a new convert, beginner, novice
Synonyms: tenderfoot, tyro, rookie
Antonyms: veteran, past master, expert, pro

Question 8

plenary

Answer 8

(adj.) complete in all aspects or essentials; absolute; attended by all qualified members
Synonyms: unlimited, unrestricted
Antonyms: limited, restricted, incomplete

Question 9

sylvan

Answer 9

(adj.) pertaining to or characteristic of forests; living or located in a forest; wooded, woody
Synonyms: forested, arcadian

Question 10

travesty

Answer 10

(n.) a grotesque or grossly inferior imitation; a disguise, especially the clothing of the opposite sex; (v.) to ridicule by imitating in a broad or burlesque fashion
Synonyms: (n.) burlesque, parody, caricature, farce

Question 11

allay

Answer 11

(v.) to calm or pacify, set to rest; to lessen or relieve
Synonyms: reduce, alleviate, moderate
Antonyms: aggravate, exacerbate, intensify

Question 12

convivial

Answer 12

(adj.) festive, sociable, having fun together, genial
Synonyms: fun-loving, jovial, merry
Antonyms: dour, grim, sullen, unsociable

Question 13

counterpart

Answer 13

(n.) a person or thing closely resembling or corresponding to another; a complement
Synonym: match

Question 14

effrontery

Answer 14

(n.) shameless boldness, impudence
Synonyms: gall, chutzpah, nerve, impertinence, cheek
Antonyms: shyness, diffidence, timidity

Question 15

ephemeral

Answer 15

(adj.) lasting only a short time, short-lived
Synonyms: fleeting, transient, evanescent, transitory
Antonyms: durable, long-lasting, permanent, perpetual

Question 16

furtive

Answer 16

(adj.) done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty; stolen
Synonyms: clandestine, covert, surreptitious
Antonyms: forthright, aboveboard, open

Question 17

illusory

Answer 17

(adj.) misleading, deceptive; lacking in or not based on reality
Synonyms: specious, spurious, fanciful, imaginary
Antonyms: actual, real, factual, objective

Question 18

inordinate

Answer 18

(adj.) far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive
Synonyms: exorbitant, extravagant
Antonyms: moderate, reasonable, equitable

Question 19

misanthrope

Answer 19

(n.) a person who hates or despises people

Synonyms: people-hater

Question 20

picayune

Answer 20

(adj.) of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters, small-minded
Synonyms: inconsequential, piddling, trifling
Antonyms: important, significant, huge, gigantic

Question 21

arrant

Answer 21

(adj.) thoroughgoing, out-and-out; shameless, blatant

Synonyms: egregious, unmitigated

Question 22

conciliate

Answer 22

(v.) to overcome the distrust of, win over; to appease, pacify; to reconcile, make consistent
Synonyms: placate, mollify, propitiate
Antonyms: antagonize, alienate, estrange

Question 23

echelon

Answer 23

(n.) one of a series of grades in an organization or field of activity; an organized military unit; a step-like formation or arrangement
Synonyms: level, rank

Question 24

fatuous

Answer 24

(adj.) stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way
Synonyms: silly, vapid, inane, doltish, vacuous
Antonyms: sensible, intelligent, perceptive, bright

Question 25

juggernaut

Answer 25

(n.) a massive and inescapable force or object that crushes whatever is in its path

Question 26

litany

Answer 26

(n.) a prayer consisting of short appeals to God recited by the leader alternating with responses from the congregation; any repetitive chant; a long list Synonyms: rigmarole, catalog, megillah

Question 27

paucity

Answer 27

(n.) an inadequate quantity, scarcity, dearth Synonym: lack Antonyms: abundance, glut, plenitude, deluge

Question 28

raze

Answer 28

(v.) to tear down, destroy completely; to cut or scrape off or out Synonyms: pull down, demolish, shave off Antonyms: build, construct, raise, erect

Question 29

saturate

Answer 29

(v.) to soak thoroughly, fill to capacity; to satisfy fully Synonyms: permeate, drench, flood, imbue Antonyms: drain

Question 30

slough

Answer 30

(v.) to cast off, discard; to get rid of something objectionable or unnecessary; to plod through as if through mud; (n.) a mire; a state of depression Synonyms: (v.) shed, slog Antonyms: (v.) take on, acquire, assume

Question 31

acclamation

Answer 31

(n.) shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval Synonyms: ovation, cheering, plaudits Antonyms: booing, hissing, jeers, catcalls

Question 32

calumniate

Answer 32

(v.) to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously Synonyms: defame, libel Antonyms: flatter, whitewash, praise

Question 33

collusion

Answer 33

(n.) secret agreement or cooperation | Synonyms: conspiracy, plot, connivance, cahoots

Question 34

imperturbable

Answer 34

(adj.) not easily excited; emotionally steady Synonyms: unflappable, unexcitable, serene, unruffled Antonym: excitable

Question 35

mandate

Answer 35

(n.) an authoritative command, formal order, authorization; (v.) to issue such an order Synonym: directive Antonyms: forbid, ban, outlaw

Question 36

paroxysm

Answer 36

(n.) a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion | Synonyms: fit, seizure

Question 37

peregrination

Answer 37

(n.) the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country Synonyms: journey, wandering, odyssey

Question 38

refulgent

Answer 38

(adj.) shining, radiant, resplendent Synonyms: luminous, splendid Antonyms: dim, dark, obscure, dingy, dull, murky

Question 39

tyro

Answer 39

(n.) a beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skill Synonym: neophyte Antonyms: veteran, past master, expert

Question 40

vacillate

Answer 40

(v.) to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will Synonyms: seesaw, fluctuate, oscillate Antonym: persevere