Unit 16

Question 1

Crux

Answer 1

Latin CRUX “cross”

Excruciating, Crux, Crucial

Question 2

Excruciating

Answer 2

EXCRUCIATING (eks krōō´ shē āt ing) adj. Extremely painful; agonizing
L. ex, “out of,” + crux = from the cross
Min was forced to sit through an excruciating series of piano recitals.
syn: unbearable ant: pleasant

Question 3

Crux

Answer 3

CRUX (kruks) n. The most important or decisive point
The crux of the matter is the difference between children and adults.
syn: essence ant: extra

Question 4

Crucial

Answer 4

CRUCIAL (krōō´shəl) adj. Extremely necessary; essential

Good study skills are often crucial to success in high school and college.”

Question 5

Dol

Answer 5

Latin DOLERE “to feel pain, to be grieved”

Indolent, Dolorous, Doleful

Question 6

Indolent

Answer 6

INDOLENT (in´ də lənt) adj. Lazy; averse to work
L. in, “not,” + dolere = feeling no pain
Being of a somewhat indolent character, Paige was not inclined to take on extra jobs.
syn: listless ant: robust

Question 7

Doleful

Answer 7

DOLEFUL (dōl´ fəl) adj. Sad; mournful
You can tell by Greg’s constantly doleful expression that he has a gloomy nature.
syn: depressed ant: cheerful

Question 8

Dolorous

Answer 8

DOLOROUS (dōl´ ər əs) adj. Mournful; gloomy
The dolorous chanting of the monks was made even sadder by the steady, gray rain.
syn: bleak ant: uplifting”

Question 9

Acri

Answer 9

Latin ACER “sharp”

Acerbic, Ack, Acrid, Exacerbat

Question 10

Acerbic

Answer 10

ACERBIC (əs ûr´ bik) adj. Harsh and biting in tone
L. acerbus (from acer) sharp, biting
Cal’s acerbic reply to the reporters earned him a reputation as an ill-tempered man.
syn: sharp ant: bland

Question 11

Acrid

Answer 11

ACRID (ak´ rid) adj. Stinging or biting in odor or taste; harsh; irritating
The acrid fumes that filled the office soon had us coughing and rubbing our eyes.

Question 12

Acrimonious

Answer 12

ACRIMONIOUS (ak rə mo´ nē əs) adj. Exhibiting harsh sharpness in speech or mood
L. acer, “sharp,” + mony, “quality of” = having a sharp, bitter quality
The acrimonious debate between the two candidates did not help either one in the polls.
syn: bitter ant: civil

Question 13

Exacerbate

Answer 13

EXACERBATE (eg za´ sər bāt) v. To make worse or more severe
L. ex, “out of,” + acer = to make (something) harsher out of
Mira’s comments, which were supposed to be helpful, only exacerbated Shelley’s problem.
syn: aggravate ant: ease”

Question 14

Furv

Answer 14

Latin FERVERE “to boil, be warm”

Effervescent, Fervor, Fervent

Question 15

Fervent

Answer 15

FERVENT (far´ vənt) adj. Passionately excited or enthusiastic
Grace, a fervent supporter of the Democratic Party, cheered enthusiastically when her favorite candidate was elected.
syn: fiery ant: indifferent

Question 16

Fervor

Answer 16

FERVOR (fûr´ vər) n. Emotional excitement; heated enthusiasm
The fervor Ron displays when discussing cars lets me know he’ll make a great mechanic.
syn: eagerness ant: apathy

Question 17

Effervescent

Answer 17

EFFERVESCENT (ef ər ves´ ənt) adj. Highly spirited; animated
L. ex, “out of,” + fervere = boiling out of
The young horse had a cheerful, almost effervescent character.
syn: bubbly ant: lifeless”