Verbal Advantage_Level1

Question 1

1. PARAPHRASE

/ˈpærəfreɪz/

Answer 1

To restate, put what someone else has expressed into different words.
The noun a paraphrase is a restatement of a text or passage to give the sense of the original in fuller terms. The verb to paraphrase means to restate something, giving the meaning in another form.
To quote and to paraphrase are sharply distinguished. To quote is to use or repeat the words of someone else, giving acknowledgment to the source. To paraphrase is to restate in different words what someone else has said or written.

Question 2

2. OSTENSIBLE

ah-STEN-si-bul

Answer 2

Apparent, appearing or seeming to be true, professed or declared as true without being demonstrated or proved.
More difficult synonyms of ostensible include plausible (PLAW-zi-bul) and specious (SPEE-shus). Specious, however, has the negative suggestion of using deception to make something false appear true. A specious argument is one that looks good on the surface but is flawed underneath.
Ostensible is often used in opposition to real or actual. An ostensible motive is not necessarily a real motive; an ostensible advantage is not necessarily an actual
advantage. Ostensible means apparent, stated as true but not necessarily proved.

Question 3

3. DIGRESS

di-GRES or dy-GRES

Answer 3

To wander, stray from the point, ramble, deviate, go off in another direction.
Digress comes from the Latin digressus, which comes in turn from the preɹx dis-, apart, and gradi, to go, walk, step. Digress means literally to go apart, walk away. From the same Latin source come ingress (IN-gres), the place you walk in, the entrance; and egress (EE-gres), the place you walk out, the exit.
Digress once was used of a physical wandering or turning aside, but that sense is now archaic (ahr-KAY-ik), which means old-fashioned. Today we do not say, “She turned right and digressed down Main Street.” Instead, digress is used of speaking or writing that departs from the main point or subject at hand and wanders oʃ in another direction: “In a business report or an oral presentation, it’s important to stick to the facts and not digress”; “If she hadn’t digressed so much, her lecture would have been more interesting.”
The corresponding noun is digression (di-GRESH-un or dy-GRESH-un): “The old man’s story was full of humorous digressions.”

Question 4

4. UNCANNY

uhn-KAN-ee

Answer 4

Eerie, strange, weird, mysterious: “an uncanny experience.”
Uncanny may refer to something that is strange in an unnatural or unearthly way, something whose strangeness is unsettling or even frightening.
Uncanny may also be used to mean beyond what is normal or expected, strange in a remarkable or marvelous way, as “an uncanny resemblance,” or “uncanny ability.”

Question 5

5. CANDOR

KAN-dur

Answer 5

Frankness, openness, sincere expression.
Synonyms include straightforwardness, outspokenness, forthrightness, and ingenuousness.
Candor is the noun; the adjective is candid, frank, open, sincere.
T h e candid person expresses his or her thoughts frankly and openly, with no hesitation. The forthright person speaks directly to the point, plainly and sometimes
bluntly, in a no-nonsense manner. The ingenuous (in-JEN-yoo-us) person speaks honestly and sincerely, with no hint of evasiveness or deception.

Question 6

6. MOROSE

muh-ROHS

Answer 6

Gloomy, moody, glum, grumpy, ill-tempered, depressed. “After weeks of futile jobhunting, he became morose.”
More diɽcult synonyms of morose include dolorous (DOH-luh-rus), which means mournful, full of sadness; lugubrious (luh-GOO-bree-us), which means extremely gloomy or dismal; and saturnine (SAT-ur-nyn), which means having a bitter disposition or sour
outlook on life.
Antonyms—words opposite in meaning—include optimistic, jovial (JOH-vee-ul), and sanguine (SANG-gwin), which means having a cheerful, confident outlook on life.
Sullen (SUHL-in) and morose are close in meaning. When you refuse to speak or associate with people because you’re in a bad mood, you are being sullen. When you are depressed and silent because you are feeling bitter or resentful, you are morose.
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, tenth edition, says that morose suggests “bitterness or misanthropy.” Misanthropy (mis-AN-thruh-pee) is hatred of humankind, a spiteful or pessimistic attitude about the human race. Moroseness is ill-tempered, bitter
gloominess.

Question 7

7. ADEPT

uh-DEPT

Answer 7

Skilled.
Synonyms include handy, clever, able, deft, expert, adroit, dexterous (DEK-strus, also DEK-stur-us), and proficient (pruh-FISH-int, not proh-).
Adept comes from the Latin adeptus, an alchemist who has learned how to do the impossible—change base metals into gold. The noun an adept (AD-ept) means a highly
skilled person, an expert. The adjective adept means skilled, dexterous, proɹcient: “He was adept at managing his investments, and they always turned a handsome profit.”

Question 8

8. SATURATED

SACH-uh-RAY-tid

Answer 8

Soaked, thoroughly wet, full of moisture.
Synonyms include drenched, steeped, permeated (PUR-mee-AY-tid), impregnated, imbued (im-BYOOD), and sodden (SAHD-’n).
Sodden may mean heavy with moisture, soggy, or dull, stupeɹed, expressionless, as from drinking too much liquor. To saturate means to soak or wet thoroughly, either literally, as in “My french fries are saturated with oil,” or ɹguratively: “The company saturated the media with ads for its new product.” Saturation is the corresponding noun.

Question 9

9. PRAGMATIC

prag-MAT-ik

Answer 9

Practical, having to do with actual practice, concerned with everyday aʃairs as opposed to theory or speculation.
Pragmatic comes from the Latin pragmaticus, which means skilled in business or law.
The lawyer is concerned with evidence and proof; the businessperson is concerned with facts and ɹgures. Both have little time for idle speculation or harebrained schemes. Both must be pragmatic, concerned with practical, everyday affairs.

Question 10

10. CONGENIAL

kun-JEE-nee-ul

Answer 10

Sympathetic, agreeable, compatible, kindred, harmonious, having the same taste, nature, or temperament.
Congenial persons have similar or sympathetic tastes, interests, or personalities.
Congenial things agree, go well together.
Antonyms, or opposites, of congenial are alien, dissident (DIS-uh-dint), and incongruous
(in-KAHNG-groo-us).

Question 11

11. CAPRICIOUS

kuh-PRISH-us

Answer 11

Unpredictable, tending to change abruptly for no apparent or logical reason.
Synonyms of capricious include flighty, changeable, impulsive, and fickle. More diɽcult synonyms include erratic, whimsical (W(H)IM-zi-kul), volatile (VAHL-uh-tul), and mercurial (mur-KYUR-ee-ul).
A caprice (kuh-PREES) is a sudden change of mind or change in the emotions. A person or a thing that is capricious is subject to caprices—to abrupt, unpredictable changes: “He’s so capricious, his mood changes with the wind”; “New England has a
capricious climate”; “The stock market is notoriously capricious.”
Did you notice that my recommended pronunciation for capricious is kuh-PRISH-us, the second syllable rhyming with wish? You will hear educated speakers say kuh-PREE-shus, a pronunciation based on the corresponding noun caprice (kuh-PREES). This variant has been recognized by American dictionaries since the 1960s. But authorities have preferred
kuh-PRISH-us since the 18th century, when pronunciation was ɹrst recorded. Current
American dictionaries list kuh-PRISH-us ɹrst, and it is the only pronunciation in the Oxford English Dictionary. Have you ever heard anyone put an E in the middle of suspicious, judicious, or avaricious? Rhyme capricious with delicious.

Question 12

12. BLATANT

BLAYT-’nt

Answer 12

Noisy, disagreeably or oʃensively loud, boisterous, clamorous: “the blatant sound of horns honking in heavy traffic.”
Blatant is also used to mean sticking out in a glaring way, obtrusive, ɻagrant, as in “a blatant lie,” “a blatant error,” “a blatant attempt to impress the boss.”
In either sense, blatant suggests something onspicuous and disagreeable.

Question 13

13. OBLIGATORY

uh-BLIG-uh-tor-ee

Answer 13

Required, necessary, binding, mandatory.
Obligatory duties are those you must perform to fulɹll an obligation or responsibility.
Doing miscellaneous paperwork is an obligatory function of the clerical worker.
Do not pronounce the initial o in obligatory like the o in open. Pronounce it like the a in above.

Question 14

14. NEGLIGIBLE

NEG-li-ji-bul

Answer 14

Unimportant, trifling, of little consequence.
That which is negligible can be neglected. A negligible concern can be disregarded; it is so trivial and insignificant that it warrants little or no attention.

Question 15

15. ADAMANT

AD-uh-mint

Answer 15

Unyielding, immovable, inɻexible, refusing to give in, unshakable, unrelenting, implacable. “She was adamant in her opposition to the plan.”
The adjective adamant comes from the noun adamant, which refers to a hard substance or stone, such as a diamond, that in ancient times was believed to be unbreakable.
There is an old word adamantine (AD-uh-MAN-tin), still listed in current dictionaries but not often used; it means like adamant, very hard, unbreakable. The adjective adamant, which has replaced adamantine in current usage, means hard in the sense of inɻexible,
immovable, unyielding.

Question 16

16. SPORADIC

spuh-RAD-ik or spor-AD-ik

Answer 16

Occasional, infrequent, irregular, not constant, happening from time to time, occurring in a scattered or random way.
A business venture may have sporadic success. A gambler’s luck may be sporadic.
Sporadic crimes are crimes scattered throughout a city or neighborhood. Sporadic outbreaks of a disease in the population are occasional, isolated outbreaks.
Antonyms of sporadic include constant, incessant (in-SES-int), and unremitting

Question 17

17. VANGUARD

VAN-gahrd

Answer 17

The forefront of an action or movement, leading position or persons in a movement:
“They were in the vanguard of the war on poverty.”
In its strict military sense, vanguard means the troops moving at the head of an army, the part of the army that goes ahead of the main body, an advance guard.

Question 18

18. CONCUR

kun-KUR

Answer 18

To agree, be in accord with, unite in opinion.
Concur comes from the Latin con-, together, and currere, to run, ɻow, and means literally to run or ɻow together, go along with. That derivation has led to three slightly different meanings of the word.
First, concur may be used to mean to act together, combine in having an eʃect, as “Time and chance concurred in our success.”
Second, concur may be used to mean happen together, occur at the same time, coincide, as “His pay raise concurred with his promotion.”
The third and most common meaning of concur is to agree, as “Your story concurs with theirs”; “We concurred on almost every point of negotiation.”

Question 19

19. PRECOCIOUSNESS

pruh-KOH-shus-nis

Answer 19

Early development or maturity, especially in mental ability.
The noun precociousness and the adjective precocious come from the Latin praecox,
which means premature, or literally, “ripening before its time.” Precocious is most often used of children whose intellectual or emotional development is unusually advanced.
Precociousness, early development, is the opposite of retardation, slowness in development.

Question 20

20. ALOOF

uh-LOOF

Answer 20

Apart, at a distance, removed, withdrawn, not wishing to speak or associate with others.
The aloof person is emotionally reserved and keeps a cool distance from others.
Aloofness means reluctance to get involved or take an interest in something.
Synonyms of aloof include unsympathetic, unapproachable, standoffish, and indifferent

Question 21

21. CREED

rhymes with need

Answer 21

Belief, professed faith or opinion, especially a system of religious belief. Synonyms include doctrine and dogma.
In the United States it is illegal to discriminate against someone based on race or creed, belief.
Creed comes from the Latin credo, “I believe,” the source of the English word credo (KREE-doh or, like the Latin, KRAY-doh). A credo is a declared set of beliefs or opinions.
Credo and creed are synonymous. Credo is the more learned (LUR-nid) word, usually reserved for a formal declaration of belief. Creed is used more generally of any professed faith or opinion.
The Latin credo is also the source of incredible, not believable, credible, believable, and credulous (KREJ-uh-lus ) . Credulous means inclined to believe, willing to accept
something as true without questioning. Credulous and gullible are synonymous. To a credulous person, even the most outrageous tall tales seem credible.

Question 22

22. TAWDRY

TAW-dree, rhymes with Audrey

Answer 22

Cheap and showy, gaudy, garish, sleazy.
Legend has it that tawdry comes from the phrase “tawdry lace,” a corruption of “Saint Audrey lace,” a type of lace sold at Saint Audrey’s fair in England. Apparently the lace was of inferior quality, thus over time the word tawdry came to mean cheap and showy.
Today the word may be used both literally and ɹguratively. A person may wear tawdry
clothing or have a tawdry reputation.

Question 23

23. PEEVISH

PEE-vish

Answer 23

Irritable, cross, complaining, fretful, ill-humored and impatient, difficult to please.
There are peevish moods, peevish remarks, and peevish looks. A peeve is something that irritates or annoys: “Her pet peeve is a wet towel left on the bed.” Peevish means irritable, ill-humored, full of complaints.

Question 24

24. ARDUOUS

AHR-joo-us

Answer 24

Very diɽcult, hard to achieve or accomplish, requiring great eʃort. “Compiling the annual report is an arduous task.” “Raising children is an arduous responsibility.”
Synonyms of arduous include strenuous, laborious, and toilsome.

Question 25

25. PERSONABLE

PUR-suh-nuh-buul

Answer 25

Attractive, pleasing in appearance, handsome, comely, fair, presentable.
In recent years, personable has come to be used to mean having a nice personality.
You should avoid using the word in that way. The words sociable, affable, and amiable already suggest people who are friendly, pleasant, and approachable. There is no need for personable to take over this sense. An awkward or unbecoming person, no matter how friendly and pleasant, cannot correctly be personable. Reserve personable for someone who is either attractive in appearance or attractive both in appearance and
personality.

Question 26

26. RESOLUTE

REZ-uh-loot

Answer 26

Firmly determined or settled, resolved, having a set opinion or purpose, steadfast, unwavering, persevering.
Resolute comes from the Latin resolvere, the source also of the verb to resolve, which means to decide, determine, settle once and for all: “After much debate, the board of directors resolved to go ahead with the ɹve-year plan.” “The lawyers tried to resolve the
case out of court.” Resolute means resolved in one’s opinion or purpose: “He was resolute about earning a master’s degree and starting a successful business.”
Antonyms of resolute include irresolute, unsteady, and vacillating (VAS-i-lay-ting).

Question 27

27. SUPPOSITION

SUHP-uh-ZISH-in

Answer 27

An assumption, theory, hypothesis.
T o suppose means to assume as true, put something forward for consideration. A supposition is something supposed, an idea put forward for consideration.
A hypothesis (hy-PAHTH-uh-sis), a conjecture (kun-JEK-chur), and a supposition are all assumptions or theories.
A hypothesis is a preliminary or incomplete theory based on insuɽcient evidence:
“There are conɻicting hypotheses about the origin of the universe.” (The plural, hypotheses, is pronounced hy-PAHTH-uh-seez.)
A conjecture is an assumption based on so little evidence that it is merely an educated guess: “Every week we hear different conjectures about trends in the stock market.”
A supposition may be based on ample evidence or no evidence at all, and may be either sensible or irrational: “His suppositions about the company’s ɹnancial condition proved consistent with the facts.”

Question 28

28. ARBITRARY

AHR-bi-TRAIR-ee or -TRER-ee

Answer 28

Unreasoned, based on personal feelings or preferences rather than on reason, logic, or
law: “An arbitrary price for a product is not necessarily a fair price”; “His arbitrary decisions have cost the company a lot of money.”
Arbitrary comes from the same Latin source as the words arbiter (AHR-bi-tur) and arbitrator (AHR-bi-TRAY-tur). Arbiter and arbitrator both mean a judge or umpire who makes a ɹnal decision or resolves a dispute. Arbitrary means making discretionary judgments or decisions that may or may not be fair or reasonable.
Arbitrary has two other useful meanings. It may mean determined or arrived at in a random or illogical manner. For example, the arrangement of furniture in a room may be arbitrary, without an evident theme or pattern; arbitrary decisions are arrived at in a hasty, haphazard way. Arbitrary may also mean exercising unrestrained or absolute power: an arbitrary government has no regard for individual liberty.

Question 29

29. MONOTONOUS

muh-NAHT-uh-nus

Answer 29

Lacking variety, tediously uniform, unvarying and dull.
Monotonous means literally having one continuous sound or tone. It combines the word tone with the preɹx mono-, one, single. The preɹx mono- appears in many English words, including monogamy (muh-NAHG-uh-mee), marriage to one person; monocle
(MAHN-uh-kul), a single eyeglass; and monogram (MAHN-uh-gram), two or more letters woven into one.
That which is monotonous is boring because it lacks variety. A monotonous speaker says the same thing again and again in the same tone of voice. Monotonous music is dull and repetitive. A monotonous job is one where the routine never changes. The corresponding noun is monotony (muh-NAHT’n-ee), a tedious lack of variety.

Question 30

30. LEGACY

LEG-uh-see

Answer 30

Something handed down from the past, an inheritance.
Legacy may be used in two ways. It may mean a gift of money or property provided by a will, an inheritance, bequest: “Her wealthy uncle left her a generous legacy.” It may also mean anything inherited or passed down through time: “The cultural legacy of
ancient Greece and Rome has shaped Western civilization.”

Question 31

31. MANIFOLD

MAN-i-fohld

Answer 31

Numerous and varied, consisting of many kinds, containing many elements, features, or characteristics: a large company with manifold operations and divisions; a challenging executive position with manifold responsibilities.
Manifold may sound like a fancy substitute for many, but it’s not. While many simply means much, a lot, manifold emphasizes variety, diversity. If your job has manifold duties then the things you do are both numerous and varied.
Equally diɽcult synonyms of manifold are multifarious (MUHL-ti-FAIR-ee-us) and multitudinous (MUHL-ti-T(Y)OO-di-nus). Both manifold and multifarious mean having great variety or diversity: The human race is multifarious, and human nature is even more complex and manifold. Multitudinous means containing a multitude, consisting of a great number of persons or things: “After his promotion to management, Bob was
sometimes overwhelmed by mountains of paperwork and multitudinous administrative chores.”

Question 32

32. PLIANT

PLY-int

Answer 32

Bending easily, flexible, adaptable, workable.
Pliant comes from the French plier, to bend, the same source as pliers, the tool commonly used for bending or manipulating wires or metal pieces.
Pliant, pliable, and supple all mean bending or moving easily. Pliant and pliable usually refer to objects that are easily workable. Supple may apply to material things or to a human body that is flexible and limber.

Question 33

33. RETORT

ri-TORT

Answer 33

A quick reply, especially one that is cutting or witty.
A retort and a rejoinder are similar in meaning but not quite synonymous. Rejoinder may be used generally to mean any answer or response, but speciɹcally it means a counterreply, an answer to a reply. A retort is a swift, pointed response.
Retort comes from the preɹx re-, back, and the Latin torquere, to twist, turn, and means literally “something turned back.” In its most precise sense, a retort is a quick reply that counters or turns back a statement or argument: “Phil’s clever retorts kept his opponent on the defensive.”

Question 34

34. OBSTINATE

AHB-sti-nit

Answer 34

Stubborn, inɻexible, unwilling to give in or compromise, not yielding to argument or persuasion.
The obstinate person stubbornly adheres to a purpose or opinion, often regardless of the consequences: “First we reasoned with him, then we pleaded with him, but no matter what we said he remained obstinate and determined to have his way.”
Obstinate is sometimes mispronounced as if it were spelled obstinant, with an n slipped in before the final t. Take care to spell and pronounce this word correctly.
Synonyms of obstinate include hidebound, intractable, intransigent, and adamant (word 15 of Level 1).

Question 35

35. LACERATE

LAS-uh-rayt

Answer 35

To tear, cut roughly, rend, mangle: “The sharp thorn lacerated his thumb.”
Lacerate may also be used ɹguratively to mean to wound, aʀict, cause pain: “Her husband’s vicious retort lacerated her pride and made her burst into tears.”

Question 36

36. OMNIPOTENT

ahm-NIP-uh-tint

Answer 36

All-powerful, almighty, having unlimited power or authority.
Omnipotent is formed from the word potent, powerful, and the combining form omni-, all. Whenever you see omni- in a word you have a good clue to its meaning, for you know that half the word means “all.”
For example, omnidirectional (AHM-nee-di-REK-shi-nul) means all-directional, as an omnidirectional microphone, one that picks up signals from all directions. Omnipresent (AHM-ni-PREZ-int) means all-present, present everywhere at once. Omniscient (ahmNISH-int) means all-knowing, having universal knowledge. Omnivorous (ahm-NIV-uhrus) means eating all kinds of food or taking in everything: “She is an avid reader with an omnivorous mind.” Our keyword, omnipotent, means all-powerful, almighty.

Question 37

37. UNSCRUPULOUS

uhn-SKROO-pyuh-lus

Answer 37

Untrustworthy, dishonorable, deceitful, corrupt, lacking integrity or moral principles:
“The commission issued a report on unscrupulous business practices in the industry.”
A scruple is something that causes hesitation or doubt in determining what is appropriate and proper. Scrupulous means having scruples; hence, taking pains to do something exactly right. The scrupulous person is precise, careful, and honest.
Unscrupulous means without scruples; hence, untrustworthy, unreliable, deceitful, and corrupt. Unscrupulous people will do almost anything, no matter how dishonorable, to get what they want.

Question 38

38. RENAISSANCE

ren-uh-SAHNS or REN-uh-sahns

Answer 38

A revival, rebirth, resurgence, renewal of life or vigor.
The Renaissance was a revival of classical forms and motifs in art, architecture, literature, and scholarship that began in Italy in the fourteenth century, spread throughout Europe, and continued into the seventeenth century. Historically, the Renaissance marked the end of the medieval era and the beginning of the modern world.
The word renaissance comes from a French verb meaning to be born again. When spelled with a small or lowercase r, renaissance may refer to any renewal or resurgence of life, energy, or productivity. Many types of renaissance are possible: a cultural
renaissance, a moral renaissance, a spiritual renaissance, and even a renaissance in the
economy. A renaissance is a revival, rebirth, resurgence

Question 39

39. GENESIS

JEN-uh-sis

Answer 39

A coming into being, beginning, origin, birth, creation.
The ɹrst book of the Judeo-Christian Bible is called Genesis because it describes God’s creation, the origin of the universe and humankind. In current usage genesis may refer in a general sense to any creation or process of coming into being: the genesis of an idea; the genesis of a work of art; the genesis of an important social movement; the genesis of a distinguished career.

Question 40

40. WARRANT

WAHR-int

Answer 40

To justify, give good reason for, authorize, sanction: the circumstances do not warrant such extraordinary measures; the evidence warrants further investigation; these safety procedures are warranted (WAHR-in-tid) by company regulations.
Warrant may also mean to guarantee, promise, give formal assurance of: the Postal Service will not warrant delivery on a speciɹc day; the manufacturer warrants the safety of the product.
The adjective unwarranted means without good reason or authorization, unjustiɹable:
the U.S. Constitution protects citizens against unwarranted search and seizure; people resent unwarranted government interference in private enterprise.

Question 41

41. CANTANKEROUS

kan-TANGK-uh-rus

Answer 41

Difficult to deal with, disagreeable, argumentative, quick to quarrel or to exhibit ill will.
A cantankerous old man is ill-tempered and disagreeable. Cantankerous relatives are argumentative and hard to get along with.
Cantankerous comes from a Middle English word meaning strife, contention.
Synonyms of cantankerous include contentious (kun-TEN-shus), which means quarrelsome, prone to argue or dispute; malicious, which means mean-spirited, nasty, spiteful; and irascible (i-RAS-uh-bul), which means quick-tempered, easily angered,
extremely irritable.

Question 42

42. FLIPPANT

FLIP-’nt

Answer 42

Disrespectful in a frivolous way, treating something serious in a trivial manner.
Flippant refers to speech or writing that trivializes or makes fun of something that deserves respect. Flippant language is inappropriately lighthearted or disrespectful:
“Everyone at the meeting gasped when Harry made a ɻippant remark about the board of directors.”
Although ɻippant expression generally causes dismay or oʃense, occasionally it may be humorous, depending on your point of view. For example, many talk show hosts today are adept at making ɻippant comments to dismiss guests or callers with opposing points of view.
Synonyms of flippant include cheeky, fresh, thoughtless, and impertinent. Antonyms include solemn, sober, sedate, and grave.

Question 43

43. SUBJUGATE

SUHB-juh-gayt

Answer 43

To conquer, defeat, vanquish, overwhelm completely, bring under rigid control, make submissive, dominate, enslave.
Subjugate comes from the Latin sub-, under, and jugum, a yoke, and means literally to place under a yoke. It is related to the noun a subject, which in one of its senses means a person under the control of a ruler, as a subject of the king. A subject is someone who
has been subjugated, made submissive, brought under control, enslaved.
The words defeat, conquer, and subjugate are generally synonymous but are used in slightly diʃerent ways. Defeat suggests winning or beating an opponent in a single engagement; you can defeat a person in an argument, a contest, a game, or a ɹght.
Conquer suggests achieving a ɹnal victory or gaining complete control over an opponent after a series of contests: “After a long and arduous campaign, Caesar
conquered the Gauls.” Subjugate adds to defeat and conquer the suggestion of domination, bringing the vanquished opponent under complete and rigid control:
“During World War II, Hitler conquered most of Europe and then brutally subjugated its people.”
Subjugation need not apply only to war; it may also refer to psychological domination.
For example, you may subjugate an addiction, subjugate an impulse, or subjugate an emotion—yoke it, make it submit to your will, bring it under complete control.

Question 44

44. WRY

like rye

Answer 44

Twisted, crooked, lopsided, askew, distorted in an odd, amusing way.
By derivation wry means twisted, but in modern usage it has come to imply twisted in a peculiar and often humorous manner.
A wry smile or grin is crooked, lopsided, and therefore comical. A wry remark has a funny or sarcastic twist to it. A person with a wry sense of humor is capable of twisting or distorting things in a laughable way.

Question 45

45. URBANE

ur-BAYN

Answer 45

Polished, sophisticated, suave, cosmopolitan.
Urbane is related to the adjective urban, pertaining to or living in a city. Urbane suggests the polite, polished style of a sophisticated city dweller. The word may be used either of suave, socially reɹned behavior or of expression that is polished and elegant:
“Mary’s stunning designer dresses and witty, urbane conversation made her a popular guest at all the high-society parties.”

Question 46

46. JARGON

JAHR-gun

Answer 46

Specialized and often pretentious language; speech or writing that is highly technical and difficult to understand.
Jargon refers especially to the specialized language or private vocabulary used and understood only by members of a particular group or profession. Medical jargon is the specialized vocabulary used by doctors; computerese is the jargon or highly technical
language of computer science; legal jargon comprises the particular stock of Latin terms and complex phraseology used by lawyers.
Jargon develops initially as a means for the members of a particular group to communicate precisely and eɽciently; its inevitable consequence, however, is to
confuse and exclude those who are not members of the group and who are unfamiliar with the jargon. In current usage, therefore, jargon has come to mean any pretentious speech or writing that seems unnecessarily diɽcult to understand: “Savvy businesspeople know that using a lot of professional jargon will only alienate clients.”

Question 47

47. PRUDENT

PROO-dint

Answer 47

Cautious, careful, planning wisely, exercising sound judgment in practical matters.
Synonyms include discreet (di-SKREET), judicious (joo-DISH-us), and circumspect (SURkum-spekt).
Prudent may also mean spending carefully, using one’s resources wisely. Synonyms of prudent in this sense include thrifty, economical, and frugal.
Prudent and circumspect both refer to people who proceed cautiously. Circumspect comes from the Latin circum-, around, and specere, to look, observe. The circumspect person looks around carefully to make sure that no unforseen circumstance will frustrate
a plan of action. Prudent comes from the same Latin source as the verb to provide.
Prudent people are concerned with protecting their personal interest and providing for a rainy day. They are characterized by their sound, careful judgment in handling practical matters, especially money.

Question 48

48. INVIOLABLE

in-VY-ul-uh-bul

Answer 48

Secure, safe from assault, infringement, or destruction, sacred, untouchable, unassailable, incorruptible.
Inviolable combines the preɹx in-, not, the suɽx -able, and the verb to violate, and means literally “not able to be violated.” An inviolable peace between nations cannot be broken or disrupted. An inviolable contract cannot be breached, altered, or revoked.
An inviolable oath or promise is sacred, secure, incorruptible. Inviolable rights cannot be abused or taken away; they are safe from infringement or assault. An inviolable place cannot be violated or trespassed upon; it is safe, secure, unassailable.

Question 49

49. COMMODIOUS

S (kuh-MOH-dee-us)

Answer 49

Spacious, having plenty of room, comfortably convenient. Synonyms of commodious include ample and capacious (kuh-PAY-shus).
Commodious comes through French from the Latin commodus, convenience, suitability, the source also of commode, a euphemism for toilet that means literally “something convenient or suitable.” From the same Latin commodus, convenience, come the verb
accommodate and the noun accommodations, sleeping quarters, lodging. If you ɹnd your accommodations accommodating—convenient, suitable to your needs—then chances are they are also commodious, spacious, roomy, comfortable, and convenient.

Question 50

50. PROXIMITY

prahk-SIM-i-tee

Answer 50

Nearness, closeness, the state of being in the vicinity of something.
Proximity may be used either of persons or things to mean nearness in place, time, or relation: the proximity of their houses; the proximity of historic events; the proximity of two ideas. In modern society, marriage between ɹrst cousins is forbidden because of
their proximity of blood relation. However, if you marry the girl or boy next door, it might be said that proximity was the deciding factor.
You will often hear proximity used in the phrase “close proximity.” That is a redundancy. Proximity means closeness, nearness; therefore “close proximity” means
“close closeness” or “near nearness.” According to the second college edition of The American Heritage Dictionary, “the expression close proximity says nothing that is not said by proximity itself.”
Usage tip: Drop close and let proximity do its work alone.