Vocab H-6

Question 1

(adj.) failing to accomplish an intended aim or purpose; only partially or
imperfectly developed
syn: miscarried, fruitless, premature

Answer 1

abortive (a bor’ tive)

Question 2

(v.) to spread news, reports, or unsubstantiated rumors
syn: noise abroad, broadcast, blazon
ant: cover up, conceal, hush up

Answer 2

bruit (bruit)

Question 3

(adj.) insolent or rude in speech or behavior; insultingly abusive; humiliating
syn: vituperative, scurrilous, excoriating
ant: laudatory, commendatort, deferential

Answer 3

contumelious (con tu me’ li ous)

Question 4

(n.) a short saying; an authoritative statement
syn: maximum,percept,aphorism,axiom

Answer 4

dictum (dic’ tum)

Question 5

(v.) to settle comfortably and firmly in position; to put or hide in a safe place
syn: nestle, lodge, entrench
ant: unseat, displace, oust

Answer 5

ensconce (en sconce’)

Question 6

(adj.) attacking or seeking to overthrow popular or traditional beliefs, ideas, or
institutions
syn: image-breaking, irreverent, heretical
ant: orthodox, conservative, reverent

Answer 6

iconoclastic (i con o clas’ tic)

Question 7

(adv.) in or into the middle of a plot; into the middle of things

Answer 7

in medias res (in med’ i as res’)

Question 8

(adj.) mutually destructive; characterized by great slaughter and bloodshed
syn: murderous, savage, ruinous
ant: peaceful, harmonious, constructive

Answer 8

internecine (int er nec’ ine)

Question 9

(adj.) lacking skill or dexterity; lacking tact, perception, or judgment
syn: inept, awkward, clumsy, gauche
ant: skillful, dexterous, deft, tactful

Answer 9

maladroit (mal a droit’)

Question 10

(adj.) excessively or effusively sentimental
syn: mushy, mawkish

Answer 10

maudlin (mod’ lin)

Question 11

(v.) to change or vary the intensity or pitch; to temper or soften; to regulate, adjust
syn: adapt, moderate

Answer 11

modulate (mod’ u late)

Question 12

(adj.) foreshadowing an event to come; causing wonder or awe; self-consciously
weighty, pompous
syn: foreboding, ominous, pretentious
ant: auspicious, propitious, encouraging

Answer 12

prescience (presc’ ience)

Question 13

(n.) knowledge of events or actions before they happen (foreknowledge) ant: hindsight

Answer 13

prescience (presc’ ience)

Question 14

(n.) something given in exchange or return for something else

Answer 14

quid pro quo (quid pro quo’)

Question 15

(adj.) conducive to health of well being; wholesome
syn: beneficial, healthy, invigoration
ant: harmful, unhealthy, deleterious, noxious

Answer 15

salubrious (sa lu’ bri ous)

Question 16

(adj.). characterized by riotous or unrestrained revelry or licentiousness
syn: dissipated, debauched, orgiastic
ant: sedate, prim, decorous,

Answer 16

saturnalian (sat ur na’ lían)

Question 17

(n.) means of testing worth or genuineness
syn: criterion, yardstick, benchmark

Answer 17

touchstone (touch’ stone)

Question 18

(adj.) so shocking to the emotions as to cause to lasting and substantial
psychological damage
syn: jolting
ant: soothing, comforting, agreeable, pleasant

Answer 18

traumatic (trau mat’ ic)

Question 19

(v.) to weaken, debase, or corrupt; to impair the quality of value of
syn: degrade, undermine
ant: purify, fortify, strengthen, enhance

Answer 19

vitiate (vit’ i ate)

Question 20

(adj.) fond of making jokes; characteristic of a joker; playfully humorous or droll
syn: whimsical, jocular
ant: serious, grave, grim, dour, humorless

Answer 20

waggish (wagg’ ish)