Vocabulary 13

Question 1

criterion

Answer 1

n. a principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided

Question 2

exploit

Answer 2

v. make full use of and derive benefit from (a resource)
v. use (a situation or person) in an unfair or selfish way
v. benefit unfairly from the work of (someone), typically by overworking or underpaying them
n. a bold or daring feat

Question 3

aplomb

Answer 3

n. self-confidence or assurance, esp. when in a demanding situation

Question 4

eclectic

Answer 4

adj. deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources

Question 5

misfit

Answer 5

n. a person whose behavior or attitude sets them apart from others in an uncomfortably conspicuous way
n. something that does not fit or fits badly

Question 6

multifarious

Answer 6

adj. many and of various types

adj. having many varied parts or aspects:

Question 7

bombastic

Answer 7

adj. high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated

Question 8

inflated

Answer 8

adj. distended through being filled with air or gas
adj. excessively or unreasonably high
adj. exaggerated

Question 9

pretentious

Answer 9

adj. attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed

Question 10

credulous

Answer 10

adj. having or showing too great a readiness to believe things

Question 11

animosity

Answer 11

n. strong hostility

Question 12

dichotomy

Answer 12

n. a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different

Question 13

vituperative

Answer 13

adj. bitter and abusive

Question 14

innuendo

Answer 14

n. an allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one

Question 15

insinuate

Answer 15

v. suggest or hint (something bad or reprehensible) in an indirect and unpleasant way
v. (insinuate oneself into) maneuver oneself into (a position of favor or office) by subtle manipulation

Question 16

oblique

Answer 16

adj. denoting any case other than the nominative or vocative

Question 17

vocative

Answer 17

adj. relating to or denoting a case of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives in Latin and other languages, used in addressing or invoking a person or thing

Question 18

probe

Answer 18

n. an investigation into a crime or other matter [INTO]
v. physically explore or examine (something) with the hands or an instrument
v. [ no obj. ] seek to uncover information about someone or something

Question 19

chicanery

Answer 19

n. the use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose

Question 20

subterfuge

Answer 20

n. deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal

Question 21

besiege

Answer 21

v. surround (a place) with armed forces in order to capture it or force its surrender; lay siege to
v. crowd around oppressively; surround and harass

Question 22

siege

Answer 22

n. a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling the surrender of those inside
n. a prolonged period of misfortune

Question 23

cunning

Answer 23

adj. having or showing skill in achieving one’s ends by deceit or evasion
adj. ingenious
adj. attractive; quaint

Question 24

anachronism

Answer 24

n. a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, esp. a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned
n. an act of attributing a custom, event, or object to a period to which it does not belong

Question 25

reservoir

Answer 25

n. a large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply n. a supply or source of something

Question 26

beseech

Answer 26

v. ask (someone) urgently and fervently to do something; implore; entreat

Question 27

caustic

Answer 27

adj. sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way

Question 28

obstreperous

Answer 28

adj. noisy and difficult to control

Question 29

implore

Answer 29

v. beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something

Question 30

voluminous

Answer 30

adj. occupying or containing much space; large in volume, in particular: • (of clothing or drapery) loose and ample. • (of writing) very lengthy and full. • (of a writer) producing many books.

Question 31

copious

Answer 31

adj. abundant in supply or quantity | adj. profuse in speech or ideas

Question 32

watershed

Answer 32

n. an event or period marking a turning point in a course of action or state of affairs n. an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas

Question 33

licentious

Answer 33

adj. promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters | adj. disregarding accepted rules or conventions, esp. in grammar or literary style

Question 34

promiscuous

Answer 34

adj. having or characterized by many transient sexual relationships adj. demonstrating or implying an undiscriminating or unselective approach; indiscriminate or casual adj. consisting of a wide range of different things

Question 35

dissolute

Answer 35

adj. lax in morals; licentious

Question 36

rectitude

Answer 36

n. morally correct behavior or thinking; righteousness

Question 37

spate

Answer 37

n. [ usu. in sing. ] a large number of similar things or events appearing or occurring in quick succession

Question 38

congruous

Answer 38

adj. in agreement or harmony

Question 39

apoplectic

Answer 39

adj. overcome with anger; extremely indignant | adj. relating to or denoting apoplexy (stroke)

Question 40

mainstay

Answer 40

n. a stay that extends from the maintop to the foot of the foremast of a sailing ship n. a thing on which something else is based or depends

Question 41

edify

Answer 41

v. instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually

Question 42

acerbic

Answer 42

adj. (esp. of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright adj. tasting sour or bitter

Question 43

forbidding

Answer 43

adj. unfriendly or threatening in appearance

Question 44

typify

Answer 44

v. be characteristic or a representative example of

Question 45

disingenuous

Answer 45

adj. not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does

Question 46

ingenuous

Answer 46

adj. (of a person or action) innocent and unsuspecting

Question 47

equanimity

Answer 47

n. mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, esp. in a difficult situation

Question 48

ethereal

Answer 48

adj. extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world adj. heavenly or spiritual

Question 49

bastion

Answer 49

n. a projecting part of a fortification built at an angle to the line of a wall, so as to allow defensive fire in several directions n. an institution, place, or person strongly defending or upholding particular principles, attitudes, or activities