Vocabulary

Question 0

Genuflect

Answer 0

gen·u·flect v. [intrans.] lower one’s body briefly by bending one knee to the ground, typically in worship or as a sign of respect: she genuflected and crossed herself.
adverbial] FIGURATIVE show deference or servility: politicians had to genuflect to the far left to advance their careers.

Question 1

Balkanization

Answer 1

Balkanization, or Balkanisation, is a geopolitical term, originally used to describe the violent process of fragmentation or division of a region or state into smaller regions or states that are often hostile or non-cooperative with one another.[1] It is considered pejoratively by some.[2]

Question 2

Pejorative

Answer 2

pe·jo·ra·tive
pəˈjôrədiv/
adjective
1.
expressing contempt or disapproval.
““permissiveness” is used almost universally as a pejorative term”
synonyms: disparaging, derogatory, denigratory, deprecatory, defamatory, slanderous, libelous, abusive, insulting, slighting; informalbitchy
“his remarks were considered too pejorative for daytime radio”
antonyms: complimentary
noun
noun: pejorative; plural noun: pejoratives
1.
a word expressing contempt or disapproval.

Question 3

Acolyte

Answer 3

1 :one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service by performing minor duties
2 :one who attends or assists :follower

Question 4

in·su·per·a·ble

inˈso͞op(ə)rəb(ə)l/

Answer 4

adjective
(of a difficulty or obstacle) impossible to overcome.
“insuperable financial problems”

Question 5

Suzerainty (/ˈsjuːzərənti/ or /ˈsjuːzərɛnti/)

Answer 5

a situation in which a powerful region or people controls the foreign affairs of a tributary vassal state while allowing the subservient nation internal autonomy

Question 6

dem·a·gogue

ˈdeməˌɡäɡ/

Answer 6

noun
a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.
synonyms: rabble-rouser, agitator, political agitator, soapbox orator, firebrand, fomenter, provocateur
“he was drawn into a circle of campus demagogues”

Question 7

i·ras·ci·ble

iˈrasəb(ə)l/

Answer 7

adjective
having or showing a tendency to be easily angered.
“an irascible man”
synonyms: irritable, quick-tempered, short-tempered, hot-tempered, testy, touchy, tetchy, edgy, crabby, petulant, waspish, dyspeptic, snappish; More
antonyms: even-tempered, good-natured
Origin
late Middle English: via French from late Latin irascibilis, from Latin irasci ‘grow angry,’ from ira ‘anger.’

Question 8

per·fid·i·ous

pərˈfidēəs/

Answer 8

deceitful and untrustworthy.
"a perfidious lover"
synonyms:	treacherous, duplicitous, deceitful, disloyal, faithless, unfaithful, traitorous, treasonous, false, false-hearted, double-dealing, two-faced, Janus-faced, untrustworthy
"a perfidious lover"
antonyms:	faithful
Origin

late 16th century: from Latin perfidiosus, from perfidia ‘treachery.’
Translate perfidious to
Use over time for: perfidious

Question 9

sar·don·ic

särˈdänik/

Answer 9

adjective
grimly mocking or cynical.
"Starkey attempted a sardonic smile"
synonyms:	mocking, satirical, sarcastic, ironical, ironic; More
Origin
mid 17th century: from French sardonique, earlier sardonien, via Latin from Greek sardonios ‘of Sardinia,’ alteration of sardanios, used by Homer to describe bitter or scornful laughter.
Translate sardonic to
Use over time for: sardonic

Question 10

par·si·mo·ni·ous

ˌpärsəˈmōnēəs/

Answer 10

adjective
unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy or frugal.
“parsimonious New Hampshire voters, who have a phobia about taxes”
synonyms: cheap, miserly, mean, niggardly, close-fisted, close, penny-pinching, ungenerous, Scroogelike

Question 11

po·lem·ic

pəˈlemik/

Answer 11

noun
1.
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
“his polemic against the cultural relativism of the sixties”
synonyms: diatribe, invective, rant, tirade, broadside, attack, harangue, condemnation, criticism, stricture, admonition, rebuke

Question 12

ob·se·qui·ous

əbˈsēkwēəs/

Answer 12

adjective
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.
“they were served by obsequious waiters”
synonyms: servile, ingratiating, sycophantic, fawning, unctuous, oily, oleaginous, groveling, cringing, subservient, submissive, slavish;

Question 13

syc·o·phant

Answer 13

ˈsikəˌfant,ˈsikəfənt/
noun
a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.
synonyms: yes-man, bootlicker, brown-noser, toady, lickspittle, flatterer, flunky, lackey, spaniel, doormat, stooge, cringer, suck, suck-up

Question 14

ris·i·ble

Answer 14

ˈrizəbəl/
adjective
such as to provoke laughter.
“a risible scene of lovemaking in a tent”
synonyms: laughable, ridiculous, absurd, comical, comic, amusing, funny, hilarious, humorous, droll, farcical, silly, ludicrous, hysterical;

Question 15

in·ter·ne·cine
ˌintərˈnesēn,-ˈnēsēn,-sin/
adjective

Answer 15

destructive to both sides in a conflict.
“the region’s history of savage internecine warfare”
of or relating to conflict within a group or organization.
“the party shrank from the trauma of more internecine strife”
Origin

mid 17th century (in the sense ‘deadly, characterized by great slaughter’): from Latin internecinus, based on inter- ‘among’ + necare ‘to kill.’

Question 16

vi·tu·per·a·tion

vəˌt(y)o͞opəˈrāSHən,vī-/

Answer 16

noun
bitter and abusive language.
“no one else attracted such vituperation from him”
synonyms: invective, condemnation, opprobrium, scolding, criticism, disapprobation, fault-finding;
antonyms: praise

Question 17

des·ul·to·ry

ˈdesəlˌtôrē/

Answer 17

adjective
lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.
“a few people were left, dancing in a desultory fashion”
synonyms: casual, cursory, superficial, token, perfunctory, half-hearted, lukewarm; More
antonyms: keen
(of conversation or speech) going constantly from one subject to another in a halfhearted way; unfocused.
“the desultory conversation faded”
occurring randomly or occasionally.
“desultory passengers were appearing”

Question 18

ob·strep·er·ous

əbˈstrepərəs/

Answer 18

adjective
noisy and difficult to control.
“the boy is cocky and obstreperous”
synonyms: unruly, unmanageable, disorderly, undisciplined, uncontrollable, rowdy, disruptive, truculent, difficult, refractory, rebellious, mutinous, riotous, out of control, wild, turbulent, uproarious, boisterous; More

Question 19

dis·si·dence

ˈdisidəns/

Answer 19

noun
protest against official policy; dissent.
synonyms: disagreement, dissent, discord, discontent; More
Origin

mid 17th century: from Latin dissidentia, from dissident- ‘sitting apart’ (see dissident).

Question 20

curmudgeon

Answer 20

noun cur·mud·geon (ˌ)kər-ˈmə-jən\

: a person (especially an old man) who is easily annoyed or angered and who often complains

Question 21

mis·an·thrope

Answer 21

ˈmis(ə)nˌTHrōp,ˈmiz(ə)nˌTHrōp/
noun
a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society.

Question 22

co·pi·ous

Answer 22

ˈkōpēəs/
adjective
abundant in supply or quantity.
"she took copious notes"
synonyms:	abundant, superabundant, plentiful, ample, profuse, full, extensive, generous, bumper, lavish, fulsome, liberal, overflowing, in abundance, many, numerous;

Question 23

men·dac·i·ty

Answer 23

menˈdasədē/
noun
noun: mendacity
untruthfulness.
"people publicly castigated for past mendacity"

Question 24

scle·rot·ic | skləˈrätik/

Answer 24

``` adjective 1. MEDICINE of or having sclerosis. 2. becoming rigid and unresponsive; losing the ability to adapt. "sclerotic management" ```

Question 25

in·ex·o·ra·ble | ˌinˈeksərəb(ə)l/

Answer 25

adjective impossible to stop or prevent. "the seemingly inexorable march of new technology" synonyms: relentless, unstoppable, inescapable, inevitable, unavoidable, irrevocable, unalterable; More (of a person) impossible to persuade by request or entreaty. "the doctors were inexorable, and there was nothing to be done" synonyms: intransigent, unbending, unyielding, inflexible, adamant, obdurate, immovable, unshakable;

Question 26

te·mer·i·ty | təˈmerədē/

Answer 26

noun excessive confidence or boldness; audacity. "no one had the temerity to question his conclusions" synonyms: audacity, nerve, effrontery, impudence, impertinence, cheek, gall, presumption;

Question 27

he·gem·o·ny

Answer 27

həˈjemənē,ˈhejəˌmōnē/ noun leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others. "Germany was united under Prussian hegemony after 1871" synonyms: leadership, dominance, dominion, supremacy, authority, mastery, control, power, sway, rule, sovereignty "the Prussian hegemony of the nineteenth century"

Question 28

ap·o·plec·tic | ˌapəˈplektik/

Answer 28

adjective overcome with anger; extremely indignant. "Mark was apoplectic with rage at the decision" dated relating to or denoting apoplexy (stroke). "an apoplectic attack"

Question 29

a·lac·ri·ty

Answer 29

əˈlakrədē/ noun brisk and cheerful readiness. "she accepted the invitation with alacrity" synonyms: eagerness, willingness, readiness;

Question 30

bu·col·ic

Answer 30

byo͞oˈkälik/ adjective 1. of or relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life. "the church is lovely for its bucolic setting" synonyms: rustic, rural, pastoral, country, countryside;

Question 31

mael·strom

Answer 31

ˈmālˌsträm,ˈmālˌstrəm/ noun a powerful whirlpool in the sea or a river. synonyms: whirlpool, vortex, eddy, swirl; literaryCharybdis "a maelstrom in the sea" a situation or state of confused movement or violent turmoil. "the train station was a maelstrom of crowds" synonyms: turbulence, tumult, turmoil, disorder, disarray, chaos, confusion, upheaval, pandemonium, bedlam, whirlwind "the maelstrom of war"

Question 32

in·ter·lop·er

Answer 32

ˈin(t)ərˌlōpər,ˌin(t)ərˈlōpər/ noun a person who becomes involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered not to belong. synonyms: intruder, encroacher, trespasser, invader, infiltrator

Question 33

ab·ro·gate

Answer 33

ˈabrəˌɡāt/ verbformal repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement). "a proposal to abrogate temporarily the right to strike" synonyms: repeal, revoke, rescind, repudiate, overturn, annul;

Question 34

ex·i·gent

Answer 34

ˈekzəjənt/ adjectiveformal pressing; demanding. "the exigent demands of the music took a toll on her voice"

Question 36

Avuncular

Answer 36

1 : of or relating to an uncle 2 : suggestive of an uncle especially in kindliness or geniality

Question 37

Bespoke

Answer 37

(of goods, especially clothing) made to order. | "a bespoke suit"

Question 38

Moribund

Answer 38

'môrəˌbənd/ adjective (of a person) at the point of death. synonyms: dying, expiring, terminal, on one's deathbed, near death, at death's door, not long for this world "the patient was moribund" (of a thing) in terminal decline; lacking vitality or vigor. "the moribund commercial property market" synonyms: declining, in decline, waning, dying, stagnating, stagnant, crumbling, on its last legs "the moribund shipbuilding industry"

Question 39

Fecundity

Answer 39

Fertility

Question 40

Perspicuous

Answer 40

per·spic·u·ous /pərˈspikyo͞oəs/ clearly expressed and easily understood; lucid. "it provides simpler and more perspicuous explanations than its rivals"

Question 41

Heuristic

Answer 41

adjective serving to indicate or point out; stimulating interest as a means of furthering investigation. encouraging a person to learn, discover, understand, or solve problems on his or her own, as by experimenting, evaluating possible answers or solutions, or by trial and error: a heuristic teaching method. of, relating to, or based on experimentation, evaluation, or trial-and-error methods. Computers, Mathematics. pertaining to a trial-and-error method of problem solving used when an algorithmic approach is impractical.

Question 42

inscrutable

Answer 42

incapable of being investigated, analyzed, or scrutinized; impenetrable. not easily understood; mysterious; unfathomable: an inscrutable smile. incapable of being seen through physically; physically impenetrable: the inscrutable depths of the ocean.

Question 43

iconoclastic

Answer 43

adjective attacking or ignoring cherished beliefs and long-held traditions, etc., as being based on error, superstition, or lack of creativity: an iconoclastic architect whose buildings are like monumental sculptures. breaking or destroying images, especially those set up for religious veneration.

Question 44

Precocious

Answer 44

unusually advanced or mature in development, especially mental development: a precocious child.

Question 45

Abstruse

Answer 45

Difficult to understand; obscure

Question 46

What does emolument mean?

Answer 46

emolument /əˈmälyəmənt/ I. noun — (usu. emoluments) 1. ‹formal› a salary, fee, or profit from employment or office • the directors' emoluments.

Question 47

Define Calumny

Answer 47

I. noun 1. the making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someone's reputation; slander. 2. a false and slanderous statement. II. derivatives calumnious /kəˈləmnēəs / adjective

Question 48

Define: frac·tious

Answer 48

``` frac·tious /ˈfrakSHəs/ adjective (typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome. "they fight and squabble like fractious children" Similar: grumpy grouchy crotchety in a (bad) mood cantankerous bad-tempered ill-tempered ill-natured ill-humored peevish cross disagreeable pettish irritable irascible tetchy testy curmudgeonly crabbed crabby waspish prickly peppery touchy scratchy crusty splenetic shrewish short-tempered hot-tempered quick-tempered dyspeptic choleric bilious liverish cross-grained as cross as two sticks snappish snappy chippy on a short fuse short-fused shirty stroppy narky ratty eggy like a bear with a sore head cranky ornery peckish soreheaded snaky waxy miffy Opposite: contented affable (of a group or organization) difficult to control; unruly. "the notoriously fractious resistance groups are declaring alliances to bolster their collective powe ```

Question 49

in·sou·ci·ance

Answer 49

``` /inˈso͞osēəns,inˈso͞oSHəns/ noun casual lack of concern; indifference. "an impression of boyish insouciance" ```