Vocabulary week 1

Question 1

proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects.

treacherous; crafty.

Answer 1

Insidious

• “sexually transmitted diseases can be insidious and sometimes without symptoms”
• “tangible proof of an insidious alliance”

Question 2

(of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum degree.

of a person or their behavior) completely without pride or dignity; self-abasing.

Answer 2

Abject

• “his letter plunged her into abject misery”
• “an abject apology”

Question 3

hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.

Answer 3

Cursory

-“a cursory glance at the figures”

Question 4

erring or straying from the proper course or standards.

traveling in search of adventure.

Answer 4

Errant

• “he could never forgive his daughter’s errant ways”
• “that same lady errant”

Question 5

humor or frivolity, especially the treatment of a serious matter with humor or in a manner lacking due respect.

Answer 5

Levity

-“as an attempt to introduce a note of levity, the words were a disastrous flop”

Question 6

appear or claim to be or do something, especially falsely; profess.

the meaning or substance of something, typically a document or speech.

Answer 6

Purport

• “she is not the person she purports to be”
• “I do not understand the purport of your remarks”

Question 7

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.

Answer 7

Banal

• “songs with banal, repeated words”

Question 8

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.

Answer 8

Capricious

• “it’s terrible to feel our livelihood hinges on a capricious boss”

Question 9

involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt.

dirty or squalid.

Answer 9

Sordid

• “the story paints a sordid picture of bribes and scams”
• “the overcrowded housing conditions were sordid and degrading”

Question 10

obtrusively bright and showy; lurid.

Answer 10

Garish

• “garish shirts in all sorts of colors”

Question 11

(of a young person) inexperienced and immature.

Answer 11

Callow

• “earnest and callow undergraduates”

Question 12

able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action.

sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way.

Answer 12

Caustic

• “a caustic cleaner”
• “the players were making caustic comments about the refereeing”

Question 13

difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious.

Answer 13

Enigmatic

• “he took the money with an enigmatic smile”

Question 14

(of a smile or laugh) lacking real amusement and typically expressing irony.

Answer 14

Mirthless

• “he gave a short, mirthless laugh”

Question 15

cognitive and emotional state of being emotionally attached to or even obsessed with another person

Answer 15

Limerence

• “Her limerence lasted for around three months before she actually met him”

Question 16

Recursive

Answer 16

Repeating upon itself