Week 1

Question 1

im·pro·vise

/ˈimprəˌvīz/

Answer 1

create and perform (music, drama, or verse) spontaneously or without preparation.
“he was improvising to a backing of guitar chords”

Question 2

pro·phet·ic

/prəˈfedik/

Answer 2

adjective
1.
accurately describing or predicting what will happen in the future.
“his warnings proved prophetic”

Question 3

sub·jec·tive

/səbˈjektiv/

Answer 3

adjective
1.
based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.
“his views are highly subjective”

Question 4

ap·a·thy

/ˈapəTHē/

Answer 4

noun
lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
“widespread apathy among students”

Question 5

prin·ci·pled

/ˈprinsəpəld/

Answer 5

a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.
“the basic principles of Christianity”

Question 6

in·con·gru·ous

/ˌinˈkäNGɡro͞oəs/

Answer 6

adjective
not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something.
“the duffel coat looked incongruous with the black dress she wore underneath”

Question 7

eq·ui·ta·ble

/ˈekwədəb(ə)l/

Answer 7

adjective
1.
fair and impartial.
“an equitable balance of power”

Question 8

for·tu·i·tous

/fôrˈto͞oədəs/

Answer 8

adjective
happening by accident or chance rather than design.
“the similarity between the paintings may not be simply fortuitous”

Question 9

in·con·se·quen·tial

/ˌinkänsəˈkwen(t)SHəl/

Answer 9

adjective
not important or significant.
“they talked about inconsequential things”

Question 10

es·say·ist

/ˈesāəst/

Answer 10

noun
plural noun: essayists
a person who writes essays, especially as a literary genre.

Question 11

flor·id

/ˈflôrid,ˈflärid/

Answer 11

adjective
1.
having a red or flushed complexion.
"a stout man with a florid face"
2.
elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated.
"florid operatic-style music was out"

Question 12

par·a·dox

/ˈperəˌdäks/

Answer 12

noun
a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.
“in a paradox, he has discovered that stepping back from his job has increased the rewards he gleans from it”

Question 13

e·gal·i·tar·i·an

/iˌɡaləˈterēən/

Answer 13

adjective
adjective: egalitarian
relating to or believing in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.
“a fairer, more egalitarian society”

Question 14

e·phem·er·al

/əˈfem(ə)rəl/

Answer 14

adjective
adjective: ephemeral
lasting for a very short time.
“fashions are ephemeral”

Question 15

a·cu·men

/əˈkyo͞omən,ˈakyəmən/

Answer 15

noun
noun: acumen
the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain.
“business acumen”

Question 16

rev·er·ence

/ˈrev(ə)rəns/

Answer 16

noun
noun: reverence; plural noun: reverences
deep respect for someone or something.
“rituals showed honor and reverence for the dead”

Question 17

ca·pri·cious

/kəˈpriSHəs,kəˈprēSHəs/

Answer 17

adjective
adjective: capricious
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.
“it’s terrible to feel our livelihood hinges on a capricious boss”

Question 18

cor·rob·o·rate

/kəˈräbəˌrāt/

Answer 18

verb
verb: corroborate; 3rd person present: corroborates; past tense: corroborated; past participle: corroborated; gerund or present participle: corroborating
confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding).
“the witness had corroborated the boy’s account of the attack”

Question 19

mi·ser·li·ness

/ˈmīzərlēnəs/

Answer 19

noun
noun: miserliness
excessive desire to save money; extreme meanness.
“the party earned a damaging reputation for miserliness by cutting pensions”

Question 20

illiberality

Answer 20

Illiberality is a characteristic of being either extremely narrow-minded or ungenerous. Your brother’s illiberality means he’s the last person you’d ask to loan you ten dollars.

Question 21

fas·tid·i·ous

/faˈstidēəs/

Answer 21

adjective
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
“he chooses his words with fastidious care”

Question 22

po·lem·i·cal

/pəˈlemək(ə)l/

Answer 22

adjective
adjective: polemical
relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech.
“a polemical essay”

Question 23

nov·el1

/ˈnävəl/

Answer 23

adjective
adjective: novel
new or unusual in an interesting way.
“he hit on a novel idea to solve his financial problems

Question 24

co·pi·ous

/ˈkōpēəs/

Answer 24

adjective
adjective: copious
abundant in supply or quantity.
“she took copious notes”

Question 25

thrift | /THrift/

Answer 25

``` noun noun: thrift 1. the quality of using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully. "the values of thrift and self-reliance" ```

Question 26

dif·fi·dence | /ˈdifidəns/

Answer 26

noun noun: diffidence modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence. "I say this with some diffidence"

Question 27

in·volved | /inˈvälvd/

Answer 27

adjective adjective: involved difficult to comprehend; complicated. "a long, involved conversation"

Question 28

di·dac·tic | /dīˈdaktik/

Answer 28

adjective adjective: didactic intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive. "a didactic novel that set out to expose social injustice"

Question 29

de·cep·tive | /dəˈseptiv/

Answer 29

adjective adjective: deceptive giving an appearance or impression different from the true one; misleading. "he put the question with deceptive casualness"

Question 30

a·cer·bic | /əˈsərbik/

Answer 30

``` adjective adjective: acerbic 1. (especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright. "his acerbic wit" ```

Question 31

scath·ing | /ˈskāT͟HiNG/

Answer 31

adjective adjective: scathing witheringly scornful; severely critical.

Question 32

dis·sim·i·lar | /ˌdi(s)ˈsimilər/

Answer 32

adjective adjective: dissimilar not alike; different. "a collection of dissimilar nations lacking overall homogeneity"

Question 33

i·con·o·clast | /īˈkänəˌklast/

Answer 33

noun noun: iconoclast; plural noun: iconoclasts 1. a person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions.

Question 34

pi·ous | /ˈpīəs/

Answer 34

adjective adjective: pious devoutly religious.

Question 35

vol·u·bil·i·ty | /ˌvälyəˈbilədē/

Answer 35

noun the quality of talking fluently, readily, or incessantly; talkativeness. "her legendary volubility deserted her"

Question 36

pel·lu·cid | /pəˈlo͞osəd/

Answer 36

adjectiveLITERARY translucently clear. "mountains reflected in the pellucid waters"

Question 37

e·clipse | /əˈklips/

Answer 37

noun | 2: a falling into obscurity or decline

Question 38

ru·mi·na·tion | /ˌro͞oməˈnāSH(ə)n/

Answer 38

noun 1. a deep or considered thought about something. "philosophical ruminations about life and humanity" 2. the action of chewing the cud. "cows slow down their rumination"

Question 39

pro·sa·ic | /prəˈzāik/

Answer 39

commonplace; unromantic. | "the masses were too preoccupied by prosaic day-to-day concerns"

Question 40

hack·neyed | /ˈhaknēd/

Answer 40

adjective (of a phrase or idea) lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite. "hackneyed old sayings"

Question 41

a·loof | /əˈlo͞of/

Answer 41

adjective not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant. "they were courteous but faintly aloof"

Question 42

plac·id | /ˈplasəd/

Answer 42

adjective (of a person or animal) not easily upset or excited. "this horse has a placid nature"

Question 43

res·tive | /ˈrestiv/

Answer 43

adjective (of a person) unable to keep still or silent and becoming increasingly difficult to control, especially because of impatience, dissatisfaction, or boredom. "the crowd had been waiting for hours and many were becoming restive"

Question 44

skit·tish | /ˈskidiSH/

Answer 44

adjective excitable or easily scared. (of a person) playfully frivolous or unpredictable. "my skittish and immature mother"

Question 45

ve·he·ment | /ˈvēəmənt/

Answer 45

adjective showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense. "her voice was low but vehement"

Question 46

clam·or·ous | /ˈklamərəs/

Answer 46

adjective making a loud and confused noise. "a jostling, clamorous mob"

Question 47

vo·cif·er·ous | /vōˈsifərəs/

Answer 47

If you describe someone as vociferous, you mean that they speak with great energy and determination, because they want their views to be heard.

Question 48

aus·ter·i·ty | /ôˈsterədē/

Answer 48

a: a stern and serious quality the formal austerity of his manner b: a plain and simple quality

Question 49

in·trac·ta·ble | /ˌinˈtraktəb(ə)l/

Answer 49

adjective hard to control or deal with. "intractable economic problems"

Question 50

prolix | pro·​lix | \ prō-ˈliks

Answer 50

1: unduly prolonged or drawn out : too long 2: marked by or using an excess of words

Question 51

im·pet·u·ous | /imˈpeCH(o͞o)əs/

Answer 51

adjective acting or done quickly and without thought or care. "her friend was headstrong and impetuous"

Question 52

prodigality | [ prod-i-gal-i-tee ]

Answer 52

1an instance of spending money or resources without care or restraint

Question 53

taciturn

Answer 53

temperamentally disinclined to talk | Other Words from taciturn

Question 54

circumscribe

Answer 54

a: to constrict (see CONSTRICT sense 1) the range or activity of definitely and clearly his role was carefully circumscribed b: to define or mark off carefully

Question 55

dec·o·rous | /ˈdekərəs/

Answer 55

adjective in keeping with good taste and propriety; polite and restrained. "dancing with decorous space between partners"

Question 56

seemly

Answer 56

2: conventionally proper : DECOROUS not seemly to brag about oneself 3: suited to the occasion, purpose, or person

Question 57

fallow | fal·​low

Answer 57

: of a light yellowish-brown color

Question 58

annul

Answer 58

: to declare or make legally invalid or void

Question 59

imperious | im·​pe·​ri·​ous

Answer 59

: marked by arrogant assurance : DOMINEERING | 2: intensely compelling

Question 60

belligerent

Answer 60

1: inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness 2: waging war specifically : belonging to or recognized as a state at war and protected by and subject to the laws of war

Question 61

intrinsic

Answer 61

: belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing

Question 62

frivolity

Answer 62

: of little weight or importance | : lacking in seriousness

Question 63

impenetrable

Answer 63

: incapable of being penetrated or pierced

Question 64

penitent

Answer 64

feeling or expressing humble or regretful pain or sorrow for sins or offenses

Question 65

accede

Answer 65

agree to a demand, request, or treaty. | "the authorities did not accede to the strikers' demands"

Question 66

unsparing

Answer 66

not merciful or forbearing

Question 67

preclude

Answer 67

prevent from happening; make impossible. | "the secret nature of his work precluded official recognition"

Question 68

a·me·na·ble | /əˈmēnəb(ə)l,əˈmenəb(ə)l/

Answer 68

adjective adjective: amenable (of a person) open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled. "parents who have had easy babies and amenable children"

Question 69

disquiet

Answer 69

: to take away the peace or tranquility of : DISTURB, ALARM

Question 70

conviction

Answer 70

: the act or process of finding a person guilty of a crime especially in a court of law 2a: a strong persuasion or belief

Question 71

disinterestedness

Answer 71

: the quality or state of being objective or impartial

Question 72

demanding

Answer 72

requiring much time, effort, or attention

Question 73

wary

Answer 73

: marked by keen caution, cunning, and watchfulness especially in detecting and escaping danger

Question 74

belie

Answer 74

: to give a false impression of

Question 75

impenetrable

Answer 75

: incapable of being penetrated or pierced

Question 76

scru·ple | /ˈskro͞opəl/

Answer 76

a feeling of doubt or hesitation with regard to the morality or propriety of a course of action. "I had no scruples about eavesdropping"