Week #10

Question 1

Define

Inclement

(in klemˊənt)

Answer 1

Unfavorable, stormy

She blamed her absence from the game on the
inclement weather, but we knew that was sour grapes.

Question 2

Define

Peruse

(pə rüzˊ)

Answer 2

To read carefully

After being admonished by his father, he began to peruse the want ads daily.

Question 3

Define

Premonition

(preˊmə nishˊən)

Answer 3

Forewarning

When the black cat crossed her path, Ellen had a
premonition of disaster.

Question 4

Define

Desist

(de zistˊ)

Answer 4

Cease

The pickets promulgated a warning that they would not desist in their efforts to enhance their standard of living.

Question 5

Define

Recoil

(ri koilˊ)

Answer 5

Draw back

As the snake prepared to strike, the girls recoiled in
horror.

Question 6

Define

To Pay The Piper

Answer 6

To bear the consequences

The cruel leader was doing well at the present time, but he knew that one day he might have to pay the piper.

Question 7

Define

Pertinent

(pėrˊtə nənt)

Answer 7

To the point

During the trial the astute lawyer was able to elicit the
pertinent information from the key witness.

Question 8

Define

Mastiff

(masˊtif)

Answer 8

large dog

My nervous neighbor bought a pugnacious mastiff to frighten burglars.

Question 9

Define

Obsess

(əb sesˊ)

Answer 9

To haunt, preoccupy

The stockbroker was obsessed with the idea of
becoming a painter.

Question 10

Define

Doleful

(dōlˊfəl)

Answer 10

Sad, melancholy

Doleful expressions abounded throughout
headquarters on the night of the election.

Question 11

Define

Wan

(won)

Answer 11

Sickly pale

After the tension, his normally ruddy face was wan and
tired.

Question 12

Define

On The Carpet

Answer 12

Being scolded

Because of her repeated lateness, Betty’s boss called her on the carpet.

Question 13

Define

Histrionics

(hisˊtri onˊiks)

Answer 13

Display of emotions

Saying that he would not tolerate her histrionics, the
director fired the temperamental actress.

Question 14

Define

Elusive

(i lüˊsiv)

Answer 14

Hard to grasp

All his life he found happiness elusive, but wealth easy to come by.

Question 15

Define

Frustrate

(frusˊtārt)

Answer 15

Counteract, foil, thwart

The warden frustrated the prisoners’ attempt to escape
by adding more guards.

Question 16

Define

Symptomatic

(simpˊtə matˊ ik)

Answer 16

Having to do with the signs or symptoms, indicative

The sordid rioting was symptomatic of the problems
facing the large cities.

Question 17

Define

Interject

(inˊtər jəkˊ)

Answer 17

Insert, interrupt

Most viewers hate it when a commercial is interjected into a suspense drama.

Question 18

Define

To Show One’s Hand

Answer 18

To reveal your intentions

When someone joined in bidding for the antique, the
dealer was forced to show his hand.

Question 19

Define

Inert

(in ėrtˊ)

Answer 19

Without power to move

Seeing the inert player, the manager dashed out onto the field.

Question 20

Define

Salient

(sāˊli ənt)

Answer 20

Outstanding, prominent

One of the salient features of his poetry is a
dependence upon euphemisms.

Question 21

Define

Imminent

(imˊə nənt)

Answer 21

Likely to happen, threatening

The senator loathed it when people said that an
atomic war was imminent.

Question 22

Define

Squeamish

(skwēmˊish)

Answer 22

Easily shocked, over sensitive

When his squeamish partner complained about a lack
of ethics, the businessman laughed at his innocence.

Question 23

Define

Engrossed

(en grōstˊ)

Answer 23

Absorbed

Engrossed in his crossword puzzle, he failed to notice the paucity of customers in the restaurant.

Question 24

Define

To Tilt At Windmills

Answer 24

To fight imaginary enemies

The vice-president told the committee, “We’re really on your side, and if you fight us you’ll be tilting at windmills.