Week 2 words

Question 1

Sanction

Answer 1

1. (POSITIVE meaning) Official or authoritative permissino or authorization; support or encouragement; (v) To approve or authorize officially; to support or tolerate by showing approval.
2. (NEGATIVE meaning) A penalty meant to force compliance; a military or economic measure adopted by several nations and meant to coerce another nation violating international law; (v) To penalize, especially for a violation of international law

An expression now sanctioned by educated usage.

Question 2

Complaisant

Answer 2

(adj) Agreeable, eager to please, obliging

The most complaisant child I’ve ever met.

Question 3

Ubiquitous

Answer 3

(adj) Existing or present everywhere; constantly encountered or widespread.

Ubiquitous fog; ubiquitous little ants.

Question 4

Distend

Answer 4

(v) To extend; to swell form internal pressure

Habitual overating had distended his stomach; The sea distended about them.

Question 5

Vacillate

Answer 5

(v) To hesitate or waver in forming an opinion or make a decision
(v) To fluctuate or oscillate

His tendency to vacillate makes him a poor leader.

Question 6

Perfidy

Answer 6

(n) 1. The quality or state of being disloyal; treachery; faithlessness
2. An act of disloyalty

Perfidy that goes unpunished

Question 7

Derivative

Answer 7

(adj) Not original, secondary, or copied
(adj) derived

Question 8

Fracas

Answer 8

(n) A noisy, loudy quarrel, brawl, or disturbance

Question 9

Explicit

Answer 9

(adj) Fully and clearly expressed, without leaving anything to implication
(adj) Fully developed or defined
(adj) Forthright and unambiguous in expression

Question 10

Presumptuous

Answer 10

(adj) Overstepping the bounds of what’s right or proper; inappropriately forward or taking liberties
syn: impertinent, audacious, arrogant, bold

Question 11

Extraneous

Answer 11

(adj) Irrelevant, unrelated, not pertinent
(adj) Nonessential, not vital
(adj) Coming from outside

Question 12

Slight

Answer 12

(v) 1. To treat as unimportant or make light of
2. To treat with disdain or discourteous inattention
3. To do inattentively or negligently
(n) An instance of being slighted
(adj) 1. Slim or delicate of body
2. Small in size, extent, or quantity
3. Trifling, trivial, or unimportant
4. Lack strength of substance; flimsy

Question 13

Vigor

Answer 13

(n) Active strength or energy; vitality

Question 14

Transparent

Answer 14

(adj) Permitting the passage of light, sheer enough to see through
(adj) Frank, candid, and free of deceit or pretense
(adj) Obvious; readily seen or understood
(adj) Open with regards to methods of practices, especially in business

Question 15

Pristine

Answer 15

(adj) Belonging or related to the original, earliest condition; primitive
(adj) Remainging in pure, unspoiled state, untouched by civilization
(adj) clean as if new

His pristine new car

Question 16

Confound

Answer 16

(v) To confuse, perplex, or stump; To throw into disorder
(v) To mix up, fail to notice differences
(v) To refute, prove wrong, or put to shame

Question 17

Console

Answer 17

(v) To comfort, alleviate someone’s grief, suffering, or sense of loss
(n) 1. A cabinet (such as for a television) designed to stand on the floor
2. The control unit of a computer, electrical system, vehicle, etc.

A PS game console

Question 18

Discrete

Answer 18

(adj) Separate or distinct; an individual thing
(adj) Consisting of unconnected individual parts; not continuous

discrete parts; a discrete variable

Question 19

Specious

Answer 19

(adj) Deceptive in attractions or allure
(adj) Falsely appearing true, genuine, or plausible
syn: plausible, misleading

Specious arguments

Question 20

Approbation

Answer 20

(n) Official approval
(n) Commendation, praise; a warm expression of approval; conclusive proof

Question 21

Concur

Answer 21

(v) To agree, cooperate, or coincide

Question 22

Nadir

Answer 22

(adj) The lowest point
(adj) A point on the celestial sphere, opposite the zenith and below the observer
(n) lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair

Question 23

Tractability

Answer 23

(n) Capacity for being led, controlled, or taught; docility
(n) Malleability; Ease of being handled or worked with

Question 24

Impermeable

Answer 24

(adj) Impassable; preventing passage through or into itself (such as by a liquid - e.g., an impermeable raincoat)

Question 25

Denunciation

Answer 25

(n) 1. public condemnation or censure 2. an accusation of a crime

Question 26

Lackluster

Answer 26

(adj) Without luster or brilliance; dull ## Footnote **_lackluster_ eyes; a _lackluster_ performance**

Question 27

Foment

Answer 27

(v) To foster or promote the development of; to incite or rouse **To _foment_ troubl; to _foment_ discontent** syn: encourage, stimluate, stir up, provoke, arouse, inflame, excite

Question 28

Deference

Answer 28

(n) Submission to or due respect for superiors or elders ## Footnote **In _deference_ to his wishes**

Question 29

Veracity

Answer 29

(n) Conformity or adherence to the truth or accuracy **He was not noted for his _veracity_; To questions the _veracity_ of his account** syn: honesty, integrity, credibility

Question 30

Diffuse

Answer 30

(adj) Dispersed, spread out (adj) wordy and poorly organized

Question 31

Innocuous

Answer 31

(adj) Harmless or without negative effect (adj) Unlikely to offend or inspire a strong reaction; insipid or bland **an _innocuous_ home remedy; an _innocuous_ remark**

Question 32

Audacious

Answer 32

(adj) Recklessly bold; Insolent or contemptuous of rules (adj) Original and spirited

Question 33

Exculpate

Answer 33

(v) To clear from a charge or guilt

Question 34

Abate

Answer 34

(v) To reduce in degree, amount, or intensity **To _abate_ a tax; to _abate_ all mentions of names** syn: omit

Question 35

Obstinate

Answer 35

(adj) Stubbornly sticking to an attitude, opinion, purpose, or course against argument or persuasion; difficult to control, subdue, or remedy ## Footnote **The _obstinate_ growth of weeds; _obstinate_ advocacy of high tariffs**

Question 36

Prodigious

Answer 36

(adj) Impressive or extraordinary in bulk, amount, or degree; enormous (adj) Marvelous, eliciting amazement **A _prodigious_ research grant; a _prodigious_ feat**

Question 37

Stolid

Answer 37

(adj) Unemotional or impassive

Question 38

Alleviate

Answer 38

(v) To mitigate, lessen, or make bearable

Question 39

Levy

Answer 39

(v) 1. To impose and collect (such as a tax) 2. To draft troops into military service 3. To declare and wage war **To _levy_ a duty on imports**

Question 40

Exacerbate

Answer 40

(v) To make more severe, violent, or bitter; to aggravate, intensify, or inflame

Question 41

Covert

Answer 41

(adj) Not openly done, acknowledged, or avowed; veiled (adj) Sheltered or covered syn: concealed, disguised, sheltered, covered

Question 42

Apprise

Answer 42

(v) To inform, tell, or give notice to **To be _apprised_ of the death of an old friend** **NOTE: often followed by *of***

Question 43

Recalcitrant

Answer 43

(adj) Stubbornly resisting or defying authority or guidance ## Footnote **I can often be a _recalcitrant_ person to useful and hard advice**

Question 44

Derision

Answer 44

(n) Ridicule, mockery, or scorn **The inept performance elicited _derision_ from the audience**

Question 45

Taciturn

Answer 45

(adj) Disinclined to speak to temperament

Question 46

Blithe

Answer 46

(adj) Lighthearted, carefree, joyous, or gaily cheerful (adj) Thoughtless, heedless, or without regard or consideration **Everyone loved her for her _blithe_ spirit; a _blithe_ indifference to anyone's feelings**

Question 47

Convoke

Answer 47

(v) To call (as a group of people) to a meeting syn: assemble

Question 48

Impetuous

Answer 48

(adj) Impulsive, characterized by sudden, passionate action (adj) Violent or forceful **An _impetuous_ person; The _impetuous_ winds**

Question 49

Ponderous

Answer 49

(adj) Of great weight; unwieldy due to heaviness and bulk (adj) Labored, dull, or lifeless **A _ponderous_ dissertation; He carried _ponderous_ burden on his back**