Week #6

Question 1

Define

Affluent

(afˊlü ənt)

Answer 1

Rich

Under duress from the tax officer, the beggar admitted
that he was truly affluent.

Question 2

Define

Feasible

(fēˊ zə bal)

Answer 2

Possible

It’s feasible to build an electric auto, but wouldn’t you
need a terribly long extension cord?

Question 3

Define

Discern

(də zėrnˊor də sėrnˊ)

Answer 3

Perceive

When we could discern the city lights, we knew we
were safe at last

Question 4

Define

Sally

(salˊi)

Answer 4

Suddenly rush forth

Some prisoners planned a disturbance while others
would sally toward the gate.

Question 5

Define

Consternation

(konˊ stər nāˊshən)

Answer 5

Dismay

To the consternation of the sergeant, there was a
paucity of volunteers for the dangerous mission.

Question 6

Define

I’m From Missouri

Answer 6

A skeptic, one who isn’t easily convinced

You might swallow his promises, but I’m from Missouri.

Question 7

Define

Precocious

(pri kōˊshəs)

Answer 7

Reaching maturity early

The children in Shakespeare’s plays are so
precocious that they all sound like grandparents.

Question 8

Define

Perfunctory

(pər fungkˊtə ri)

Answer 8

Done w/o care, superficial

I construed the doctor’s perfunctory examination to
indicate that I was in good health.

Question 9

Chagrin

(shə grinˊ)

Answer 9

Feeling of disappointment, humiliation

To the chagrin of many taxpayers, some citizens seem
to cheat the government with impunity.

Question 10

Define

Perverse

(pər vėrsˊ)

Answer 10

Contrary, persisting in error

When I correct my kid brother’s math errors, he is
perverse enough to insist that he is right.

Question 11

Define

Deride

(dĭ rīdˊ)

Answer 11

To ridicule, scoff at

The Wright brothers didn’t become distraught when a skeptic would deride their work.

Question 12

Define

Red Letter Day

Answer 12

Successful, day of happiness, rejoicing

My red letter day came when I was chosen as senior
class president.

Question 13

Define

Disparage

(dis parˊ ij)

Answer 13

To discredit, belittle

The affluent storeowner disparaged the efforts of his
small competitor, saying that he could always tolerate
that kind of rivalry.

Question 14

Define

Laudable

(lôdˊə bəl)

Answer 14

Praiseworthy

The paradox is that Jim’s inexorable pursuit of
Angelique was both laudable and despicable.

Question 15

Define

Fiasco

(fi asˊkō)

Answer 15

Complete failure

In an acrimonious letter her father described the project
as a complete fiasco.

Question 16

Define

Masticate

(masˊ tə kāt)

Answer 16

To chew up

To aid in digestion, you must masticate each piece of
meat one dozen times.

Question 17

Define

Eschew

(es chüˊ)

Answer 17

Avoid

Once he sought the limelight, but now he eschews all
interviews.

Question 18

Define

To Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Answer 18

To let well enough alone, to avoid stirring up
old hostilities

The lawyer wanted to openup the old case, but his
partner adivsed him to let sleeping dogs lie.

Question 19

Define

Quell

(kwel)

Answer 19

Put an end to

In order to quell the riot, the police sallied forth with tear gas.

Question 20

Define

Voluble

(volˊū bəl)

Answer 20

Talkative

I could not doze in the chair because of the voluble
barber.

Question 21

Define

Confidant

(kon fəˊdantˊ)

Answer 21

One to whom you confide your secrets

A teenage boy’s father should be his true confidant.

Question 22

Define

Obsolescence

(obˊ sə lesˊ əns)

Answer 22

Process of wearing out

The obsolescence built into many products could be
regarded as a flagrant insult toward the duped
consumer.

Question 23

Define

Dubious

(düˊbi əs)

Answer 23

Doubtful

When the duplicity was revealed, the jury became
dubious about Ed’s innocence.

Question 24

Define

Thumbs Down

Answer 24

Signal of rejection

My father turned thumbs down on our plan to hitchhike
to Florida during Easter.