Wordly Wise 1

Question 1

Asperity

As-per-it-y

Answer 1

N.
Sharpness or harshness of manner

There was noticeable asperity in her voice as she scolded the children for teasing Andrea.

Question 2

Bane

-

Answer 2

N.
A person or thing that’s destroys or causes harm

Jonathan’s little brother was the bane of our slumber party.

Question 3

Buffoon

Buf-foon

Answer 3

N.
A clown, a fool

Although he acted like a buffoon at parties, Matt was usually serious.

Question 4

Doleful

Dole-ful

Answer 4

Adj.
Mournful or full of sorrow

The doleful look on her face told me she had not gotten the grant to go to the summer program.

Question 5

Extrovert

Ex-tro-vert

Answer 5

N.
A person whose attention is focused on others and on what’s going around him or her rather than on her or his feelings

Ray is an extrovert now, but he was rather shy as a young child.

Question 6

Garish

Gar-ish

Answer 6

Adj.
Excessively bright and flashy

I told Henry that his tie was to garish to wear to a job interview.

Question 7

Hierarchy

Hi-er-arch-y

Answer 7

N.
A group or system in which portions of power are ranked

In the state government hierarchy, the governor is at the top.

Question 8

Imbue

Im-bue

Answer 8

V.
To fill completely with a feeling or idea

The really great athletes are imbued with a desire to excel.

Question 9

Instigate

In-sti-gate

Answer 9

V.
To stir up or urge on; to provoke

Because Joy was jealous of Dara’s friendship with Kim, she instigated a argument between them.

Question 10

Penchant

Pen-chant

Answer 10

N.
A strong attraction or leaning
Susan and Carl shared a penchant for crossword puzzles and mad a ritual of doing them together every Sunday morning.

Question 11

Rambunctious

Ram-bunc-Titus

Answer 11

Adj.
Behaving in a wild and unruly manner

When the puppies get too rambunctious in their play, the trainer separates them.

Question 12

Repertoire

Rep-er-toire

Answer 12

N.
The list of pieces and actor, musician, etc. is ready to perform, the skills or accomplishments of a person or group.

The band knew most of the request, but several songs were not part of its repertoire.

Question 13

Rudiment

Ru-di-ment

Answer 13

N. Usually plural
The basic principles or skills

The books teaches the rudiments of cooking, but it will not make you a mater chef.

Question 14

Undermine

Un-der-mine

Answer 14

V.
To weaken or ruin by degrees

His smoking habit seriously undermined his health.

Question 15

Unremitting

Un-re-mit-ting

Answer 15

Adj.
Not stopping or slowing down

The unremitting sounds of the city kept me awake in the hotel room all night.