Words (2023 Jan)

Question 1

Parthian Shot

Answer 1

Parting Shot (Ancient Parthian (Iranian) soldiers during a retreat, turned on horseback and shot the pursuing enemy) e.g. Sherlock shared his Parthian shot as he stepped out the door

Question 2

Surmise

Answer 2

Suppose something is true, without having evidence for it; Supposition
Similar words - conjecture, guess

Question 3

convulsion

Answer 3

1. Sudden, violent, irregular movement of the body (Associated with brain disorders such as epilepsy); seizure
2. Uncontrollable laughter e.g. audience was lost in convulsions at the comedy club
3. Violent social or political upheaval e.g. Naxal convulsions in India in early 2000s

Question 4

Florid

Answer 4

1. Having a red or flushed complexion e.g. the suspect from Study in Scarlet
2. Excessively intricate or elaborate e.g. a florid, baroque building; florid painting style

Question 5

Larks

Answer 5

Kind of bird - known for melodious singing
Majorly found in Africa, some in North America & Australia

Question 6

Allay

Answer 6

Diminish / reduce or put at rest (Fear, suspicion, worry)
E.g. Allay fears of the public
Relieve or alleviate (make suffering less severe) (pain or hunger)

Question 7

Dunderheads

Answer 7

A stupid person

Question 8

Injunction

Answer 8

Authoritative warning or order (such as a judicial order restraining an action or compelling one)
E.g. injunction issued by the judge

Question 9

Smouldering

Answer 9

Burning slowly with smoke but without a flame
E.g. smouldering rage; passion (suppressed / concealed anger, love)

Question 10

Chagrin

Answer 10

Annoyance or distress at having failed or being humiliated
E.g. the newcomer to his chagrin, discovered he didn’t fit in the new elite school

Question 11

Chaff

Answer 11

Tease; pulling someone’s leg, take the Mickey out of, poke fun of, mock, rag
E.g. chaffing between mates

Question 12

Sordid

Answer 12

1. Immoral or Dishonourable actions e.g. sordid story of bribes and scams
2. Dirty or squalid (extremely dirty and unpleasant - due to poverty or neglect) e.g. squalid quarters of blacks in cities

Question 13

Paroxysm

Answer 13

Sudden attack or outburst of particular emotion or activity
E.g. paroxysm of violence prior to retreat

Question 14

Dreary

Answer 14

Depressingly dull and bleak or repetitive (similar words - drab, dull, uninteresting, banal, unstimulating)
E.g. dreary life of working, eating and sleeping

Question 15

Dingy

Answer 15

Gloomy and drab (similar words - cheerless, dim, dark, dis coloured, shabby, grimy)
E.g. dingy room

Question 16

Tingle

Answer 16

experience or cause to experience, a prickling / stinging sensation e.g. felt a tingle down my spine

Question 17

Mangle

Answer 17

destroy or severely damage by tearing or crushing e.g. car was completed mangled by the scrap yard

Question 18

Pinion

Answer 18

1. restrain or immobilize (someone) by tying up or holding their arms or legs e.g. he was pinioned to the ground
2. cut off the pinion of (outer part of wing (flight feathers) or bird) to prevent flight

Question 19

Jauntiness

Answer 19

quality of seeming happy and confident e.g. he is naturally jaunty

Question 20

Sententious

Answer 20

given to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner
“Sherlock came across as sententious in his dealings with Lestrade and Gregson”

Question 21

Punitive

Answer 21

inflicting or intended as punishment
“Punitive measures needed with disobedient children”

Question 22

Antecedents

Answer 22

1. A thing that existed before or logically precedes another
2. a person’s ancestors or family and social background e.g. Enquired about the missing person’s antecedents

Question 23

Perfidious

Answer 23

Deceitful and untrustworthy e.g. Always look over your shoulder when dealing with perfidious personalities

Question 24

Halcyon

Answer 24

denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful
“the halcyon days of the mid 1980s, when profits were soaring”

Question 25

Trapper

Answer 25

a person who traps wild animals, especially for their fur.

Question 26

Demure

Answer 26

1. reserved, modest, and shy (typically used of a woman)
   “she said “yes” demurely”
2. of clothing, of a modest manner

Question 27

Waif

Answer 27

a homeless, neglected, or abandoned person, especially a child
“Mother Teresa took care of waifs & strays from the streets of Calcutta”

Question 28

Prattle

Answer 28

talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way.
“she began to prattle on about her visit to the dentist”

Question 29

Gaunt

Answer 29

(of a person) lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age.
“a tall, gaunt woman in black”;

(Of a building) grim and desolate

Haggard - looking exhausted and unwell, especially from fatigue, worry, or suffering.

Question 30

Penitent

Answer 30

feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentant.
“a penitent expression”

Question 31

glomming

Answer 31

1. become stuck or attached to
   “the ice gloms on to bridge pilings”
2. steal.
   “I thought he was about to glom my wallet”

Question 32

Buttress
Noun, Verb

Answer 32

1. a structure of stone or brick built against a wall to strengthen or support it.
   “Cathedral’s massive buttresses”
2. a source of defence or support.
   “she clung to her shrinking faith as a buttress against despair”

Question 33

hopscotch
Verb

Answer 33

travel from place to place.
“Southwest network model is built on hopscotching cross-country instead of traditional hub-spoke model “

Question 34

Irascible

Answer 34

having or showing a tendency to be easily angered.
“an irascible and difficult man” e.g. Andy Murray
Similar words - Irritable, quick / short / bad / ill tempered

Question 35

traipse

Answer 35

walk or move wearily or reluctantly.
“students had to traipse all over London to attend lectures”
similar words - trudge (move slowly due to internal / external factors e.g. harsh conditions), slouch (stand/move/sit in drooping way - hang down limply due to weariness, dejection)

Question 36

gobbledygook

Answer 36

language that is meaningless or is made unintelligible by excessive use of technical terms.
“reams of financial gobbledygook”
similar words - jargon, claptrap(nonsensical talk or ideas), balderdash (senseless talk or writing)

Question 37

Scuttle

Answer 37

run hurriedly or furtively (hidden manner, without drawing attention) with short quick steps
“Mouse scuttled across the floor”

Question 38

Stultify

Answer 38

tending to stifle enthusiasm, initiative, or freedom of action
“Stultifying bureaucracy hampering startup growth”