Test your knowledge and see if you really know what these words mean...
baton n. – A: lengthy tune. B: emotional
ballad. C: all-girl band.
D: conductor's tool.
nocturne n. –
musical work
for A: morning.
B: autumn. C: spring. D: night.
flautist n. – A: showy person. B: antique
violin. C: flute player.
D: orchestra leader.
impromptu adj. –
A: without preparation. B: late. C: off pitch.
D: inappropriate.
encore n. – A: additional performance.
B: musical masterpiece. C: break between sets. D: sold-out show.
bridge n. – A: opening act. B: transitional
section. C: repeated chorus. D: audience participation.
adagio adv. – A: with variation. B: quickly.
C: softly. D: slowly.
timpani n. – A: set of drums. B: horn section. C: quarter-note beat.
D: cathedral concert.
vivace adv. – in a tone that's A: loud. B: lively. C: harsh. D: sombre.
venue n. – A: young musician. B: travelling group. C: place for a performance. D: list of songs to be played.
riff v. – to A: argue within a chorus. B: do a benefit. C: introduce a tune. D: play a repeated pattern.
score n. – A: printed piece of music. B: vocal passage. C: rearrangement of a classic.
D: novice conductor.
timbre n. – A: quality of tone. B: type of harp. C: bronze cymbal. D: drum solo.
bagatelle n. –
A: new lyrics.
B: boating song.
C: light composition.
D: piped instrument.
woodshed v. – to A: ruin a concert. B: stop playing. C: harmonise.
D: practise.
berceuse n. – A: four-line verse. B: chant.
C: anthem. D: lullaby.
barbarous adj. –
A: thorny. B: rugged.
C: cruel. D: well cooked.
sufferance n. –
A: unfair law. B: patient endurance. C: right to vote. D: objection.
candid adj. – A: open and sincere. B: holding high honour. C: showing optimism. D: hopeless.
plunder v. – to A: rob. B: plot against. C: make noise. D: deceive.
compliance n. – A: act of conforming. B: show of protest. C: efficiency. D: lack of concern.
tyrant n. –
A: angry speech.
B: bushy beard.
C: unjust ruler.
D: rebel leader.
prudence n. – quality of being A: modest.
B: indecisive. C: sad.
D: cautious or wise.
render v. – to A:
impose a fine. B: make or provide. C: hold a rally. D: cast a ballot.
annihilation n. –
A: partnership.
B: bothersome detail.
C: deep breath.
D: destruction.
evince v. – to A:
persuade effectively.
B: bring forth. C: back away. D: display clearly.
usurpation n. –
A: excess material.
B: quick result. C: wrongful seizure. D: disrespect for authority.
abdicate v. – to A: cast off. B: take by force. C: wait patiently.
D: point out.
consanguinity n. –
A: logical conclusion.
B: close connection.
C: cheerful atmosphere. D: self-confidence.
prodigious adj. – A: having talent. B: lavish. C: arousing admiration. D: repentant.
elucidate v. – to A: complain. B: make clear. C: exaggerate.
D: calm down.
vortexn. –
A: medical reference book. B: conclusion of a story. C: sorcerer. D: whirling mass.
somatic adj. –
A: loud. B: strong-smelling. C: physical.
D: imagining illness.
esonance n. – A: justified action. B: deep sound. C: elaborate excuse. D: easy solution.
anomaly n. – A: large company. B: strange name. C: abnormality. D: kind of lizard.
debility n. – A: payment of money owed. B: weakened state.
C: false accusation.
D: dreaded task.
intrinsic adj. – A: shy.
B: truthful.
C: belonging to the very nature of something.
D: without privacy.
totemic adj. –
A: symbolic.
B: verbose.
C: sickly.
D: tall.
obliterate v. – to A: destroy. B: read aloud. C: inflate. D: stutter.
artifice n. – A: ornate decoration. B: entrance hall. C: clever trick. D: first chapter.
clement adj. – A: secretive. B: extremely cold. C: intellectual.
D: having compassion.
reconnoitre v. – to A: discuss. B: inspect.
C: gather together.
D: travel extensively.
lacunae n. – A: tiny marine life. B: shallow water. C: local dialect. D: missing parts.
acquiesce v. – to A: comply without protest.
B: gain through hard work.
C: introduce gradually.
D: weigh all options.
paroxysm n. – A: moral
lesson. B: contradiction. C: sudden outburst.
D: pallid imitation.
altruism n. –
A: practice of helping others.
B: math theory.
C: musical note.
D: motto.
algid adj. –
A: green.
B: contaminated.
C: puzzling.
D: cold.
allege v. – to A:
assert. B: climb up.
C: nominate a candidate. D: discourage.
albumen n. –
A: detailed record.
B: colourless object. C: strong opinion. D: egg white.
allocution n. –
A: local dialect.
B: formal speech.
C: tone of voice.
D: portion of money.
aleatory adj. – A: unpredictable. B: connecting. C: of the ears.
D: regarding digestion.
allude v. – to A:
attract. B: prevent capture. C: ignore completely. D: refer.
alms n. – A: flat-leaved trees. B: misgivings. C: donations.
D: fingerless gloves.
alimentary adj. –
A: concerning nutrition. B: primary.
C: post-nursery school.
D: causing sickness.
altercate v. – to A: make a substitution.
B: change one's mind. C: quarrel. D: offer a compromise.
aliform adj. – A: wing-shaped. B: alienating. C: misleading.
D: solid.
alliterate n. – one who A: reads voraciously. B: can't read.
C: reads aloud. D: can read but rarely does.
allegory n. – a story that is A: violent.
B: scary. C: symbolic. D: romantic.
altostratusn. –
A: outer space. B: cloud. C: singing voice.
D: military strategy.
alleviate v. – to A: lessen. B: avoid contact. C: raise up.
D: get lost.
alarum n. –
A: group of ships. B: a call. C: chemical compound. D: median point.
ostensibly adv. – A: with a professed appearance. B: in an expected manner.
C: in an excluding way. D: with a strained demeanour
substantiate v. – to A: make up a tale. B: affirm. C: conspire against. D: replace.
flaxen adj. – A: made of cloth. B: pale yellow. C: rough. D: imperfect.
edifice n. – A: large building. B: moral fortitude. C: religious offering. D: rare flower.
impish adj. – A: mischievous. B: cowardly. C: like a snake. D: snobbish.
stevedore n. – A: restaurant host. B: garage attendant. C: unloader of cargo. D: travel organiser.
pathological adj. – A: having a specific order. B: displaying an unhealthy obsession. C: asking for sympathy. D: contagious.
cannonade n. – A: continuous attack. B: shrub-lined walkway. C: alcoholic beverage. D: storage jar.
garrote n. – A: prison guard. B: shotgun. C: jail. D: type of execution.
prevaricate v. – to A: come first. B: be accepted. C: cause a fight. D: speak falsely.
cortege n. – A: small bouquet. B: group of attendants. C: procession. D: party.
trousseau n. – A: lady's suit. B: hairpiece. C: brothel owner. D: bridal package.
inebriated adj. – A: drunk. B: unfit to be eaten. C: highly educated. D: influential.
scion n. – A: elder. B: descendant or heir. C: astrological event. D: sharp knife.
orotund adj. – A: conforming to accepted beliefs. B: having a strong voice. C: overweight. D: excessive.
talisman n. –
A: curse. B: shawl. C: magical object. D: strong wind.
tarry v. – to A: add up. B: criticise. C: confuse. D: delay.
amicable adj. –
A: expensive. B: forgetful. C: lengthy or drawn out. D: friendly.
polemic n. – A: controversial argument. B: contagious disease. C: thick maize flour. D: natural habitat.
impresario n. –
A: singer. B: manager. C: publisher's logo. D: fortune-teller.
draggle v. – to A: fall behind. B: negotiate. C: make dirty. D: lure.
sangfroid n. –
A: calmness. B: colour of blood. C: drink made with red wine. D: cheerful song.
redoubt n. – A: uncertainty. B: stronghold. C: heated disagreement. D: disadvantage.
indolent adj. –
A: without a family. B: lazy. C: disrespectful. D: impoverished.
scallywag n. –
A: holiday decoration. B: platform. C: rascal. D: mixed-breed dog.
desultory adj. –
A: unattractive. B: inconsistent. C: offensive. D: extremely hot.
placebo n. – A: fake medicine. B: prominent sign. C: straw hat. D: pleated shirt.
erudite adj. – A: regarding vegetables.
B: scholarly. C: impolite. D: well
designed.
sobriquet n. –
A: unusual flower. B: paving stone. C: nickname. D: fragrance.
grotto n. – A: frightening statue. B: cave or cavern. C: neighbourhood. D: type of moth.
fabulist
n. – one who A: tells lies. B: takes
notes. C: makes clothing. D: is conceited.
sonorous adj. – A: dreamy. B: bright. C: loud. D: indulgent.
serigraph n. – A: short poem. B: earthquake measurement. C: angel. D: silkscreen print.
solicitously adv. –
A: with concern or anxiety. B: persuasively.
C: in an alluring way. D: with a menacing tone.
idyllic adj. – A: showing devotion. B: overly positive. C: peaceful.
D: charmingly simple.
abhor v. – to A: haunt. B: detest. C: plant. D: steal.
cheroot n. – A: kind
of quartz. B: cigar. C: chubby child.
D: herb of the parsley family.
quash v. – to A: suppress. B: destroy.
C: clean thoroughly. D: divide up.
morose adj. – A: stagnant. B: overly talkative. C: embarrassing. D: expressing gloom.
lagniappe n. – A: rope trick. B: small gift. C: complicated story. D: lengthy delay.
fetter v. – to A: restrain. B: rot. C: make bitter. D: enable to fly.
keloid n. – A: scar. B: unit of energy. C: developed film. D: seaweed.
proletarian adj. –
A: abundant. B: of the working class.
C: introductory. D: snobbish.
wield v. – to A: back down. B: use or exercise. C: fuse together. D: criticise.
megalomaniac n. – one who A: loves shopping. B: fears big cities. C: exaggerates his importance. D: compliments others
R359.40
R254.40
