What Do You Mean By That?  

Test your vocabulary by guessing the correct definition of the following words. 

1.      abash, verb, a. hit, b. embarrass, c. disappoint

2.      adulate, verb, a. to flatter excessively, b. to become an adult, c. to have an affair

3.      amerce, verb, a. to fine, b. to sink underwater, c. to come forth

4.      antinomian, noun, a. one who is against names, b. one who fights nomads, c. one who denies the validity of moral laws

5.      blench, verb, a. blend briskly, b. flinch, c. boil briefly

6.      bumptious, adverb, a. obtusely self-assertive, b. simple and unrefined, c. clumsy

7.      camelopard, noun, a. giraffe, b. combination of a camel and a leopard, c. a caramelized dessert

8.      castigate, verb, a. to make a eunuch, b. to punish, c. to get stuck on a deserted island

9.      chortle, verb, a. to complete chores, b. to walk a great distance, c. to laugh

10. droll, adjective, a. having a humorous quality, b. having a tendency to drool,  c. looking like a troll doll

11. evanescent, adjective, a. bubbly,  b. tending to vanish like a vapor, c. pleasant smelling

12. flagitious, adjective, a. villainous, b. gassy, c. courteous

13. importune, verb, a. to utilize an opportunity, b. to take advantage of an important person, c. to beg in an annoying, persistent manner

14. jaunty, adjective, a. sprightly, b. sporty, c. energetic

15. lassitude, noun, a. a negative attitude, b. weariness,  c. a fan of Lassie

16. mercurial, adjective, a. hard to grasp, b. unpredictably changeable, c. fast

17. penultimate, adjective, a. the very best, b. a final demand, c. next to last

18. penurious, adjective, a. miserly, b. extremely angry, c. poor

19. rusticate, verb, a. to attend school, b. to go live in the country, c. to chew

20. wend, verb, a. proceed on your way, b. wind around, c. weave

To find out the answers, go to the Answer Page.