Vocabulary Quiz 1

Years ago I worked as a psychometrist, writing tests for a governmental entity. Constructing a good test is both an art and a technical skill. The test writer must be sure that answer choices do not lead the subject to the answer (a 3-1 split), or provide more than one correct choice (2-2 dilemma). You might not believe it, but a well constructed true/false test is the most difficult test to take.

I’ve never lost my fascination for test construction. I’ve used tests, disguised as puzzles, to teach special education children in junior high and one to use as an ice breaker for an employee gathering. I often create some sort of bibliographic “quiz” or puzzle when doing book displays at the library. There has been a Sherlock Holmes Jumble, a crossword to celebrate the town’s 100th anniversary, a classic mystery writer/detective challenge, and several specialized crosswords, amongst others. This vocabulary quiz will hopefully satisfy my continuing need to create a challenging puzzle cum quiz and provide a venue for others to increase their word power.

Building a vocabulary that is precise, varied, and powerful can become an enjoyable exercise. How does one find words that mean exactly what you intend? A key method is to read good authors. Although many might not agree with what he writes, William F. Buckley, Jr. has provided me with a plethora of choice words. There are many other authors who do not lower their standards or “talk down” to their readers. When I read their books, I keep a blank bookmark as a place keeper and jot down a word I don’t understand along with the page it’s on for context. I usually look the words up when I’ve finished the book, but sometimes it is necessary to run to the unabridged dictionary before you can continue reading with comprehension. Such a practice is enjoyable and educational.

What follows is the first of a number of vocabulary quizzes. There are 20 words and 25 definitions--not all will be used. At the end of the piece I have the answers. Hope you find a few new ones to make your own! The best way to do that is to use each in a sentence you create. Send me a sample.

1) anagnorisis 2) apothegm 3) apotropaic 4) atavistic 5) boustrophedon
6) brumous 7) bowdlerize 8) caducity 9) captious 10) condign 11) corybantic 12) defalcation 13) delator 14) deracinated 15) eidolon 16) eristic 17) esurient 18) execrable 19) fatidic 20) febrile

a) fragility of old age and senility; b) controversial; c) expurgate as in censorship; d) critical moment of recognition; e) dull, impassive; f) feverish; g) misty or foggy, especially in winter; h) urgent; i) uprooted, extirpated; j) integrity, honesty; k) completely abhorrent; l) greedy, hungry; m) caused by fermentation; n) frenzied; o) protective for warding off evil; p) misappropriation of money held in trust, or by officials; q) reversion to primitive or more remote ancestor; r) prophetic; s) pithy, terse remark; t) phantom or apparition; u) medical process; v) writing that runs left to right and then right to left; w) excessive fault finding in order to confuse opponent in an argument; x) informer; y) deservedly severe punishment

Answers: 1-d; 2-s; 3-o; 4-q; 5-v; 6-g; 7-c; 8-a; 9-w; 10-y; 11-n; 12-p; 13-x; 14-i; 15-t; 16-b; 17-l; 18-k; 19-r; and 20-f.