posted by Brad Shorr filed under Word Quiz
If you use the word superannuated in your conversation, people will think you're really, really smart. And the beauty is, you can use superannuated whenever you want, because hardly anybody knows what it means. But what does it mean?
A. Inspiring awe, especially a building or structure.
B. Occurring several times a year.
C. Antiquated or obsolete.
D. Elongated or extended.
E. Possessing
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posted by Brad Shorr filed under Word Quiz
Draconian has long been one of my favorite words. Can you guess what it means?
A. Shaped like a dragon.
B. Quick witted, satirical.
C. Exceedingly harsh or severe.
D. Overly intellectual, obsessed with theories.
E. Mystical, not of this world.
Hint - the word draconian is derived from Draco, an Athenian politician of the 7th century BC.
Still not sure?
Draco's great accomplishment was codifying the laws
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posted by Brad Shorr filed under Word Quiz
Flagitious is a word you should most definitely add to your adjectival arsenal. What do you think it means?
A. Preoccupied with flags.
B. Flagrantly ambitious.
C. Shamefully wicked, scandalous.
D. Deceptive or manipulative.
E. Blind with rage.
Would you be surprised to learn that flagitious means ... shamefully wicked, scandalous? It does. You can put the word to work easily these days, since we are
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posted by Brad Shorr filed under Word Quiz
Are you a moil? Do you moil? Does your mind race at a moil a minute? Hard to answer such questions if you don't know what moil means. What do you think is the correct definition?
A. A unit of distance equal to the distance between Earth and the Moon.
B. To work hard, slave away.
C. Muddy soil.
D. A makeshift shelter or
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posted by Brad Shorr filed under Word Quiz
Every day, we're confronted by one nostrum after another. What is a nostrum?
A. A group of nostrils.
B. A quack medicine or theory.
C. A temporary road or walkway.
D. An emergency affecting a small group or community.
E. A puzzling or mysterious phenomenon.
The correct definition of nostrum is ... believe it or not ... a quack medicine or theory. And they're all over
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posted by Brad Shorr filed under Word Quiz
Have you ever foozled, and if you did, would you be embarrassed? Personally, I foozle so frequently, I can no longer stop myself. What does foozle mean?
A. To bungle, especially a golf shot.
B. To drink heavily.
C. To strike or throw an object in anger.
D. To giggle uncontrollably.
If you need a hint, check out the cartoon up above. It should lead
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posted by Brad Shorr filed under Word Quiz
(This feature is moving over from the Scrambled Toast blog.)
Do you have a moribund? Do you feel moribund? What exactly does moribund mean?
A. An over-sized Bundt cake.
B. Near death or stagnant.
C. A lizard found in the southwestern United States.
D. Agitated and apprehensive.
E. Wrapped in cloth or dressing, as a wound.
If you read horror stories or know some Latin, you probably
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posted by Brad Shorr filed under Word Quiz
Words are the currency of business, whether written or spoken. That's why I'm devoting a page of my Web site to fellow "Word Nerds".
What is a Word Nerd?
Someone who enjoys learning new words.
Someone who, when confronted by an unfamiliar word while reading, looks up the definition.
Someone who may keep a list of favorite words.
Someone who is fascinated by the nuances
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