![Billingsgate on blue background](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/word-power-background-billingsgate.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Word Power Quiz
What does billingsgate mean?
a) Profane, abusive talk
b) Administrative language
c) Controversial commentary
![Angry man](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/language-word-power-billingsgate.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Answer: a) Profane, abusive talk
As in, “A stream of billingsgate was audible from the hall during the fight.”
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![Folio on blue background](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/word-power-language-background-folio.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
What does folio mean?
a) Cover page
b) Sheet of paper folded once to form two leaves
c) Dust jacket
![Sheet of white paper](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/language-word-power-folio.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Answer: b) Sheet of paper folded once to form two leaves
As in, “The 16th-century songbook contained 228 folios and 985 lyrics.”
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![Bowdlerize on blue background](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/blue-background-word-power-bowdlerize.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
What does bowdlerize mean?
a) Embellish the truth
b) Remove text thought to be improper
c) Mischaracterize
![Person writing on paper with red marker](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/language-word-power-bowdlerize.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Answer: b) Remove text thought to be improper
As in, “Jaime bowdlerized his essay before submitting it for grading.”
Can you pass this quiz of fourth-grade spelling words?
![Idiomatic on blue background](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/blue-background-word-power-idiomatic.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
What does idiomatic mean?
a) Dull
b) Devoid of emotion
c) Expressing things in a way that sounds natural
![Two women talking in a cafe](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/language-word-power-idiomatic.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Answer: c) Expressing things in a way that sounds natural
As in, “Jesper’s English was fluent and idiomatic, leading many to think it was his first language.”
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![Dactyl on blue background](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/blue-background-word-power-dactyl.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
What does dactyl mean?
a) Metrical foot consisting of one stressed and two unstressed syllables
b) Curved punctuation mark indicating something incorrect
c) Spelling test
![Fountain pen on stack of books](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/word-power-language-dactyl.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Answer: a) Metrical foot consisting of one stressed and two unstressed syllables
As in, “Professor Chigwidden used the word ‘tenderly’ to demonstrate a dactyl.”
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![Blue Background Word Power Brogue](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/blue-background-word-power-brogue.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
What does brogue mean?
a) Slang
b) Bluster
c) Irish or Scottish accent when speaking English
![Woman holding Irish flag](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/word-power-language-brogue.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Answer: c) Irish or Scottish accent when speaking English
As in, “Roslyn spoke with a charming brogue.”
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![Sententious on blue background](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/blue-background-word-power-sententious.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
What does sententious mean?
a) Preachy
b) Traitorous
c) Blasphemous
![Man in tie standing at podium](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/word-power-language.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Answer: a) Preachy
As in, “The principal’s sententious speech about child-rearing led many parents to leave the auditorium.”
Test your knowledge of baby terms.
![Rostrum on blue background](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/blue-background-word-power-rostrum.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
What does rostrum mean?
a) Rude remark
b) Platform for a speech
c) Encyclopedia
![Man giving a speech](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/word-power-language-rostrum.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Answer: b) Platform for a speech
As in, “From the rostrum, Audrey could see Samir in the crowd.”
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![Prolix on blue background](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/blue-background-word-powe-prolixr.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
What does prolix mean?
a) Interested in languages
b) Expressed using too many words
c) Poetic
![Student sleeping at desk](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/student-sleeping-at-desk.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Answer: b) Expressed using too many words
As in, “Mr. Brenley’s lecture was prolix and put some of the kids to sleep.”
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![Polemic on blue background](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/blue-background-word-power-Polemic.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
What does polemic mean?
a) Clever rejoinder
b) Verbal or written attack
c) High praise
![Man shouting into microphone](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/word-power-language-polemic.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Answer: b) Verbal or written attack
As in, “David published a polemic against the mayor ahead of election day.”
![Palaver on blue background](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/blue-background-word-power-palaver.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
What does palaver mean?
a) Idle talk
b) Mumbled speech
c) Flattering words
![Two women talking](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/word-power-idle.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Answer: a) Idle talk
As in, “Rather than a coherent speech, the minister filled the hour with palaver about his vacation.”
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![Epistolary on blue background](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/blue-background-word-power-epistolary.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
What does epistolary mean?
a) Relating to the writing of letters
b) Relating to scholarly writing
c) Relating to religious writing
![Man writing a letter](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/word-power-epistiolary.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Answer: a) Relating to the writing of letters
As in, “The couple had an epistolary exchange over many years before meeting in person.”
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![Turgid on blue background](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/blue-background-word-power-turgid.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
What does turgid mean?
a) Incisive
b) Incoherent
c) Tediously pompous
![Victorian man](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/word-power-turgid.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Answer: c) Tediously pompous
As in, “The young student had trouble understanding the turgid academic essay.”
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![Epigrammatic on blue background](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/blue-background-word-power-epigrammatic.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
What does epigrammatic mean?
a) Concise and amusing
b) Educational
c) Incomprehensible
![Woman sitting and reading a book](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/word-power-epigrammatic.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Answer: a) Concise and amusing
As in, “Asako’s writing was rich in epigrammatic turns of phrase.”
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![Blue Background Word Power Cant](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/blue-background-word-power-cant.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
What does cant mean?
a) Self-deprecating talk
b) Dismissive talk
c) Insincere and sanctimonious talk
![Man raising eyebrow](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/word-power-cant.jpg?fit=700%2C525)
Answer: c) Insincere and sanctimonious talk
As in, “Tracy dreaded Mauro’s unending cant.”
Next, test your knowledge of Canadian trivia.