Put Your Vocabulary to the Test With Our Word Power Challenge
Updated: Aug. 08, 2023
Can you match these words with their proper definitions?
Word Power Quiz
What does billingsgate mean?
a) Profane, abusive talk
b) Administrative language
c) Controversial commentary
Answer: a) Profane, abusive talk
As in, “A stream of billingsgate was audible from the hall during the fight.”
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What does folio mean?
a) Cover page
b) Sheet of paper folded once to form two leaves
c) Dust jacket
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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What does bowdlerize mean?
a) Embellish the truth
b) Remove text thought to be improper
c) Mischaracterize
Answer: b) Remove text thought to be improper
As in, “Jaime bowdlerized his essay before submitting it for grading.”
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What does idiomatic mean?
a) Dull
b) Devoid of emotion
c) Expressing things in a way that sounds natural
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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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
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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What does brogue mean?
a) Slang
b) Bluster
c) Irish or Scottish accent when speaking English
Answer: c) Irish or Scottish accent when speaking English
As in, “Roslyn spoke with a charming brogue.”
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What does sententious mean?
a) Preachy
b) Traitorous
c) Blasphemous
Answer: a) Preachy
As in, “The principal’s sententious speech about child-rearing led many parents to leave the auditorium.”
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What does rostrum mean?
a) Rude remark
b) Platform for a speech
c) Encyclopedia
Answer: b) Platform for a speech
As in, “From the rostrum, Audrey could see Samir in the crowd.”
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What does prolix mean?
a) Interested in languages
b) Expressed using too many words
c) Poetic
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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What does polemic mean?
a) Clever rejoinder
b) Verbal or written attack
c) High praise
Answer: b) Verbal or written attack
As in, “David published a polemic against the mayor ahead of election day.”
What does palaver mean?
a) Idle talk
b) Mumbled speech
c) Flattering words
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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What does epistolary mean?
a) Relating to the writing of letters
b) Relating to scholarly writing
c) Relating to religious writing
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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What does turgid mean?
a) Incisive
b) Incoherent
c) Tediously pompous
Answer: c) Tediously pompous
As in, “The young student had trouble understanding the turgid academic essay.”
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What does epigrammatic mean?
a) Concise and amusing
b) Educational
c) Incomprehensible
Answer: a) Concise and amusing
As in, “Asako’s writing was rich in epigrammatic turns of phrase.”
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What does cant mean?
a) Self-deprecating talk
b) Dismissive talk
c) Insincere and sanctimonious talk
Answer: c) Insincere and sanctimonious talk
As in, “Tracy dreaded Mauro’s unending cant.”
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