M & M Words Trivia Quiz

Answer: Most

The word maximum means the greatest amount or the most. It comes from the Latin word "maximus" which means greatest, and is the superlative to the adjective "magnus" which means great. The word most is from an Old English word "mast" which means either largest or greatest in number.

Answer: Military

Martial is an adjective that refers to anything that is related to war or the military. Although it is pronounced the same, it should not be confused with marshal, which often refers to a high ranking military official. Military, though similar to martial, has a slightly narrower definition. Military specifically refers to a nation's armed forces units, while martial refers to anything related to war.

Answer: Marriage

Matrimony comes from the Latin word "matrimonium" which is made up of the prefix "mater" meaning mother and the suffix "monium" which describes a condition of being. The Latin word indicated a relationship that is concerned with the union of a mother and her children. Over time the meaning expanded to mean anything associated with a marriage, especially the legal aspects. Marriage comes from an Old English word referring to the act of taking a wife. Roots of the word can be connected to other words that refer to being fastened together.

Answer: Meet

The words match and meet have several definitions but both can refer to a contest, usually athletic, in which two or more individuals or a team of people oppose and compete against each other. Match is commonly used in the UK to describe a competitive event (soccer match, not game), whereas game is often used in the USA. A competitive sporting event can also be called a meet. It is usually used to refer to events that have individuals face-off against each other as part of a team. Meet is often used to describe events in track and field, swimming, or gymnastics.

Answer: Mishmash

If you have eaten vegetable soup, you have experienced a mélange. The word comes from a French word that means mixed up. It describes a random mixture of things. Mishmash also describes a mixture of things, but it usually refers to a mixture of things in a negative light whereas mélange, is often used in a more positive context. Mélange also can refer to a special coffee that is served in Vienna and made up of half steamed milk and half coffee. Mishmash, which is believed to be first used in England around the fifteenth century, uses a vowel-shift reduplication, which means two syllables differ only by changing one vowel in the second syllable, for emphasis.

Answer: Murine

Mousy refers to the characteristics that are found in a small rodent. It is also used to describe someone who may have mouse-like traits. Murine is also an adjective that refers to anything related to or resembling mice or rats or any other mammal that is scientifically classified as part of the Muridae family and Murinae subfamily.

There are almost 600 different species of animals in this subfamily, including the house mouse.

Answer: Mitigate

To mollify someone is to calm them down from their anger, ease their burden or ease their pain. The word has it roots in Latin, coming from the word "mollificare " which means make soft. Mitigate, a synonym for mollify, also comes from the Latin language.

The Latin word "mitigare" means to make mild or gentle. It was originally used, beginning in the fourteenth century, to refer to the easing of a punishment or penalty, but the meaning was expanded to mean making any situation less severe. While mollify is similar to mitigate it is sometimes used more in the context of pacifying an irritated person. Mitigate is often used in legal situations.

Answer: Maitake

Maitake is a type of edible mushroom that is native to China, Asia and Eastern North America. It was first used in Asia as a medicine. Although not proven by science, many people believe that it can help neutralize tumors and lower blood sugar levels.

The mushrooms are also used in the culinary field and are known for their sweet taste and rich nutrients. Mushrooms and toadstools are both plants, known for their rounded cap on a stem. While the words are used interchangeably there are subtle differences.

While most mushrooms are edible, toadstools usually refer to a poisonous plant. It is important to recognize those differences if you are harvesting mushrooms.

Answer: Mentalist

One definition of medium is a person who seeks to communicate with the spirits of the dead. Mediums use things like seances, trances, or channeling. The desire to communicate with the dead goes back to the ancient Old Testament era. A mentalist is a person who uses hypnosis, clairvoyance and telepathy to read a person's mind. While they both are similar and connected there are also differences. Mentalists usually perform in theater settings.

They combine their abilities with magic tricks and other illusions to entertain their audience. Mediums usually work with individuals to contact the spirit world at that person's request. Both gained popularity in the nineteenth century. Mediumship was often rooted in Spiritualism, a religious movement that believed that contacting the dead could help someone better understand God. Mentalists used theaters and vaudeville shows to entertain.

Answer: Man

Mister is a title of respect that is used when addressing a man. The word was originally used to address any man who was not part of the aristocracy. It is typically used as a title of respect for an older and/or more experienced man, or it is used to address a man who is in a position of authority.

It can also be used to address a man who is not known by his first name. Its etymology is rooted in the Latin word "magister", which means master or teacher. Over time the meaning of the word evolved from referring to people in positions of authority or nobility to being used to as a term of respect for any man.