Ten-letter I Words Trivia Quiz

Answer: iridescent

The word iridescent refers to the effect that occurs when we see different lustrous and luminous colours depending on the angle from which we view an object. The photo shows iridescent clouds. Other examples of the lustrous sheen seen on iridescent surfaces include nacre (mother-of-pearl), oil slicks, opals, and bubbles (especially children's play bubbles that move in lots of light outside).

The word comes to us from both Greek and Latin - "îris" which is Greek for "rainbow", and the Latin suffix "-escent", meaning "having a tendency toward".

Answer: Illustrate

Authors of books and articles often choose to illustrate their work. This helps to provide an example to explain something, or make it more clear. Children's authors illustrate their books to engage the child readers, and to assist with the story telling. According to etymologists, the word illustrate was first used in the 1520s to mean "light up, shed light on".

The word comes from the Latin "illustratus", which meant "light up, make light". The definition of the word involving providing drawings or pictures to explain or decorate something started to be used in the 1630s.

Answer: Incomplete

The word incomplete has a number of meanings. As an adjective it can be used to describe something that does not have all the parts to finish it. For example, the Ferris wheel shown is incomplete. As a noun, it can also mean a label for something that was not finished.

For example, students will be assigned an incomplete grade for a course if assignments are not handed in. The word comes to us from two Latin words - "in" means "not" in Latin, and "completus", which means "filled, finished". Etymologists estimate that the word incomplete first came to be used in English in the late 14th century.

Answer: Innkeepers

The word innkeepers is an older word used to to describe people who own or manage the local hotel, or inn. The earliest innkeepers appeared in medieval Europe. At that time, the inns provided lodging, food, and a place for travellers to leave their horses.

Innkeepers were responsible for managing all of those things. In modern times, innkeepers typically run smaller, family-owned, more charming versions of hotels. And, they don't have hitching posts for the horses. ;-)

Answer: iguanodons

The name "iguanodon" means "iguana tooth". Iguanadons were genus of large plant-eating dinosaurs that lived in Europe early in the early Cretaceous Period, 140-110 million years ago. The iguanodon grew to a length of from 15 to 30 feet (4.5 to 9 metres) and could have walked erect on its hind feet, or using all four legs. Fossils of this dinosaur have been found in Belgium and in the UK.

The indosuchus is another ten-letter dinosaur that looked similar to the iguanodon. Its name means "Indian crocodile". It was a carnivorous animal that lived in India during the late Cretaceous period, 71-65 million years ago. The indosuchus grew to about 23 feet (7 metres) in length.

Answer: Inbreeding

Inbreeding refers to people, animals, or insects that have descended from a common ancestor. The result is that recessive genes that cause unwanted traits are expressed. This happens because when parents are too closely related, the dominant allele that would normally suppress the recessive gene is not there, resulting in the expression of the unwanted traits. When members of the same family mate, they are said to be in incestuous relationships (another ten-letter "I" word). A common example that is given for the outcome of inbreeding is the Hapsburg jaw, or mandibular prognathism. At one time, royal families aimed to keep their blood lines perfect by inbreeding with relatives. Members of the Hapsburg Dynasty inbred with one another in an attempt to keep their blood line pure, but as a result passed along the gene for the jaw malformation that resulted in a severe underbite and protruding lower jaw.

In season four, episode two of the "X-Files", the main characters Mulder and Scully came across a family who had been engaging in inbreeding. The result was children of the characters who had particularly gruesome deformities. The episode is the only episode of The X-Files to carry a TV-MA rating upon broadcast.

Answer: Immaculate

The word immaculate comes to us from the Latin "immaculatus", meaning "not stained". In Christianity, it is believed that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. The Immaculate Conception is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church that was created in 1854 to recognize that Mary was free from the taint of original sin from the moment of her conception.

Another definition of immaculate is to be free from flaws or mistakes. To be immaculate means to be exceedingly clean and tidy. Botanists and zoologists also use the term immaculate to describe plants and animals that are uniform in colour without spots or marks.

Answer: Icebreaker

The main job of an icebreaker is to break through ice to clear a path for other ships. Icebreakers are found in the north where oceans and rivers can freeze over, but some can also be found around Antarctica. Icebreakers are used to keep trade routes open, to rescue other ships that become ice-bound, and to supply off-shore oils rigs that are located in icy waters. Each icebreaker must have a strengthened hull to be able to smash ice ahead of it into smaller pieces, a shape that allows it to push ice aside, and very powerful engines that are able to push through very thick ice.

Answer: Incoherent

The word incoherent can be used in physics to describe waves that do not have a stable relation. In language, the word refers to confused speaking or writing without logical or meaningful connection. An "I" word that is synonymous with incoherent is "illogical", but it only has nine letters. That's why the reminder to count your letters was included.

Answer: Incubators

Incubators are used by farmers and ornithologists when they have eggs that need to be hatched, but no female bird to tend to a nest. In this case, the incubators provide a controlled environment where temperatures and light can be monitored and used to maximize the conditions for hatching success.

Incubators can also be found in labour and delivery units in hospitals. In that case, they look like small clear plastic boxes where premature babies can be placed for specialized care. Temperatures are closely monitored, and access to the babies is provided through small holes on the sides of the incubators. Light, oxygen, and humidity are monitored in the incubator while the small baby grows and its organs fully develop.