The Beginning of the "End" Trivia Quiz

Answer: endanger

The verb "endanger" is formed from the noun "danger" preceded by the prefix "en", which in Old French corresponded to the Latin "in" - a combination that means "put at risk". "Danger" comes from Old French "dangier", which meant "power" or "authority", subsequently acquiring the negative connotation of "power to harm".

Though the first known use of "endanger" in English dates from the 15th century, the verb has become much more common starting from the 1960s - especially its past participle, "endangered", which is mostly employed in reference to animal or plant species at risk of extinction.

Answer: endearment

The noun derived from the verb "endear", "endearment" is often found as part of the phrase "term of endearment", which describes words or phrases used to express love and affection. First used in English in the early 17th century, "endear" (meaning "cause to become loved or admired", also found in the alternative form "indear") comes from "dear", a word of Germanic origin that meant "highly valued", preceded by the Middle English/Old French prefix "en-". The suffix "-ment", of Latin origin, forms nouns from verbs, with the meaning of "the act of doing something".

Common examples of terms of endearment (which is also the title of a 1983 movie starring Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, and Jack Nicholson) are "baby", "darling", "honey" and "sweetheart".

Answer: endeavour

"Endeavour" (spelled "endeavor" in US English) is similar in meaning to "strive", as it emphasizes the difficulty and effort involved in an attempt. First attested in English in the 15th century, the word (which is used both as a verb and a noun) comes from Middle English "putten in dever" ("make something one's duty"), formed by the prefix "en-" and the noun "dever" ("duty"), cognate to French "devoir" and Italian "dovere".

As a proper noun, "Endeavour" was the name of the British Royal Navy ship on which James Cook first sailed to Australia and New Zealand (1768-1771); the NASA Space Shuttle "Endeavour" and the command module of the Apollo 15 mission were named after the ship. "Endeavour" is also the first name of Inspector Morse, the main character of a series of detective novels by British author Colin Dexter.

Answer: endemic

Like its antonym "pandemic", "endemic" has become a familiar word to most people in the past few years. The primary meaning of "endemic" is "native to a particular country" or "belonging to a particular people" - from Greek "endemos" ("native", literally "among the people") followed by the suffix "-ic" ("having to do with"). The word is believed to have entered English via French "endémique"; its first known use dates from the mid-18th century.

Generally used as an adjective, "endemic" often refers to flora or fauna that are restricted to one region. On the other hand, when referring to diseases, "endemic" describes a disease that is a constant low-level presence in a region (such as malaria in many parts of Africa), though not necessarily restricted to that area. "Epidemic" ("upon the people") refers to a widespread episode of an infectious disease in a particular community at a particular time, while "pandemic" ("all the people") refers to an epidemic that occurs over a very wide geographical area, or even the whole world.

Answer: endive

Endive is the common name of various leafy plants of the genus Cichorium, in particular Cichorium endivia (known as escarole and curly endive). Native to the Mediterranean region, they are very popular in Europe, where they are used both as salad greens and as an ingredient in soups, bakes, and even pizza. In the US, however, "endive" usually refers to white-leaved Belgian endive, prized for its bittersweet taste and crisp texture - which, like red-leaved radicchio, is a variety of Cichorium intybus, or common chicory.

As a word, "endive" came into English from Old French in the 14th century. The Late Latin "endivia" that appears in the scientific name of the plant comes from Late Greek "entybion".

Answer: endogamy

"Endogamy" is one of a number of words formed with the Greek prefix "endo-", meaning "within". While many of these words are used in a medical context, "endogamy" pertains to anthropology and sociology, referring to the practice of marrying exclusively within a specific social group. Cultures that practice endogamy reject marriage or close personal relationships with members of other groups. In some endogamous groups, however, marriage to an outsider is accepted if said outsider converts to the group's religion. As endogamy prevents the renewal of the gene pool, it facilitates the transmission of genetic disorders - as in the case of the European royal houses at the turn of the 20th century.

The literal meaning of "endogamy" is "marriage within [the group]; "endo-" comes from the Greek preposition "endon" ("within") followed by "gamos" ("marriage"). The word and its antonym "exogamy" (from "exo-", meaning "outside") are believed to have been first used by Scottish anthropologist John Ferguson McLennan in his book "Primitive Marriage" (1865).

Answer: endorse

In its probably most frequent occurrence, the verb "endorse" denotes the act of signing the back of a check prior to cashing it. However, the primary meaning of this verb is "express explicit support or approval", and is often used in a political context (as in "endorse a presidential candidate", which many newspapers do before an election).

"Endorse" is an alteration of the obsolete form "endoss", from Anglo-French "endosser", meaning "put on" (cognate to Italian "indossare", which means "don, wear"). The latter verb is derived from Latin "dorsum" ("back"), from which the English adjective "dorsal" also comes. The word was first recorded in English in the mid-14th century.

Answer: endurance

"Endurance" is a noun derived from the verb "endure", which comes from Vulgar Latin "indurare" through Anglo-French "endurer". The suffix "-ance" (from Latin "-antia" or "-entia") is attached to verbs to form abstract nouns indicating state or quality. "Indurare" (from "in-" + "durare"), meaning "harden", comes from the adjective "durus" ("hard"), from which also the preposition "during" is derived. "Endurance" is thus the quality of not breaking (i.e. remaining hard) no matter how difficult a situation may be. "Endurance" was first used in the 15th century, while the verb "endure" entered the English language about a century earlier.

"Endurance" was the name of the ship in which Sir Ernest Shackleton and a crew of 27 men sailed to Antarctica in 1914. Though the ship was eventually lost to the Antarctic ice, all members of the expedition survived.

Answer: endue

Also spelled "indue", the verb "endue" means "provide with a quality". The word is also related to "induce", as both verbs come from Latin "inducere" ("lead in"); "endue", however, came into English through Anglo-French "enduire" ("introduce" or "imbue").

Though "endue" is often used interchangeably with "endow", which is similar in meaning as well as spelling, the latter verb has a different etymology, as it comes from Latin "dotare" ("provide") through Anglo-French "endower". "Endue" was first used in English in the 15th century.

Answer: endorphin

Endorphins are peptide hormones that occur naturally in the the brain, where they are produced and stored in the pituitary gland. Resembling opiates, they are released in response to pain and other stimuli, blocking their perception, and allowing the body to function under painful or distressing conditions. Endorphins are often triggered by vigorous physical exercise, contributing to the phenomenon known as "runner's high".

The word "endorphin" is a portmanteau, created by combining two other words, "end(ogenous)" and "(mor)phine". "Endogenous" means "originating from within", while "morphine", a powerful opiate, is named after Morpheus, the Greek god of sleep and dreams. Endorphins were discovered in 1973, and the word was first used in English (which borrowed it from French) in 1976.