Upwords & Downwords X Trivia Quiz

Answer: veracity

The antonym of veracity is mendacity, which is falsehood or the tendency to be untruthful. The adjective forms are veracious and mendacious.

Answer: variety

In biological terms, 'variety' refers to a subspecies or grouping of animals or plants within a species based on some hereditary difference. It may also refer to a type of animal or plant produced by artificial selection.

Answer: verity

'Verity' more generally refers to truth, or one that has been verified. It also refers to actuality (the state of objective existence).

Answer: rivet

To distinguish between the two heads of a rivet, the original head is called the factory head, while the head produced by hammering is termed the buck-tail or shop head.

There are many different kinds of rivets, each having a particular function. Solid rivets are one of the oldest and most reliable, and have been found in archaeological findings dating back to the Bronze Age.

Answer: vite

'Vite' is synonymous with the musical terms 'vivace', 'vivement', and 'vivo', all meaning to play briskly, or lively.

Answer: vet

An expert might "vet" a manuscript before publication to ensure accuracy. Similarly, persons applying for government jobs might be "vetted" (or carefully investigated) before employment.

Answer: Te

In philosophical Taoism, 'Te' is the virtue or power inherent within a person or thing existing in harmony with the Tao. The word has a similar meaning in Confucianism.

In the 7th century AD, Taoist and Buddhist monks introduced Chinese martial arts to Okinawa. These styles developed into the Okinawan martial art known as Te (the precursor of modern Okinawan martial arts) over a period of several hundred years.

Answer: e

In mathematics, e is the base of natural logarithms. It is the limit of the expression (1+1/n)^n as n approaches infinity.

Answer: el

More descriptively, an el (or ell) is a railway powered by electricity on a track that is raised above street level.

Answer: ale

There is no real clear-cut distinction between ales and beers, as varying definitions abound. Ales are generally top-fermented beers usually containing malt and hops, and are typically darker, heavier, and more bitter than beer.

In some parts of the United States, an ale is legally defined as a brew of more than 4 percent alcohol by volume. Elsewhere, ales are defined as having approximately 6 percent alcohol per volume.

Answer: elan

Alternately spelled 'élan', the word denotes zeal or vivaciousness.

General George Catlett Marshall, an American military commander during WWII, used the word in describing morale: "Morale is the state of mind. It is steadfastness and courage and hope. It is confidence and zeal and loyalty. It is elan, esprit de corps and determination".

Answer: Clean

Unsoiled is a synonym for clean. Mr. Clean is a brand name of a popular cleaning product.

Answer: lances

A lance is a long wooden shaft with a sharp metal head (based on the spear), used as a thrusting weapon by knights and cavalrymen in charging, and especially jousting. The infantry equivalent was termed a pike.

Answer: cancels

The word 'cancel' derives from the Middle English 'cancellen', from the Old French 'canceller', from the Latin 'cancellāre', meaning 'to cross out', which originates from the Latin 'cancellus', which means 'lattice'.

Answer: chancels

Chancels are typically enclosed by a lattice or railing. Interestingly, the word originally derives from the same precursor of cancel, the Latin 'cancellus' meaning 'lattice'.