All of These Trivia Quiz

Answer: Alliance

In its earliest usage, dating back to the late thirteenth century, an alliance referred specifically to a marriage for political purposes, particularly between members of the nobility or monarchies. By the middle of the fourteenth century, the meaning had extended to refer to an agreement or treaty, often between countries.

In the run-up to World War I the Triple Alliance was an agreement between the countries of Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary.

Answer: Allergy

Allergy is a relatively modern word, dating only from the early twentieth century when it was created by a doctor to describe those reactions some of us suffer from when coming into contact with certain foods. Common allergies include eggs, nuts and shellfish, the eating of which can cause severe reactions, even death, due to swelling of breathing passages.

The root of the word is much older, though, deriving from Greek words for strange and activity.

Answer: Allogamy

Also known as cross pollination, allogamy refers to the pollen from one plant fertilising the flower of another. Some plants reproduce by autogamy, or self fertilisation. The word is relatively recent, from the latter part of the nineteenth century, and is formed from the prefix 'allo' for other, with the suffix 'gamy' referring to union. We see this in words relating to relationships, such as monogamy or bigamy.

Answer: Allotment

Deriving from Old French, 'aloter', allotment means divide by lots - lots, in this instance, referring to a portion. Lot is still used in this sense at auctions where the items for sale are divided into separate lots. Allotment in English has been used to mean sharing since the late sixteenth century, with the additional meaning, referring to the amount allotted, dating from a century later.

In the United Kingdom an allotment often refers to a parcel of land rented to a gardener where food crops can be grown.

Answer: Allude

Originally, allude meant mockery, joking or to make fun of. The derivation is from Latin with ludicrous being another word from the same root - this originally meant only to play or take part in sport. You will probably have learned that the name of the game Ludo means 'I play'.

The original usage of allusion and allude dates from the 1540s with the current meaning of a non explicit reference from the early seventeenth century.

Answer: Allegation

The common meaning is an accusation or assertion of guilt. In legal terms, an allegation has a more specific meaning - 'this is the assertion, which will now be proved by evidence'. The word comes from Latin and has been used in its legal sense since the fifteenth century. The non-legal version dates from the seventeenth century.

Answer: Allegro

The instruction allegro tells the player that the music has to be played at a quick pace since the word means brisk or lively. The original Latin word was 'alacrem', from which we also derive the word alacrity. Allegro has been used in its musical sense since the 1720s with the Italian word being used, as with so many of the expressions, in music.

Answer: Alliteration

Deriving from Latin, where 'littera' means letter, alliteration has been used in English since the 1650s. Many words relating to written works, such as literature and literary, have the same roots. Poets are particularly fond of alliteration, as it gives emphasis. Examples include Poe in 'The Raven' - 'While I nodded, nearly napping' and Milton's 'Paradise Lost' - 'Behemoth, biggest born of earth'.

Answer: Allegiance

You may recognise the resemblance to 'liege' in the word and this is the derivation of allegiance. A mediaeval lord was entitled to loyalty from his vassals, or liege-men. The word has its roots in Old French and dates from the late fourteenth century in English.

Answer: Alluring

This word derives from falconry, where the term 'aleuter' referred to the training of these birds to hunt, a common pastime in the Middle Ages. The word 'lure' comes from the same root, meaning to draw somebody in, although this has rather more negative connotations. Allure and alluring have been part of the English vocabulary since the 1400s, although modern usage is more likely to refer to an attractive person.