Can You Define These Words? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Flower

An agapanthus is a large showy plant that usually comes in blue-lilac or white colours. It is often mistakenly referred to as the Lily of the Nile, but this stately plant isn't a lily at all. A hardy plant, it can survive in all kinds of soil, and makes a lovely display in any corner of your garden. If you really wish to scare the heck out of your non-gardening visitors, place a sign on your front gate that reads "Beware of the agapanthus".

Answer: A word relating to a stepmother

Novercal means relating to, or characteristic of, a stepmother, that greatly maligned figure in the fairy story, "Cinderella" by the Brothers Grimm. A stepmother is a woman married to your father, but one who is not your biological mother. That doesn't make her evil, unless she proves so by her subsequent actions.

The Brothers Grimm have a lot to answer for in this regard. (Now, where did I hide that wretched child's glass slippers?)

Answer: Armed with a noose

No doubt with some nefarious scheme in mind as well. This is a word usually used in relation to gladiators, armed combatants whose unfortunate job was to fight to the death in large arenas for the entertainment of the blood-thirsty public in the days of the Roman Republic and Empire.

The advent of Christianity saw an end to this ghastly form of entertainment. It has instead been replaced with rugby league and union, boxing, wrestling and other forms of "entertainment" where one tries to knock the stuffing out of an opponent or opponents, to the hearty roars of delight from their ever so gentle audiences.

Answer: Fallen unconscious from violent laughter

Don't laugh, this can actually happen to some people. Death can even occur as a result of violent laughter. This has always seemed to me to be a really nice way to kick the bucket. In 1989, for example, a Danish man died from the gales of laughter he experienced while watching the movie "A Fish Called Wanda" which starred the excellent comedic skills of John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline and Michael Palin.

It most certainly is one very funny movie, and can be summed up with one word: "R-r-r-revenge!"

Answer: Fold of eye skin in people of Asian descent

The epicanthus is the fold of eye skin on the top eyelid on either side of the bridge of the noses of people of Asian descent, Inuits, and some indigenous American and Scandinavian races. Interestingly, the nose, with its lower based bridge, causes this unique and lovely shape.

The epicanthal fold is usually a result of geographical ancestry, but it can also occur as the result of age or some medical conditions.

Answer: Cunning

Daedal is defined as skilful, ingenious or cunning. It can be applied to people who display devious behaviour or are skilled at what they do, or to objects or buildings, as in cleverly designed or ingenious. This word has such a wide variety of meanings and applications that it itself could be said to be daedal.

It derives from Greek mythology, to the skilled craftsman Daedalus who was the father of Icarus - and we all know what happened to him. He had a melting moment. Big time. "Son - son - you're flying too close to the sun, son!"

Answer: Bread containing sultanas and raisins

Yum! Can you imagine that spread with lovely thick butter and calories? Barmbrack is described as a yeasted bread to which sultanas and raisins have been added. This is an Irish creation and the Gaelic version is known as Báirín Breac. Somehow, giving it the accent and the Gaelic makes it sound even yummier. Traditionally this treat was once baked containing various small objects which were then used to tell one's fortunes.

These were either a pea, stick, small piece of material, coin or ring. The pea meant you would not marry in the current year, the stick meant an unhappy marriage, the cloth meant you would be poor (how cheerful these are), but aha! The ring meant you would marry that year (that could also be construed as bad luck) and the coin meant you would be wealthy. Sometimes a small medal was also included. That meant you would join a nunnery - to the delight, some would say, of any lusty Irishman lucky enough to bite into it. Either than, or with any of the above, you could quite possibly choke to death instead.

Answer: Unformed or formless

Inchoate is a word that can be used in relation to criminal behaviour. In that context, it means preparing or planning to commit a crime, or intending or attempting to do so, but without any crime actually taking place. This, in my book, also goes under the heading of chronic stupidity. The planning, that is, not the failure.

Answer: Hanging

Gulp! This word is used in relation to the gallows, or execution by hanging. Its origin can be found in the old Latin word for gallows. A patibulum was a yoke in the shape of a fork, upon which criminals were punished. A grim thought indeed. Therefore, avoid any inchoate or daedal thoughts or schemes, my good people, and have a slice of barmbrack instead, or you too could be dancing delightfully above the agapanthus.

Answer: A spoiled brat

A mammothrept is an archaic word for a spoiled brat. It was also used to refer to a child brought up by his or her grandmother. Any grandparents playing this quiz today are probably more than comfortable with the fact that they have no doubt contributed quite considerably to any mammothrepts in their own families. Considering the misbehaviour of my own children when they were little, and the fact that I now cheerfully contribute to the misbehaviour of their own, I do believe this also goes under the heading of "R - r -r -revenge!"