Definition Given, Choose the Word Quiz

Answer: noxious

'Noxious' has its roots from the Latin root 'noxa', meaning hurt, injury, and damage entailing liability. In current usage, noxious'can refer to both something physically harmful (like poisonous smoke) or something more ethereal (like a bad attitude).

The other terms:

Defenestration - the action of throwing someone out of a window.
Neophyte - a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief.
Propitious - giving a good chance of success; favourable.

Answer: altruism

'Altruism' comes from the Latin 'alteri', meaning other. It developed through the Old French 'altrui' (other people) into the modern 'autrui,' then was coined by French philosopher Auguste Comte as 'altruisme' in 1830. 'Altruism' is the opposite of egoism, as it involves putting the needs of others ahead of oneself.

The other terms:

Hypocrisy - feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not.
Martyrdom - suffering of death on account of adherence to a cause (typically for one's faith).
Narcissistic - extremely self-centered with an exaggerated sense of self-importance.

Answer: flaccid

'Flaccid' has its origins with the Latin term 'flaccidus' (flabby, pendulous, weak, drooping), which itself is based on 'flaccus' (flabby, flap-eared). The term can be used for something physical (a limp body part or drooping plant) or not (a lack of strong leadership).

The other terms:

Desolate - a state of bleak and dismal emptiness.
Fatuous - silly and pointless.
Resilient - able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.

Answer: plutocracy

'Plutocracy' comes from the Greek 'ploutokratia' (rule or power of the wealthy or of wealth), with the two parts of the word being 'ploutos' (wealth) and 'kratia' (rule). Generally, the term is used to indicate an undesirable form of government, as plutocrats tend to think of their wealth before their social responsibilities as rulers.

The other terms:

Aristocracy - the highest class in a society, especially one with hereditary titles.
Oligarchy - typically despotic power exercised by a small and privileged group for corrupt or selfish purposes.
Tyranny - cruel and oppressive government or rule.

Answer: rudimentary

'Rudimentary' has the same origin as the term rude, which is the Latin term 'rudis', meaning unlearned and untrained. But where we use 'rude' to mean rough and coarse, 'rudimentary' refers to things that are undeveloped or elementary, or in the case of my given definition (just the basics), pertaining to first principles.

The other terms:

Haughty - arrogantly superior and disdainful.
Mesmeric - causing a person to become completely transfixed and unaware of surroundings.
Precocious - exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age.

Answer: alienation

The word 'alienation' has its roots in the Latin term 'alius', meaning other. From there it extends to 'alienare' (estranged) and 'alienationem' (a transfer, surrender, separation). You can alienate yourself (as per the definition in the question) or be alienated (separated or shunned) by others.

The other terms:

Congenial - pleasant, sociable, genial.
Jocular - given to jesting; habitually jolly.
Pensive - musingly or dreamily thoughtful.

Answer: fecund

'Fecund' comes directly from the Latin word 'fecundus,' which translates as fruitful, fertile, productive. As with other words we have discussed in this quiz, it can refer to things both physical (a pregnancy, for instance) or not (such as one's intellect).

The other terms:

Barren - not reproducing; devoid or lacking.
Emasculated - lacking (or deprived of) virility, strength, or vigor.
Tuckered - exhausted.

Answer: empiricism

As a word, 'empiricism' has its roots in the ancient Greek term 'empeiria', which translates as experience. Before the term came to be associated with the philosophical meaning described in the question, it derogatorily referred to a reliance on direct experience and observation rather than on theory.

The other terms:

Charlatanry - making usually showy pretenses to knowledge or ability.
Existentialism - the philosophical belief we are each responsible for creating purpose or meaning in our own lives.
Romanticism - a movement in arts and literature emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual.

Answer: ameliorate

'Ameliorate' hearkens back to the Latin term 'melior' (better) and the extension 'amelioratus', meaning having grown better. It implies the improvement from an undesirable state (like being in pain).

The other terms:

Aggravate - make something worse or more serious, or to annoy or exasperate.
Hinder - create difficulties for someone or something, resulting in delay.
Impede - delay or prevent someone or something by obstructing them.

Answer: timorous

Another word of Latin origin, 'timorous' has the root term 'timor', which means fear, dread, apprehension, or anxiety. It can refer to fearfulness (as mentioned in the question), or (a little less active in tone) being nervous or timid.

The other terms:

Plucky - having or showing determined courage.
Sanguine - optimistic or positive, especially in the face of difficulty.
Truncated - shortened in duration or extent.