More Misunderstood Words Trivia Quiz

Answer: open for discussion

Did you get this one right? 'Moot' actually means open for debate or discussion, as in the moot court competitions they have in law school (hypothetical cases argued as an exercise.) In fact, a moot point is an issue subject to discussion and, in its original meaning, one to be determined by a group of people.

However, because the collegiate 'moot courts' lack any outcome from these theoretical exercises, it has come to take on the meaning of 'unimportant or irrelevant', so it is understandable how the meaning can be confused.

In any case, it is not a 'mute' point!

Answer: scrofulous

Some big words to describe such a small one. All of the incorrect choices relate to 'poor'. Impecunious means having little or no money; penurious means poverty-stricken and indigent is defined as needy or destitute. The word 'scrofulous' means morally degenerate or corrupt, with a run-down appearance (sort of like "The Portrait of Dorian Gray", Oscar Wilde's only published novel in 1890).

The 'bottom line' is that you really don't want to be associated with any of the above words!

Answer: sub

Sub is the only prefix you will see attached to the word liminal. The word comes from the Latin "limen", meaning threshold and, to be perfectly honest, I didn't even know it WAS a word! Apparently, you can only be under the threshold: not against it (anti), between it (inter) or after it (post). Subliminal is used to describe messages sent to us without our knowledge and received only by the subconscious mind, as in advertisements, commercials, movies, etc. If they actually work, after taking this quiz, you may have a strong desire to purchase a dictionary...a dictionary, for our younger quizzees, is a book with definitions.

Answer: a fictional story

This should have been an easy one for anyone who knows that a novel is NOT just any book. A novel is a work of prose which describes fictional characters and events. A non-fiction book is real and factual; examples include 'How to' books, manuals, a brochure or even a dictionary.

While the adjective 'novel' means 'new', different from anything seen before, it should not be confused with the noun, which means that you can have an old novel (sometimes called a 'classic').

Answer: causing nausea

OK...the argument over this word has gone on for decades (at least in my family). The original meaning of 'nauseous' was causing nausea, sickening, so if you said "I feel nauseous", it actually meant that you feel that you make other people sick or that you are nauseating! However, due to popular usage (over those same decades), it has also come to mean affected with nausea or inclined to vomit. According to the newer versions of the "Merriam-Webster Dictionary", both uses are now accepted as correct. Take that, you strict grammarians!

Answer: historic

Confused? I don't blame you. When something is important in history, it is historic, like the historic first voyage to the moon. Historical refers to whatever existed in the past, e.g., a minor historical character or anything connected with the study of the past. If you use the two words interchangeably, you are far from alone! As far as the other two incorrect choices: histrionic refers to something excessively dramatic or emotional; histological is something which refers to histology, i.e., the study of the microscopic structure of plant and animal tissues.

Answer: cast

An aspersion is a derogatory, defamatory or critical remark which, for some reason, seems usually to be used in the plural and only paired with casting. Casting aspersions means attacking the reputation or integrity of someone and is often associated with the term 'slander'. You can cast aspersions on someone's honesty or their character.

This is not to be confused with the religious context of the word 'aspersion' which is defined as the act of sprinkling water.

Answer: simultaneously

Although there are only subtle differences between these choices, instantly is the oldest word and originally, in the 15th century, meant 'urgently or persistently'. In the mid-16th century, 'instantly' took on the modern meaning of 'immediately' and 'at once' and, for those of us impatient urbanites, it means 'right now!'.

Answer: "a death row pardon two minutes too late"

The quotes are all from Alanis Morrissette's 1996 song "Ironic" and, sorry to say, most of her choices are unpleasant or bad timing, not ironic, although that in itself could be ironic... or if the prisoner had been the clockmaker who supplied the prison, but his clocks ran two minutes fast. Irony is described as an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected. My favorite example of irony is from O.

Henry's story "The Gift of the Magi" where Della sells her hair to get money to buy a platinum chain for Jim's watch, and Jim sells his watch so he can afford to buy turquoise combs for Della's hair.

Answer: moral

Turpitude is defined as inherent baseness or depravity, while moral turpitude is a legal concept defined by "West's Encyclopedia of American Law" as "conduct that is considered contrary to community standards of justice, honesty or good morals". The concept itself seems to be obsolete except legally where it can be used for witness impeachment, revocation of a professional license or for immigration purposes to prevent foreigners from coming to the United States or as a reason to deport them.