FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Quiz about Origins of Some English Words

Origins of Some English Words Trivia Quiz

Here are questions on the origins of some English words.

A multiple-choice quiz by chessart. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
chessart

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
18,212

Updated
Apr 30 24

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
13 / 20

Plays
2031

Last 3 plays: Guest 122 (2/20), Guest 172 (15/20), Guest 209 (0/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. 'Sesquipedalian', meaning 'having many syllables', is derived from Latin words meaning what? Hint

seventy years old

foot and a half long

walking very fast

being long-winded

NEXT>

Question 2 of 20

2. 'Rostrum', meaning 'a stage for public speaking', is derived from the Latin verb 'rodere', which means what? Hint

to rotate

to speak

to gnaw

to persuade

NEXT>

Question 3 of 20

3. 'Careen', meaning 'to sway from side to side', is derived from the Latin 'carina', meaning what? Hint

nutshell

turn

flutter

fruit

NEXT>

Question 4 of 20

4. 'Supercilious', meaning 'patronizingly haughty', is derived from the Latin 'super', meaning above, and 'cilium', which stands for which body part? Hint

finger

eyebrow

belly button

elbow

NEXT>

Question 5 of 20

5. 'Penumbra' is derived from the Latin word 'umbra', meaning what? Hint

gray

oily

smooth

shadow

NEXT>

Question 6 of 20

6. 'Cynosure'. meaning a 'guide', or a 'center of attention', meant what in Greek or Latin? Hint

dog's tail

leader

dot

power

NEXT>

Question 7 of 20

7. 'Megalopolis', meaning a densely populated area, was the name of an actual city in what ancient land? Hint

India

Babylon

Egypt

Greece

NEXT>

Question 8 of 20

8. 'Desultory', meaning 'marked by lack of a definite plan', comes from the Latin word 'desultor' which meant what? Hint

a meandering river

a fast runner

a winding road

a circus trick-rider

NEXT>

Question 9 of 20

9. 'Subjugate' was derived from the Latin 'jugum', meaning what? Hint

mountain

hand

yoke

island

NEXT>

Question 10 of 20

10. Which planet gave its name to a word meaning 'having rapid and unpredictable changes of mood'? Hint

Saturn

Mars

Venus

Mercury

11. Of special interest are words derived from real people or characters. For example, the word 'quisling', meaning a traitor, especially someone who betrays his own country by cooperating with an occupying enemy, was derived from Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945), who was from what country? Hint

Norway

Denmark

France

Belgium

NEXT>

Question 12 of 20

12. The word 'gerrymander' was derived from Elbridge Gerry, who created an artificial-looking voting district in which locale? Hint

Ireland

Virginia

Scotland

Massachusetts

NEXT>

Question 13 of 20

13. 'Malapropism', meaning 'the ridiculous misuse of words, is derived from a character in a play by whom? Hint

William Shakespeare

Richard Sheridan

Christopher Marlowe

Oscar Wilde

NEXT>

Question 14 of 20

14. 'Spoonerism', meaning the unintentional interchange of sounds, often initial sounds, was derived from W. A. Spooner (1844-1930), who was what? Hint

a minister

a doctor

a lawyer

a Congressman

NEXT>

Question 15 of 20

15. 'Quixotic' is derived from Don Quixote, a character in a novel by whom? Hint

George Bernard Shaw

Dickens

Cervantes

Mark Twain

NEXT>

Question 16 of 20

16. We finish with some animal references. 'Alopecia', meaning 'baldness', is derived from a Greek word for which animal? Hint

squirrel

fox

wolf

bear

NEXT>

Question 17 of 20

17. 'Gossamer', meaning delicate or flimsy, is derived from a Middle English word for which animal? Hint

spider

snake

hummingbird

goose

NEXT>

Question 18 of 20

18. 'Lupine' is derived from the Latin 'lupus', which means what animal? Hint

cat

wolf

badger

bear

NEXT>

Question 19 of 20

19. 'Porcine' is derived from the Latin 'porcinus', meaning which animal? Hint

horse

dog

cat

pig

NEXT>

Question 20 of 20

20. 'Simian' is derived from the Latin 'simia', meaning which animal? Hint

pig

snake

frog

ape

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Most Recent Scores

Nov 20 2024 : Guest 122: 2/20
Nov 06 2024 : Guest 172: 15/20
Oct 05 2024 : Guest 209: 0/20

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 'Sesquipedalian', meaning 'having many syllables', is derived from Latin words meaning what?

Answer: foot and a half long

Derived from the Latin 'sesqui', meaning 'half as much again', and 'pes', meaning 'foot', so it literally means 'words a foot and a half long'.

2. 'Rostrum', meaning 'a stage for public speaking', is derived from the Latin verb 'rodere', which means what?

Answer: to gnaw

Derived from rodere, the Latin word 'rostrum' originally meant 'beak'. It was applied metaphorically to the beaklike prows of ships, which adorned platforms for public speakers in the Forum in Rome. Eventually the word 'rostrum' came to be used for all public platforms.

3. 'Careen', meaning 'to sway from side to side', is derived from the Latin 'carina', meaning what?

Answer: nutshell

The nutshell was seen as a metaphor for a boat. In the 20th century the word 'careen' was expanded from a nautical term to include any swaying from side to side.

4. 'Supercilious', meaning 'patronizingly haughty', is derived from the Latin 'super', meaning above, and 'cilium', which stands for which body part?

Answer: eyebrow

The idea is that a raised eyebrow (which is above ("super") the eyelid ("cilium") is a sign of haughty disdain. "Cilium" can also be translated as "eyelash."

5. 'Penumbra' is derived from the Latin word 'umbra', meaning what?

Answer: shadow

Penumbra refers to the partial shadow surrounding a complete shadow, as in an eclipse. The Supreme Court uses the term interestingly in referring to the right of privacy as being found in the 'penumbra' of the Constitution, rather than specifically stated there.

6. 'Cynosure'. meaning a 'guide', or a 'center of attention', meant what in Greek or Latin?

Answer: dog's tail

It was the Greek and Latin name for the constellation Ursa Minor, or Little Bear, whose tail is formed by the North Star, which has always been a guide.

7. 'Megalopolis', meaning a densely populated area, was the name of an actual city in what ancient land?

Answer: Greece

The city was founded in ancient Greece to help defend Arcadia against Sparta.

8. 'Desultory', meaning 'marked by lack of a definite plan', comes from the Latin word 'desultor' which meant what?

Answer: a circus trick-rider

It refers to a circus trick-rider who jumped from the back of one horse to another while galloping along.

9. 'Subjugate' was derived from the Latin 'jugum', meaning what?

Answer: yoke

Literally meaning 'bring under the yoke'.

10. Which planet gave its name to a word meaning 'having rapid and unpredictable changes of mood'?

Answer: Mercury

'Mercurial' comes from the planet Mercury. The god Mercury was the symbol of speed, and Mercury was named for him as the fastest of the planets.

Answer: Norway

Quisling cooperated with the occupying Nazis during World War II, and was later executed after the occupation ended.

12. The word 'gerrymander' was derived from Elbridge Gerry, who created an artificial-looking voting district in which locale?

Answer: Massachusetts

Elbridge was governor of Masachusetts in 1812 when the method was used. He later served as Vice President under James Madison, dying in office in 1814.

13. 'Malapropism', meaning 'the ridiculous misuse of words, is derived from a character in a play by whom?

Answer: Richard Sheridan

From the character Mrs. Malaprop in Sheridan's play 'The Rivals'.

14. 'Spoonerism', meaning the unintentional interchange of sounds, often initial sounds, was derived from W. A. Spooner (1844-1930), who was what?

Answer: a minister

An example of a spoonerism is 'it is kistumary to cuss the bride'.

15. 'Quixotic' is derived from Don Quixote, a character in a novel by whom?

Answer: Cervantes

16. We finish with some animal references. 'Alopecia', meaning 'baldness', is derived from a Greek word for which animal?

Answer: fox

The Greeks saw a resemblance between baldness in humans and mange in foxes.

17. 'Gossamer', meaning delicate or flimsy, is derived from a Middle English word for which animal?

Answer: goose

From 'gos', for goose, and 'somer', for summer.

18. 'Lupine' is derived from the Latin 'lupus', which means what animal?

Answer: wolf

19. 'Porcine' is derived from the Latin 'porcinus', meaning which animal?

Answer: pig

20. 'Simian' is derived from the Latin 'simia', meaning which animal?

Answer: ape

Source: Author chessart

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Related Quizzes

This quiz is part of series Words and Language:

Here are five quizzes about words and language use.

  1. Words Which Express Concepts Average
  2. Identify These Figures of Speech Average
  3. Words and Phrases Which Express Concepts Easier
  4. Origins of Some English Words Average
  5. Exploring the Origins of State Names Difficult