Overachieving Definitions Trivia Quiz

Answer: tonality

In art, "tonality" is a range of hues or the color scheme used in a picture. In music, "tonality" is more difficult to define simply. "Britannica.com" defines it as "..the particular system of relationships between notes, chords, and keys that dominated most of western music from c.1650 to c.1900 and continues to regulate much music." Without getting too technical, an example is that sense of a piece of music being organized around a root tone (key), moving away from that to other tones in the scale or chord (modulation), for example the third or the fifth, then resolving back to the original tone. (Player Nealzineatser hummed "tonalities" and submitted it.)

Answer: outwalked

The Word Wizard Mini-Game generates some words that are not that commonly used, because we must work with the letters given us. We might commonly say, "They were chasing me, but I outran them," but probably not, "I outwalked them." Do people regularly out-walk the competition? Notice how spellcheck wants to hyphenate the word. Less common combined words are often hyphenated until they come more into the mainstream. Yet "outwalk" is clearly a word, with clear meanings: 1. to walk farther or faster than 2. to walk beyond. (Player speakboyspeak went the distance, then had the stamina to produce "outwalked".)

Answer: jittering

Many are more familiar with the adjective "jittery", meaning "shaky or nervous," or the noun, as in "he had the jitters while drying out from another bout of heavy drinking." But the verb meaning "to act with nervousness" can be used too. It can also describe quick, jumpy movements of some thing, such as in the sentence, "The picture on the television screen keeps jittering every time a plane goes overhead." (Player shvdotr not so shakily entered "jittering" into the game.)

Answer: fuselage

The fuselage of a plane is the main body of the aircraft, or that which remains when the wings, tail and wheels are stripped away. A single engine is often attached to the fuselage, but most modern jets have engines connected to the wings or the tailpiece. Often in airplane crashes or emergency landings, the extent of damage to the fuselage is the key factor which determines conditions for passenger survival.

The word comes from the French "fusele" meaning "spindle-shaped."(Player crossesq built the word "fuselages" and submitted it.)

Answer: freighter

This is a fairly straight-forward definition. A freighter is a large ocean going vessel designed to carry cargo. Given that our planet is about 70% water, for hundreds of years until now, and likely into the foreseeable future, the bulk of international trade will likely continue to be carried out via these cargo ships.

There are several different types of freighters, some designed to carry specific cargo, such as tankers which carry petroleum products or other liquids. Perhaps the most ubiquitous is the container ship, which you can see at the waterfront of any large port city, being loaded with large box containers brought by truck or rail car. (Player federererer loaded "freighter" into the mix)

Answer: menopause

The menopause defines that point usually later in the life of a woman, when menstruation becomes intermittent and eventually stops. The monthly discharge of blood and and other material from the uterus when fertilization has not occurred ceases, and the ability to get pregnant is past. (Player krajack99 submitted "menopause" without hesitation)

Answer: decertify

"Decertify" means "to remove certification, license, or official status from (something or someone), usually for failure to comply to rules or regulations. In the Word Wizard Mini-Game, a built-in dictionary "certifies" which words are allowed. Unlike a standard dictionary, many proper names are permitted, but some words which can be found online or even in a standard dictionary are not. You type a word in the "Check our Dictionary" box. If it comes back red, tough luck...you're word has been decertified! (Player spinhootler submitted "decertify," but did get official credit)

Answer: sociopath

A sociopath is generally understood to be a person with an extreme personality disorder characterized by antisocial behaviors and attitudes, and a total disregard for other people's well being. A true sociopath will lack the ability to empathize or feel others' pain. People in the mental health field don't consider the term "sociopath" to be an accurate defined diagnosis.

They use the term "Antisocial Personality Disorder." Most laymen think they know a sociopath when they see one, but there is often disagreement when it comes to labeling individuals, especially public figures such as politicians who may exhibit sociopathic behavior as a persona or a strategy to appear tough. (Player Triviaballer disaffectedly threw in "sociopath")

Answer: unsalaried

A person on salary generally receives regular payment for work, or services rendered, by the week, bi-weekly or once a month. In some circles, it means specifically that a worker gets a set income for a year, and that amount is "the salary." Volunteer workers are unsalaried, but so is much of the paid work force.

In the most countries, workers in lower paid professions tend to be unsalaried. This might include seasonal workers, many in the service industries, and contractors who work on a per job basis. Also tending to be unsalaried are the large group of people who operate in the so-called "shadow economy," who often get paid in cash, and who don't pay taxes or appear on government records.

In the USA, the extent of this segment of the population is unknown.(Player Rumpo volunteered the word "unsalaried")

Answer: prioritize

A great example of prioritizing is the medical procedure known as "triage." A hospital, such as the unit depicted in the TV show 'M.A.S.H.,' sometimes has to make life and death decisions as to which patients to treat first, and who can wait. Making a quiz such as this one is a lesson in prioritization. What to include, what to leave out, what deserves a more prominent place, what must be dealt with first; all these are a matters of priority. (Player Codeine figured out that "prioritize" should be his/her submission)