UNUSUAL WORDS CXI

Can you give a simple definition of these less-frequently-used words? 

1. SATAY

2. IMPUGN

3. TROCHE

4. ILLUVIAL

5. ALEATORY

6. NEMATODE 

7. SAXIFRAGE

8. OLIGARCHY

9. CHANGELING

10. ELEEEMOSYNARY 

Answers:

 

1. SATAY - A Southeast Asian dish of marinated, grilled, skewered meat typically served with peaunt sauce

 

2. IMPUGN - Cast doubt on or attack the character, reputation, or honesty of someone 

 

3. TROCHE -  (TROH-kee) A small, medicated lozenge or tablet designed to dissolve slowly in the mouth - as for a sore throat [not be confused with TROCHEE - which is a metrical foot in poetry]

 

4. ILLUVIAL - Referring to the process where the materials of one soil layer are washed down to a lower one by the action of rain water [not to be confused with ALLUVIAL - referring to the deposit of sand, silt, and clay from rivers/floods]

 

5. ALEATORY -  Dependent on luck, random

 

6. NEMATODE - Roundworm

 

7. SAXIFRAGE - (from the Latin for "rock breaker") A plant bearing small white flower found growing from the cracks in rocks and on mountain ledges

 

8.  OLIGARCHY - The concentration of power in the hands of a few - giving them control of a country or other organization

 

9.  CHANGELING - A child believed to have been secretly substituted by fairies for the parents' real child in infancy (can have negative associations)

 

10. ELEEMOSYNARY - Relating to or dependent on charity and charitable giving