UNUSUAL WORDS XLIV

Do you know the meanings of these valid, but infrequently used words?

 

1. NEVUS

2. JEJUNE

3. OTIOSE

4. CLAQUE

5. GAUCHE

6. GOACHE

7. NOISOME

8. ESTIVATE

9. INCHOATE

10. SHIVAREE

11. NICTITATE

12. SEDULOUS

13. ZWIEBACK

14. QUINCUNK

15. ETIOLATED

16. NUGATORY

17. QUOTIDIAN

18. RECONDITE

19. MITHRIDATE

20. DEPREDATION 

 

Answers:

 

1. NEVUS - mole or birthmark

 

2. JEJUNE - simple, boring

 

3. OTIOSE - serving no purpose, futile, idle

4. CLAQUE - a group of sycophantic followers / a group of people hired to applaud or heckle a performer or speaker

 

5. GAUCHE - rude, tactless, socially awkward

 

6. GOACHE - method of painting

 

7. NOISOME - foul-smelling

 

8. ESTIVATE - spend the summer (in one place)

 

9. INCHOATE - just begun, not fully developed

 

10. SHIVAREE - a mock, noisy serenade (to celebrate a marriage)

 

11. NICTITATE - blink or wink

 

12. SEDULOUS - dilligent, dedicated

 

13. ZWIEBACK - crisp, dry. twice-baked cracker 

 

14. QUINCUNK - an arrangement of five things in a square, one at each corner and one in the middle

 

15. ETIOLATED - having lost vigor, feeble - as plants without light

16. NUGATORY - of no value or importance, useless

17. QUOTIDIAN - daily, ordinary

18. RECONDITE - abstruse, obscure

19. MITHRIDATE - an antidote to every poison and a cure for every disease / gradually consume poison to produce immunity

20. DEPREDATION - attacking, plundering