UNUSUAL WORDS XCVII

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

1. SAPID

2. CAVIL

3. SINEW

4. SCAUP

5. ZLOTY

6. IMAGO

7. CARIES

8. KRAKEN

9. SINUOUS

10. PYRRHIC

11. KOWTOW

12. PECCARY

13. CHUKKER

14. PELLUCID

15. CYCLAMEN

16. AMARANTH 

17. SOMMELIER

18. OCTOTHORPE

19. IMPRECATION

20. MATRICULATE

 

Answers:

 

1. SAPID - Flavorful

 

2. CAVIL - Make petty objections

 

3. SINEW - A tendon or ligament

 

4. SCAUP - A diving duck 

 

5. ZLOTY - The basic monetary unit of Poland

 

6. IMAGO - Adult stage of an insect, typically winged (uh MAY go)

 

7. CARIES - Dental cavity or cavities (both singular and plural)

 

8. KRAKEN -  An gigantic, tentacled sea monster of Scandinavian myth

 

9. SINUOUS - Winding,  having many curves and turns 

 

10. PYRRHIC - (Of a victory) that is so devastating to the victor as to be tantamount to a defeat 

 

11. KOWTOW - Be excessively subservient to, usually to win favor 

 

12. PECCARY - A pig-like ungulate (hoofed) animal of Central and South America

 

13. CHUKKER -  One of (typically) six periods in a polo game. A chukker lasts 7 1/2 minutes

 

14. PELLUCID - Transparently clear

 

15. CYCLAMEN - A European flowering plant

 

16. AMARANTH - A tall plant used for food and medicinal purposes 

 

17. SOMMELIER - A wine steward

 

18.  OCTOTHORPE - The pound sign (#)

 

19. IMPRECATION - A curse

 

20. MATRICULATE - Enroll, as in a university