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by Erin Billy

What does “sally” mean? (+ a short quiz!)

January 5, 2011 in Vocab

A sally port. People exit through it. (And enter, for that matter.)

sally

What does “sally” mean?

Part of Speech: noun
verb

Pronunciations: IPA: /’sæl.i/ Glossary-style: [SAL-ee]

Definition: noun: a rush forward; an attack, as by a group of soldiers against an enemy. a trip or excursion. a sudden witty remark. verb: rush or leap out suddenly. rush out to attack an enemy. start a trip or excursion (Ex: to sally forth into the world).

Example: The soldiers emboldened by betel nuts sallied forth in crazed excitement to meet the enemy and their destiny.

Practice vocab questions for “sally”

1. To sally is to
(A) rush out quickly, as to attack
(B) flee or evade
(C) make dirty
(D) waste time
(E) meet a hirsute male named Harry

2. Sallying forth into the world, Candide ——- his idyllic hometown to ——- a journey of discovery that would forever change him.
(A) romanticizes . . revere
(B) envisions . . refine
(C) embraces . . negotiate
(D) leaves . . commence
(E) rejects . . eschew
Answer:

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by Erin Billy

What does “moot” mean? (With a quiz question!)

January 5, 2011 in Vocab

Entry to a moot court

Moot Court

moot

What does “moot” mean?

Part of Speech: adj
noun

Pronunciations: IPA: /mut/ Glossary-style: [moot]

Definition: adj: having no practical importance; being only a mental exercise (Ex: a moot discussion). open to debate; arguable. noun: (Law) a mock trial used for students to get practice participating in trials.

Example: Because Stella and Stanley had missed the bus, they would be late getting home. Their arguing about whose fault it was was really a moot point since they could not travel back in time and get to the bus stop earlier.

Practice vocab question for “moot”

A moot point is
(A) extenuating circumstances, or events or occurrences that lessen the severity of, say, a crime
(B) an observation that may be valid but will not change a situation or an outcome
(C) an implausible hypothesis assumed to be valid solely for the purposes of participating in a debate
(D) the sharp tip of a projectile
(E) an imagined situation that could not logically occur

Answer:

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by Erin Billy

What does “squalor” mean? (With a quiz question!)

December 29, 2010 in Vocab

squalor

What does “squalor” mean?

Capsule Hotel Capsule in Akihabara, Japan

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciations: IPA: /’skwa.lər/ Glossary-style: [SKWAH-lur]

Definition: filth; extreme dirtiness.

Example: Life in the shantytown was not all bad; yes, there was the poverty and squalor that usually accompanies it, but there was also great life and character, and always something fun to do.

Practice vocab quiz for “squalor”

1. Of the following, which would best be most likely to be referred to as squalor?
(A) A five-star hotel in Monaco
(B) An abandoned building that is inhabited by squatters in New York City and is not tended to by the city or the people who sleep there
(C) A capsule hotel in Tokyo, in which guests have only enough space to sleep, but not to walk around
(D) A “dude ranch” in Texas, where paying guests work as ranchers (or “cowboys”) as a vacation
(E) A youth hostel in Europe, which provides inexpensive accommodations to travelers

2. squalor most nearly means
(A) squeals, especially cacophonous ones
(B) squid ink
(C) squalidity or really, really bad dirtiness
(D) squeaky cleanliness
(E) squinting

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by Erin Billy

What does “ursine” mean? (With a quiz question!)

December 29, 2010 in Vocab

Ursa Major, the famed constellation that some think resembles the shape of a bear.


ursine

What does “ursine” mean?

Part of Speech: adj
noun

Pronunciations: IPA: /ˈər.saɪn/ Glossary-style: [UR-syn]

Definition: adj: relating to bears or like a bear. noun: a bear.

Example: A big ursine man, Harry was often chosen to kick out obnoxious or unruly party guests.

Practice vocab question for “ursine”

Of the following, which is most ursine?
(A) Lions with fiery manes
(B) Sheepish people who walk ploddingly
(C) A big, strong, hairy person
(D) A person with a pointy nose
(E) A tall, slender man

Answer:

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