LandaBooks: Final Word Quiz Answers
ADIOS:
1. Apostasy (uh-POSS-tuh-see). Someone who's in a state of apostasy might well have:
c. deserted his religion, party, or principles
Some of the tea-partiers condemn any mention of raising taxes as an act of apostasy. It's from Greek (through Latin, French, and Middle English) for "a standing away, withdrawing." Someone who is in a state of apostasy is called an apostate (uh-POSS-tate).
2. Decrepitude (duh-KREP-uh-tood or tyood). Decrepitude is most likely associated with:
d. old age and feebleness
He's probably giving up the word-quizzes because of his decrepitude—feebleness from old age or long use. It's from Latin decrepitus, broken down, from de and crep (to crack).
3. Illocutionary (ill-uh-KYOO-shun-ary). A politician who performs an illocutionary act is most likely:
a. giving a "dog whistle" to some listeners
The candidate's mention of Willie Horton was an illocutionary act, intended as a "dog whistle" to the racist elements of his supporters, creating fear that the opposing candidate would be soft on criminals, letting too many of them run free. (In performing an illocutionary act, a speaker, by uttering certain words, intends to bring about a certain effect—often fear or hate—in listeners, even though the words may not directly suggest that.)
4. Ouzo (OOZE-oh). The word ouzo would most likely be used by:
c. a party of partying Greeks
Ouzo is a colorless, anise-flavored liqueur of Greece.
If the Greeks manage to pull themselves out of their economic crisis, they'll probably party so heartily they'll be oozing ouzo.
5. Saurian (SORRY-un). You'd most likely use the word saurian to compare something to a:
b. lizard
His cold, saurian eyes were like the bullets peeking from the cylinder of a revolver. It's from neo-Latin, originally naming a group of reptiles (Sauria) including lizards, crocodiles, and some extinct forms, but now restricted to lizards.
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