S Marks the Spot Trivia Quiz

Answer: Scurry

S + curry = Scurry

As well as referring to the spice, "curry" can be used as a verb, as in "to curry favor," meaning to ingratiate oneself with another person.

"Scurry" may be applied to the movement of a person or an animal such as a mouse. It may also be used a noun to indicate a situation of hurried and confused movement.

Answer: Stale

S + tale = stale

"Tale" is an Old English word related to "tell" and meaning "something told."

As well as its literal sense, "stale" can also be used more metaphorically to refer to a state of affairs that is no longer new and interesting, such as a TV show that has run out of fresh ideas. It may also be used in law to refer to a legal claim that that has become invalid because it is out of date.

Answer: Skill

S + kill = skill

The word "kill" originally included the meaning of "strike, beat" and is related to the word "quell."

Nowadays, "skill" is mainly used to refer to ability, especially one acquired through practice. There is also an archaic meaning "to avail, to make a difference" that is rarely used anymore.

Answer: Squash

S + quash = squash

The word "quash" derives from an Old French word meaning "to annul" and is still used in English with this meaning, especially in legal contexts. The word "squash" originated as a variant of "quash" although it has acquired a different meaning. It may also refer to an indoor sport played with rackets or to the vegetable.

Answer: Slick

S + lick = slick

The word "lick" may be used colloquially to refer to defeating someone or something, as in "he gave his opponent a good licking," although it more commonly refers to an action performed with one's tongue. Obviously, context makes a big difference!

"Slick" can refer to a smooth or oily surface or to the manner in which something is done, e.g., "it was a slick operation."

Answer: Spare

S + pare = spare

"Pare" can be used like "peel," e.g., "paring an apple," although it can also be used to mean trim something by cutting away its outer edges, e.g., "pare one's nails," as well as in a more general sense to mean reduce the size, extent, or quantity of something, e.g., "pare down excess costs."

"Spare" can refer to withholding punishment, as in "spare my life," although it can also mean something that is kept as an extra in case it is needed later, e.g., "spare tyre."

Answer: Spear

S + pear = spear

The name "pear" seems to derive from the Germanic "pera" that in turn came from the Latin "pira," which may in turn have come from a Semitic word meaning "fruit." "Spear," a weapon with a pointed tip, on the other had comes from an old English word with the same meaning and could also refer to a warrior armed with a spear. "Spear" today may also be used to refer to a plant shoot, e.g., an asparagus spear.

Answer: Swarm

S + warm = swarm

"Warm" may refer to either physical heat or to a favorable attitude to other people. "Swarm" in its original sense refers to a group of insects but may also refer to a crowd or multitude, especially when moving in the same direction.

Answer: Slake

S + lake = slake

The word "lake" was originally interchangeable with "pond" or "pool," although nowadays "pond" usually refers to a small body of water while "lake" typically connotes a larger one.

The word "slake" originally had the meaning of "slacken" and could be used to mean "to become less energetic, to slacken in one's efforts," although this sense is considered obsolete. Nowadays, it primarily means "to satisfy" such as to quench one's thirst or satisfy a particular desire, e.g., "slake one's lust."

Answer: Slope

S + lope = slope

The word "lope" can used as a noun or a verb and is related to the word "leap."
"Slope" can also be used as a noun or a verb and may refer to the shape of a physical surface or of a graph. In Britain, "slope" may be used informally to mean moving about in an aimless manner or to leave unobtrusively, usually to avoid work, e.g., "slope off while no-one notices."