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'Body Language' Trivia Quiz

Tests your knowledge of words etymologically derived from anatomical roots. xaosdog (xaosdog.com) attests that each word appearing in this quiz has been accepted as a legitimate English word by at least one major dictionary AND one minor dictionary.

A multiple-choice quiz by xaosdog. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
xaosdog

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
58,324

Updated
Dec 17 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2894

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. 'Captain' comes from: Hint

A Greek word meaning 'top'

A Latin word meaning 'surrender'

A Latin word meaning 'arm'

A Greek word meaning 'vision'

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Question 2 of 10

2. 'Corporation' comes from: Hint

A Latin word meaning 'body.'

A Greek word meaning 'fist.'

A Latin word meaning 'fat.'

A Greek word meaning 'stomach.'

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Question 3 of 10

3. Callipygian means: Hint

Having broad shoulders.

Having thick lips.

Having shapely buttocks.

Having bushy eyebrows.

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Question 4 of 10

4. Edentate means: Hint

Having a bumpy ridge on the skull.

Lacking teeth.

Completely smooth of feature.

Harder than bone.

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Question 5 of 10

5. Ventripotent means: Hint

Possessing a protruding abdomen.

Strong of thews.

Capable of powerful eructation.

Having healthy lungs.

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Question 6 of 10

6. Echinoproctous means: Hint

Possessing a protruding chin.

Without strong bones.

Lacking a hard exoskeleton.

Having a spiny or prickly rump.

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Question 7 of 10

7. Chirocracy means: Hint

Rule by force.

Rule by gut instinct.

Rule by brains.

Rule by joint commission.

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Question 8 of 10

8. Prestidigitation means: Hint

Sleight of hand.

Flattening the belly.

Chewing fingernails.

A haircut.

9. 'Avocado', 'orchid' and 'rutabaga' -- among other words -- have something etymologically in common, although all three come from entirely different linguistic genealogies. What is the etymological point of contact among the three words? Hint

Brains.

Noses.

Knees.

Testicles.

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Question 10 of 10

10. Krukolibidinous means: Hint

The sexual desire to be spat upon.

The sexual desire to be tortured.

The act of licking someone's feet.

The act of staring at someone's crotch.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 'Captain' comes from:

Answer: A Greek word meaning 'top'

Greek katep�nō - Latin caput (meaning head, not arm or surrended)- Late Latin capitaneus - Middle French capitain - Middle English capitane. Cognate with words like decapitate (to remove the head) and chapeau (hat in French).

2. 'Corporation' comes from:

Answer: A Latin word meaning 'body.'

Latin corpus - Late Latin corporalis. Cognate with words like 'corporal' (as in corporal punishment) but not with 'corporal' (the military rank), which is actually cognate with 'captain' (see above), stemming ultimately from the same Latin root caput (head) but following a different course through Italian capo (head) to caporale to its modern form.

3. Callipygian means:

Answer: Having shapely buttocks.

From Greek kalli- (beautiful) and pygos (buttocks).

4. Edentate means:

Answer: Lacking teeth.

From Latin dent- (tooth) with the negating prefix e-.

5. Ventripotent means:

Answer: Possessing a protruding abdomen.

From Latin ventri- (stomach) and potent (powerful).

6. Echinoproctous means:

Answer: Having a spiny or prickly rump.

From Greek echinos (sea urchin) and procto- (anus).

7. Chirocracy means:

Answer: Rule by force.

From Greek chiros (hand) and kratia- (power).

8. Prestidigitation means:

Answer: Sleight of hand.

From Italian presto (fast) and Latin digit (finger).

Answer: Testicles.

'Avocado' comes to us through the Spanish 'aguacate' from Nahuatl 'ahuacatl' meaning 'testicle'. Similarly, 'orchid' comes to us through the Latin 'orchis' from Greek 'orkhis' meaning testicle. Finally, 'rutabaga' or Old Norse 'root bag' can properly be understood as 'root scrotum', deriving from the vegetable's {appearance;} indeed, 'ruta' arguably comes from an Old Norse word meaning 'ram', permitting a still more picturesque derivation -- one amply supported by comparison of a ram's 'bag' with the Swedish turnip.

10. Krukolibidinous means:

Answer: The act of staring at someone's crotch.

From Latin crux (cross) and libido (libido).

Source: Author xaosdog

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ponycargirl before going online.
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