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Stretch Your Vocabulary Trivia Quiz

It would be a futile effort to try to 'know' all the words in the English language. Yet a regular bit of stretching our competence won't do us any harm. Have a try.

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

Author
flem-ish

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
84,540

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
5063

Last 3 plays: LadyNym (9/10), Guest 157 (4/10), Guest 172 (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The original meaning of the word 'mooncalf' was "congenitally deformed calf". Which of these is one of the current modern meanings? Hint

very inexperienced young lover

astronaut

moon-researcher

stupid fellow

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Question 2 of 10

2. What type of person would you call a "uriah heep"? Hint

solemn and conceited person

grown-up male who is given to excessive weeping

a sexually depraved cleric

hypocritical person

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Question 3 of 10

3. What is a ramada? Hint

a branch-covered shelter

a military naval convoy

a period of fasting

a Turkish bar of candy made of pistacchio nuts and honey

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Question 4 of 10

4. How many items are there in a "baker's dozen"? Hint

two

twelve

thirteen

eleven

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is meant by the term "prick-song"? Hint

music sung from written notes

music sung by ear

music sung from memory

sexually explicit song

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Question 6 of 10

6. What do you understand by 'histrionic'? Hint

displaying great historic insight

pertaining to actors or to the theatre

living in the past

of inferior quality as produced by a hack-writer

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Question 7 of 10

7. What do you have, when you have "the life of Riley"? Hint

a life that is marred by a stressful job

a life full of misfortune

a comfortable life

a life that's marred by a failed marriage

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Question 8 of 10

8. What kind of party would you call "estival"? Hint

garden - party

summer - party

surprise - party

office - party

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Question 9 of 10

9. What music could be called "corybantic"? Hint

choir music for religious occasions

wild and frenzied music

subtle and delicate chamber music

music for orchestra and choir

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Question 10 of 10

10. What does ithyphallic mean? Hint

itchy

with erect male organ

failing to perform

misleading

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 09 2024 : LadyNym: 9/10
Apr 01 2024 : Guest 157: 4/10
Mar 15 2024 : Guest 172: 7/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The original meaning of the word 'mooncalf' was "congenitally deformed calf". Which of these is one of the current modern meanings?

Answer: stupid fellow

Congenital deformations were attributed to the influence of the moon.
Madness or lunacy was also attributed to such lunar effects. The meaning was later softened into: foolish- or freakishness, and even something as innocent as "absent-mindedness".
Young love is puppy-love in English. In Dutch it might be called "calves' love".

2. What type of person would you call a "uriah heep"?

Answer: hypocritical person

After the Dickens character in "David Copperfield".

3. What is a ramada?

Answer: a branch-covered shelter

Ramada is not a fleet as in its anagram "Armada" (Invincibile) nor a period of fasting as in the word "ramadan". It's not a type of Turkish delight either. The word derives from Spanish rama branch and is related to ramification.

4. How many items are there in a "baker's dozen"?

Answer: thirteen

For fear they might not have reached the "minimum weight requirements"
stipulated by the authorities, some bakers gave an extra thirteenth item.

5. What is meant by the term "prick-song"?

Answer: music sung from written notes

From late Middle English 'pricked song'. Pricking originally meant marking a surface with a pointed instrument such as a pen or a pencil.

6. What do you understand by 'histrionic'?

Answer: pertaining to actors or to the theatre

Latin 'histrio' was an actor in stage plays.

7. What do you have, when you have "the life of Riley"?

Answer: a comfortable life

From the Irish name Reilly or O'Reilly. Possibly from the idea that Irish people tend to be "happy and carefree" by nature, whatever befalls them.

8. What kind of party would you call "estival"?

Answer: summer - party

From Latin aestivalis, belonging to the summer.
Aestivare meant to spend the summer (e.g. in a summer-residence).
Compare French estivant for summer-holidaymaker. Related to French "ete".

9. What music could be called "corybantic"?

Answer: wild and frenzied music

Derives from the word Corybant, a priest of the worship of Cybele.

10. What does ithyphallic mean?

Answer: with erect male organ

Such representations were not unusual in ancient bacchic festivals and processions.

Source: Author flem-ish

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