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Quiz about Origins of Some English Words

Origins of Some English Words Trivia Quiz

Here are questions on the origins of some English words.

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

Author
chessart

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
18,212

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
13 / 20

Plays
2009

Last 3 plays: Guest 213 (15/20), Guest 86 (9/20), babsvix (10/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. 'Sesquipedalian', meaning 'having many syllables', is derived from Latin words meaning what? Hint

foot and a half long

walking very fast

seventy years old

being long-winded

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Question 2 of 20

2. 'Rostrum', meaning 'a stage for public speaking', is derived from the Latin verb 'rodere', which means what? Hint

to gnaw

to persuade

to speak

to rotate

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Question 3 of 20

3. 'Careen', meaning 'to sway from side to side', is derived from the Latin 'carina', meaning what? Hint

fruit

flutter

nutshell

turn

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Question 4 of 20

4. 'Supercilious', meaning 'patronizingly haughty', is derived from the Latin 'super', meaning above, and 'cilium', which stands for which body part? Hint

finger

elbow

belly button

eyebrow

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Question 5 of 20

5. 'Penumbra' is derived from the Latin word 'umbra', meaning what? Hint

oily

gray

shadow

smooth

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Question 6 of 20

6. 'Cynosure'. meaning a 'guide', or a 'center of attention', meant what in Greek or Latin? Hint

power

dot

dog's tail

leader

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Question 7 of 20

7. 'Megalopolis', meaning a densely populated area, was the name of an actual city in what ancient land? Hint

India

Greece

Egypt

Babylon

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Question 8 of 20

8. 'Desultory', meaning 'marked by lack of a definite plan', comes from the Latin word desultory which meant what? Hint

a meandering river

a circus trick-rider

a winding road

a fast runner

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Question 9 of 20

9. 'Subjugate' was derived from the Latin 'jugum', meaning what? Hint

yoke

island

hand

mountain

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Question 10 of 20

10. Which planet gave its name to a word meaning 'having rapid and unpredictable changes of mood'? Hint

Mars

Saturn

Mercury

Venus

11. Of special interest are words derived from real people or characters. For example, the word 'quisling', meaning a traitor, especially someone who betrays his own country by cooperating with an occupying enemy, was derived from Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945), who was from what country? Hint

Belgium

France

Norway

Denmark

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Question 12 of 20

12. The word 'gerrymander' was derived from Elbridge Gerry, who created an artificial-looking voting district in which locale? Hint

Virginia

Ireland

Massachusetts

Scotland

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Question 13 of 20

13. 'Malapropism', meaning 'the ridiculous misuse of words, is derived from a character in a play by whom? Hint

William Shakespeare

Richard Sheridan

Christopher Marlowe

Oscar Wilde

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Question 14 of 20

14. 'Spoonerism', meaning the unintentional interchange of sounds, often initial sounds, was derived from W. A. Spooner (1844-1930), who was what? Hint

a minister

a doctor

a lawyer

a Congressman

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Question 15 of 20

15. 'Quixotic' is derived from Don Quixote, a character in a novel by whom? Hint

Cervantes

Mark Twain

Dickens

George Bernard Shaw

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Question 16 of 20

16. We finish with some animal references. 'Alopecia', meaning 'baldness', is derived from a Greek word for which animal? Hint

squirrel

bear

wolf

fox

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Question 17 of 20

17. 'Gossamer', meaning delicate or flimsy, is derived from a Middle English word for which animal? Hint

spider

goose

hummingbird

snake

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Question 18 of 20

18. 'Lupine' is derived from the Latin 'lupus', which means what animal? Hint

wolf

badger

cat

bear

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Question 19 of 20

19. 'Porcine' is derived from the Latin 'porcinus', meaning which animal? Hint

pig

cat

horse

dog

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Question 20 of 20

20. 'Simian' is derived from the Latin 'simia', meaning which animal? Hint

pig

snake

frog

ape

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 08 2024 : Guest 213: 15/20
Apr 05 2024 : Guest 86: 9/20
Mar 29 2024 : babsvix: 10/20
Mar 14 2024 : Guest 31: 7/20
Feb 26 2024 : Guest 80: 10/20

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 'Sesquipedalian', meaning 'having many syllables', is derived from Latin words meaning what?

Answer: foot and a half long

Derived from the Latin 'sesqui', meaning 'half as much again', and 'pes', meaning 'foot', so it literally means 'words a foot and a half long'.

2. 'Rostrum', meaning 'a stage for public speaking', is derived from the Latin verb 'rodere', which means what?

Answer: to gnaw

Derived from rodere, the Latin word 'rostrum' originally meant 'beak'. It was applied metaphorically to the beaklike prows of ships, which adorned platforms for public speakers in the Forum in Rome. Eventually the word 'rostrum' came to be used for all public platforms.

3. 'Careen', meaning 'to sway from side to side', is derived from the Latin 'carina', meaning what?

Answer: nutshell

The nutshell was seen as a metaphor for a boat. In the 20th century the word 'careen' was expanded from a nautical term to include any swaying from side to side.

4. 'Supercilious', meaning 'patronizingly haughty', is derived from the Latin 'super', meaning above, and 'cilium', which stands for which body part?

Answer: eyebrow

The idea is that a raised eyebrow (which is above ("super") the eyelid ("cilium") is a sign of haughty disdain. "Cilium" can also be translated as "eyelash."

5. 'Penumbra' is derived from the Latin word 'umbra', meaning what?

Answer: shadow

Penumbra refers to the partial shadow surrounding a complete shadow, as in an eclipse. The Supreme Court uses the term interestingly in referring to the right of privacy as being found in the 'penumbra' of the Constitution, rather than specifically stated there.

6. 'Cynosure'. meaning a 'guide', or a 'center of attention', meant what in Greek or Latin?

Answer: dog's tail

It was the Greek and Latin name for the constellation Ursa Minor, or Little Bear, whose tail is formed by the North Star, which has always been a guide.

7. 'Megalopolis', meaning a densely populated area, was the name of an actual city in what ancient land?

Answer: Greece

The city was founded in ancient Greece to help defend Arcadia against Sparta.

8. 'Desultory', meaning 'marked by lack of a definite plan', comes from the Latin word desultory which meant what?

Answer: a circus trick-rider

It refers to a circus trick-rider who jumped from the back of one horse to another while galloping along.

9. 'Subjugate' was derived from the Latin 'jugum', meaning what?

Answer: yoke

Literally meaning 'bring under the yoke'.

10. Which planet gave its name to a word meaning 'having rapid and unpredictable changes of mood'?

Answer: Mercury

'Mercurial' comes from the planet Mercury. The god Mercury was the symbol of speed, and Mercury was named for him as the fastest of the planets.

Answer: Norway

Quisling cooperated with the occupying Nazis during World War II, and was later executed after the occupation ended.

12. The word 'gerrymander' was derived from Elbridge Gerry, who created an artificial-looking voting district in which locale?

Answer: Massachusetts

Elbridge was governor of Masachusetts in 1812 when the method was used. He later served as Vice President under James Madison, dying in office in 1814.

13. 'Malapropism', meaning 'the ridiculous misuse of words, is derived from a character in a play by whom?

Answer: Richard Sheridan

From the character Mrs. Malaprop in Sheridan's play 'The Rivals'.

14. 'Spoonerism', meaning the unintentional interchange of sounds, often initial sounds, was derived from W. A. Spooner (1844-1930), who was what?

Answer: a minister

An example of a spoonerism is 'it is kistumary to cuss the bride'.

15. 'Quixotic' is derived from Don Quixote, a character in a novel by whom?

Answer: Cervantes

16. We finish with some animal references. 'Alopecia', meaning 'baldness', is derived from a Greek word for which animal?

Answer: fox

The Greeks saw a resemblance between baldness in humans and mange in foxes.

17. 'Gossamer', meaning delicate or flimsy, is derived from a Middle English word for which animal?

Answer: goose

From 'gos', for goose, and 'somer', for summer.

18. 'Lupine' is derived from the Latin 'lupus', which means what animal?

Answer: wolf

19. 'Porcine' is derived from the Latin 'porcinus', meaning which animal?

Answer: pig

20. 'Simian' is derived from the Latin 'simia', meaning which animal?

Answer: ape

Source: Author chessart

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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