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25 Questions: Word Definitions Multiple Choice Quiz | Humanities

A quiz on unusual words, one for each letter of the alphabet from A to Y. (The max is 25 questions!) Match the word with the correct definition. These are tough but educational. I hope you have as much fun taking the quiz as I did looking up the words!

A multiple-choice quiz by Pat6789. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Pat6789

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
1,376

Updated
Sep 08 22

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
13 / 25

Plays
5722

Last 3 plays: Guest 38 (6/25), Guest 73 (12/25), Guest 90 (19/25).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. Adipose Hint

Argumentative

Opposite of advertise

Given to positive statements

Fat in connective tissue

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Question 2 of 25

2. Babbittry Hint

Philistinism

Something made of Babbitt metal

Practice of Babism

Rabbit babyhood

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Question 3 of 25

3. Cabala Hint

North African melon

Female caballero

Occultism or mysticism

Mini taxi cab

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Question 4 of 25

4. Dactylography Hint

Study of drawing dinosaurs

Study of fingerprints

Study of sacred medieval writings

Study of peninsular topography

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Question 5 of 25

5. Eclaircissement Hint

Musical virtuosity

Large French pastry

Explanation or clarification

Perfectly clear atmospheric conditions

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Question 6 of 25

6. Falciform Hint

Falsework

Falcon-like

Curved

Untrue

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Question 7 of 25

7. Gambado Hint

Native of Gambia

Colorful hat

Foolish bet

Prank

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Question 8 of 25

8. Hallux Hint

Big toe

Light surrounding a comet

Reverse curve helix

Bacterium causing bad breath

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Question 9 of 25

9. Iatrology Hint

The science of road design

The science of medicine or healing

The study of poetic meters

A philosophy characterized by solipsism

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Question 10 of 25

10. Jalousie Hint

Wild game stew

Wooden or glass slatted door or window

French settler of Jalisco, Mexico

Standard of measurement for precious metals

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Question 11 of 25

11. Kobold Hint

Spring shim

Sparring partner

Chemical catalyst

Mischievous sprite

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Question 12 of 25

12. Lacuna Hint

A Tibetan mountain goat

An ancient Roman offical

A lunar shadow

A gap

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Question 13 of 25

13. Malapropism Hint

Serious breach of etiquette

Cause for bridge failure

Ridiculous misuse of words

Deformity of the structure of the cheekbone

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Question 14 of 25

14. Nevus Hint

Snow

Birthmark

Newborn newt

Neverness

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Question 15 of 25

15. Onomatopoeia Hint

Benign urinary tract tumor

Word imitating a sound

Grace under pressure

Soft shelled egg

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Question 16 of 25

16. Perdurable Hint

Permanent

Perjurious

Piercing the dura mater

Pertaining to perdition

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Question 17 of 25

17. Quisling Hint

A newborn quisel

A doubting person

A short test

A traitor

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Question 18 of 25

18. Roentgenography Hint

Legal term for rent receipt

Original experimental video cassette recording technology

Hieroglyphic handwriting

X-ray photography

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Question 19 of 25

19. Shivaree Hint

An ancient Hindu prayer

A victim of hypothermia

A noisy celebration

A stabbing victim

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Question 20 of 25

20. Thaumaturgy Hint

Emergency Room medicine

Magic

Water filtration

Interpretation of classic Greek manuscripts

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Question 21 of 25

21. Ululate Hint

To massage with fragrant ointments

To become a surrogate uncle

To delay unreasonably

To howl

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Question 22 of 25

22. Vaticinate Hint

To fortell the future

To seal in a barrel or cask

To vaccinate by natural methods

To pontificate

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Question 23 of 25

23. Wamble Hint

To wander aimlessly

A sudden but light blow

An awning

To wriggle about

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Question 24 of 25

24. Xiphoid Hint

Having eleven parts

A tropical disease

An anatomical structure

A native of Ancient Xiphus

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Question 25 of 25

25. Yclept Hint

Agile

Named

Lucky

Thieving

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Most Recent Scores

Jul 22 2026 : Guest 38: 6/25
Jul 20 2026 : Guest 73: 12/25
Jul 14 2026 : Guest 90: 19/25
Jul 11 2026 : sciencenerd05: 25/25
Jul 11 2026 : Guest 71: 8/25
Jul 09 2026 : Guest 50: 9/25
Jun 27 2026 : Guest 172: 14/25
Jun 24 2026 : Rumpo: 25/25
Jun 18 2026 : Guest 104: 8/25

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Adipose

Answer: Fat in connective tissue

2. Babbittry

Answer: Philistinism

This word is derived from George Babbitt, the title character in a Sinclair Lewis novel, 'Babbitt'. This character is a smug, uncultured, conventional businessman interested only in business and social success.

3. Cabala

Answer: Occultism or mysticism

This was originally an occult religious philosophy developed by certain Jewish rabbis, based on mystical interpretation of the Scriptures. It has some currency today.

4. Dactylography

Answer: Study of fingerprints

This is actually the study of fingerprints as a means of identification.

5. Eclaircissement

Answer: Explanation or clarification

A clearing up as of a dispute or difficult point; a clarification or explanation. When capitalized, 'The Enlightment'.

6. Falciform

Answer: Curved

From the Latin 'Falx' = Sickle

7. Gambado

Answer: Prank

Also a curvetting leap, as by a horse, or a long legging or gaiter.

8. Hallux

Answer: Big toe

9. Iatrology

Answer: The science of medicine or healing

10. Jalousie

Answer: Wooden or glass slatted door or window

Interestingly, the root of this word is the French for Jealousy!

11. Kobold

Answer: Mischievous sprite

A helpful or mischievous sprite or brownie; or a gnome in mines or other underground places.

12. Lacuna

Answer: A gap

13. Malapropism

Answer: Ridiculous misuse of words

Derived from the name of a character in a play 'The Rivals' by Sheridan. The character is Mrs. Malaprop who misuses words. An example of a malapropism is: 'He reached the pinochle of his career.'

14. Nevus

Answer: Birthmark

Alternative spelling = naevus.

15. Onomatopoeia

Answer: Word imitating a sound

Examples of onomatopeoia are 'pop,' 'arf,' and, I might add, 'duh'!

16. Perdurable

Answer: Permanent

Just what it sounds like! Also, everlasting...

17. Quisling

Answer: A traitor

This word is derived from the name of a Norwegian politician, Vidkun Quisling, who betrayed his country to the Nazis during World War II.

18. Roentgenography

Answer: X-ray photography

Named for Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen, a German physicist who is credited as the discoverer of x-rays.

19. Shivaree

Answer: A noisy celebration

20. Thaumaturgy

Answer: Magic

21. Ululate

Answer: To howl

To howl, wail or lament.

22. Vaticinate

Answer: To fortell the future

23. Wamble

Answer: To wriggle about

24. Xiphoid

Answer: An anatomical structure

The Xiphoid process is cartilage at the base of the sternum (breastbone).

25. Yclept

Answer: Named

Source: Author Pat6789

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