What’s a word that’s made up of three three-letter words? The first of the three is a synonym for “automobile” and the third is a synonym for “attempt”?
What did Bertram, the Count of Rousillon, tell Lafeu that he had not heard of?
What’s a word that appears twice in the title of the Shakespeare play in which Bertram and Lafeu are characters?
What are two words that contain the letters of springtime months for their last syllables? One word is a verb and a noun. The other is an adjective that means naïve, simplistic, and superficial. This adjective I have in mind is what I hope my column never is.
Let me know your answers to these “coVaughandrums.” Now that we have those out of the way, here is this week’s word quiz.
1. miasma (mi-AS-muh)
A. a morbid, threatening influence or atmosphere that tends to corrupt or deplete
B. murky, dark, gloomy
C. a support system especially of helpful ideas
D. None of the above
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2. raison d’etre (RAY-zohn-DEH-truh)
A. a laser light
B. reason or justification for existence
C. a statement in which you admit that something is your fault
D. something that is done without reason or cause
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3. ingenuity (in-juh-NEW-uh-te)
A. practicality
B. inventiveness
C. shrewdness
D. positivity
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4. pinafore (PIN-uh-for)
A. a reptile found in various parts of Europe
B. a bird found in various parts of Europe
C. a light scarf with pinstripes (usually worn by British men)
D. a sleeveless apron that encircles and protects clothing worn by a child
Miasma is A. Raison d’etre is B. Ingenuity is B. Pinafore is D.
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5. Something that differs from the norm is a/an
A. aberration.
B. anomaly.
C. banality.
D. quidnunc.
I love the noun quidnunc, someone who is eager to tell the latest news (or gossip). Both A and B are correct for No. 5.
Editor’s Note: Dr. Don Rodney Vaughan is the pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church near Eupora and is on the faculty of East Mississippi Community College, Golden Triangle Campus. Contact him at dvaughan@eastms.edu.
