Trivia

A wombat is a marsupial native to which country?

A: Australia

A “sounder” is the term used to refer to a group of

what type of animal?
A: Wild swine, pigs or boars.

The aardvark is native to which continent?

A: Africa

What is the only mammal that can truly fly?

A: The bat

What is the name for a mammal this is born

incompletely developed and usually carried in the
mother’s pouch?
A: Marsupial

What spiny venous fish, common in home

aquariums, has become an invasive species in the
Caribbean Sea and U.S. Atlantic coastal waters?
A: Lionfish

What is the largest rodent found in North America?

A: Beaver

What is the only bird known to fly backwards?

A: Hummingbird
What is largest living bird by wingspan?
A: Wandering Albatross

What breed of horse is best known for its use in

racing?
A: Thoroughbred

What chemical element gives the blood of a lobster

a bluish tint?
A: Copper

What is the common term for bovine spongiform

encephalopathy, a disease that causes degeneration
of the brain and spinal cord in cattle?
A: Mad cow disease

A panda’s daily diet consists almost entirely of what

plant?
A:Bamboo

What was the name of the gorilla that was shot and
killed at the Cincinnati zoo in 2016 after a three-
year old boy fell into the enclosure?
A:; Harambe

Cynophobia is the fear of what kind of animal?

A: Dogs

Which of the traditional five senses are dolphins

believed not to possess?
A: Smell

A flamboyance is a group of what animal?

Share
A: Flamingos

What is a group of whales called?

A: A pod

What is the proper term for a group of parrots?

A: Pandemonium

What is a group of lions called?

A; A pride

How many hearts does an octopus have?

A: Three

The Starry Night is an oil on canvas painted by

which post-impressionist painter?
A: Vincent van Gogh

Who painted a late 15th-century mural known as

the Last Supper?
A: Leonardo da Vinci

What French sculptor created the Statue of

Liberty?
A: Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi

How many paintings did Vincent Van Gogh sell

during his lifetime?
A: One, “The Red Vineyard at Arles”.

What painter is famous for cutting off part of his

ear?
A: Vincent Van Gogh

Foie gras is a french delicacy made from the liver of

what animal?
A: Duck or Goose
101 FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES

1. It is the 64th largest country in the world with approximately 300,000 square
kilometers (115,831 sq. mi.).

2. It is composed of 7,107 islands.

3. The most populated city in the country is Quezon City.

4. It has around 100 million population.

5. It ranks 12th among the most populous countries in the world, while it is 7th in
Asia.

6. Three of the top 10 biggest malls in the world are found in the Philippines. These
are the SM Mall of Asia, SM North Edsa, and SM Megamall.

7. The Philippines is considered to be the world’s top producer of coconuts.

8. Before the 10 kilometer Mexico underground river was discovered, the Puerto
Princesa Subterranean River (located in Palawan) was the world’s longest
underground waterway.

9. Based on the 2000 census, the Philippines is the 5th largest English-speaking
country in the world.

10. There are more than 200 volcanoes in the Philippines, but not all are active.

11. The Rice Terraces in the Cordillera Region is considered a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.

12. 80% of the population in the country is Roman Catholic.

13. The highest peak in the Philippines is Mt. Apo (2,954 meters) which is located in
Mindanao.
14. The first Spanish to be the governor-general of the Philippines is Miguel Lopez de
Legaspi.

15. The Philippines was named after King Phillip II of Spain.

16. The country was a colony of Spain for more than 300 years (1565-1898).

17. The Philippines is considered to be the “text capital of the world”. Around 450
million of text messages are sent daily by the 35 million mobile users in the country.

18. Mindanao Trench, which is located near the Philippines, is one of the deepest
ocean trenches in the world, with depth reaching 6.5 miles.

19. The first Filipino who received a heart transplant is Rainier Lagman.

20. The University of San Carlos in Cebu (founded in 1595) and the University of
Santo Tomas in Manila (founded in 1611) are older than the Harvard University
(founded in 1636).

21. Eugenio Torre, a Filipino, is the first International Grandmaster from Asia. He
won the Chess Olympiad in Nice, France in 1974.

22. Two Filipino beauty queens won the Miss Universe Title: Gloria Diaz (1969) and
Margie Morgan (1973).

23. Abelardo Aguilar, a Filipino doctor, discovered the antibiotic erythromycin.

24. The highest court in the Philippines is the Supreme Court. It is headed by the
Chief Justice.

25. The official Filipino language is based on the Tagalog language.

26. 5% of the Philippine population is Muslim. Most of them occupy the Mindanao
islands.
27. The first people to migrate to the Philippines are the Negritos (around 30,000
years ago).

28. Jose Rizal is considered widely as the national hero of the Philippines.
However, the Philippine government has not yet explicitly proclaimed Rizal as the
official national hero of the Philippines. The term national hero can also be used to
refer to Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. del
Pilar, Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat, Juan Luna, Melchora Aquino and Gabriela Silang –
the other national hereos recommended by the National Heroes Committee
recommended on November 15, 1995.

29. The original Philippine flag was sewn in Hong Kong.

30. President Ferdinand Marcos ran the Philippines for 21 years (1965-1986).

31. The country was planned to be fully independent in 1945 through the
Commonwealth government, but the Second World War happened.

32. Aside from the GOMBURZA, the Philippines had another three martyr priests.
These are the secular priests from Bicol, namely Fr. Gabriel Prieto, Fr. Severino Diaz,
and Fr. Inocencio Herrera.

33. The first World War II American hero, Capt. Colin P. Kelly Jr., was killed during
a Philippine combat against Japan.

34. The first Muslim senator is Hadji Butu.

35. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is the second woman president of the Philippines. She is
also the daughter of another former president, Diosdado Macapagal.

36. The jeepney is a mode of transportation that is unique to the Philippines.

37. The tarsier, one of the smallest primates in the world, is found in the Philippines
alone. It can be seen in the provinces of Bohol, Leyte, Samar, and parts of Mindanao.
38. The Mindoro dwarf buffalo, commonly called tamaraw, is a critically endangered
mammal that can be only found in Mindoro, Philippines.

39. Sinarapan, the world’s smallest food fish, can be only found in the Philippines,
particularly in the Bicol River, and in Lakes Manapao, Katugday, Bato, and Buhi in
Camarines Sur.

40. Halo-halo is a popular Filipino dessert that is a favorite during summer.

41. Filipinos are fond of nicknames that repeat syllables like Nene and Jun-jun.

42. Among the Philippines’ most popular local superheroes are Darna and Captain
Barbel.

43. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino is the 15th and current president of the Philippines.

44. The national anthem of the Philippines is entitled “Lupang Hinirang” (“Chosen
Land”). The music was composed by Julian Felipe, while the lyrics was from Jose
Palma’s poem, “Filipinas”.

45. Philippine Peso is the unit of currency in the country.

46. The San Juanico Bridge that connects Leyte and Samar is the longest bridge in the
Philippines that connects two islands. It is 2.162 km. in length and 10.620 m. in width.
More interesting facts about the San Juanico Bridge can be found here.

47. The mangoes in the Philippines are considered to be among the sweetest.

48. When the Philippine flag is raised with the red side on top, it means the country is
under war.

49. The longest snake in the world, the Reticulated Python, can be found in the
Philippines. This snake is native to Asian countries and can grow up to the length of
22.8 ft. It can be distinguished by the “net-like” patterns on its skin.

50. The first European to reach the Philippines is Ferdinand Magellan.

51. The waling-waling is called the “Queen of Philippine Orchids” since it is endemic
to the Philippines, particularly Mindanao. It is being pushed to be the national flower
of the country, alongside with sampaguita.

52. The Glory of the Sea, which is found in the Philippines, is among the most
expensive shells in the world.

53. The Saltwater Crocodile, found in the Philippines, is the biggest reptile in the
world. The largest crocodile ever captured was Lolong, measuring 20.3 ft. It was
caught in Agusan del Sur, Philippines. He died in captivity on February 10, 2013.

54. The pisidium, the smallest shell in the world, is found in the Philippines.

55. The largest bamboo organ in the world is the one at St. Joseph Church in Las
Pinas City, Philippines.

56. The smallest hoofed animal in the world is no other than the Philippine mouse
deer, commonly known in the country as pilandok. It is only found in the island of
Balabac in Palawan, Philippines.

57. Palawan, with 1,769 islands and totaling to 14,896.3 sq. km., is the largest
province in the Philippines.

59. Laguna de Bay is the largest lake in the Philippines. It is located between Laguna
and Rizal, and measures 900 sq. km.

60. Boracay, Siargao, and Dakak are among the world’s best beaches, and they are in
the Philippines.

61. Average Filipinos eat rice meals three times a day.

62. Among the internationally known Filipino personalities, or those who have
Filipino-blood, are Lea Salonga, Bruno Mars, Charice, Vanessa Hudgens, and Apl
.de.Ap.

63. The Mayon Volcano in Albay, Philippines, has a perfect cone shape.
64. Carlos P. Romulo is the first Filipino and Asian to be a UN President.

65. Jose Rizal, a national hero of the Philippines, could write and read at the age of
two.

66. The Philippines was bought by the US from Spain in 1898 through the “Treaty of
Paris” in 1898. At the cost of $20 million, the Spain surrendered the archipelago and
other colonies including Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guam, and some parts of the Spanish
West Indies to the United States.

67. Corazon Aquino is the first female president in the Philippines.

68. The Maria Cristina Falls, which is located in Lanao del Norte, is the largest falls in
the country.

69. Cebu City, known as the ‘Queen City of the South’, is considered the oldest city in
the country. Colon Street in Cebu is the shortest and oldest national road in the
country.

70. Before the Americans, the English language was first introduced by the British
invaders to the Filipinos in 1762.

71. The longest river in the Philippines is the Cagayan River (also called Rio Grande
de Cagayan). It measures up to 505 km. in length.

72. The Philippine Eagle is the largest eagle species in the world.

73. The Doctrina Christiana is among the first books to be published in the
Philippines. It was written by Juan de Plasencia in 1593.

74. The first Filipina commercial plane pilot is Aimee Carandang.

75. The first Filipina elected twice as a senator is Eva Estrada Kalaw.

76. San Miguel Corporation is Southeast Asia’s largest food, beverage, and packing
company that is listed publicly.
77. The first airconditioned building in the country is Manila Hotel.

78. Clarke’s Café in Binondo is the first ice cream parlor in the Philippines, which
opened in 1899.

79. Marikina City is considered the Shoe Capital of the Philippines.

80. The Philippines was called Archipelago de San Lazarus by Ferdinand Magellan
upon discovery.

81. The Negros Occidental province has the largest number of chartered cities. It has
13 cities all in all.

82. The first Miss Philippines is Evangeline de Castro from Baguio.

83. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago is known as the “Iron Lady of Asia”.

84. The first Filipina to bag the Miss International title is Gemma Cruz.

85. Luneta Park was originally called Bagumbayan.

86. Mi Ultimo Adios is the most translated poem in the Philippines.

87. The province of Aurora is named after the first lady of Pres. Manuel Quezon.

88. Centro Escolar University, established in 1907, is the oldest women’s university in
the Philippines.

89. The Philippine Pearl is the country’s national gem.

90. El Hogar (means The Home) is the first women’s magazine to be published in the
Philippines. It came out in 1893.

91. The largest restaurant in the Philippines is the Farmer’s Market Foodome which is
located in Quezon City.
92. The Philippines is famous for the Chocolate Hills in Bohol.

93. The last American who served as a governor-general in the Philippines is Frank
Murphy.

94. The Republic of the Philippines was established on July 4 1946. This was
officially marked by Manuel Roxas’ becoming the country’s president.

95. The Philippines is the first Southeast Asian country which became independent
after the World War II.

96. The 100 millionth Filipino was born on July 27, 2014. The baby girl, named
Chonalyn, was delivered in Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital.

97. The Crystal Arcade, which is located in Escolta, is considered the first modern
building in the country.

98. Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, is named after a mangrove tree that has
white flowers called nilad.

99. The last rajah or king of Cebu is Rajah Tupas, who was baptized as Felipe Tupas
in 1565 after defeat to Miguel Lopez de Legaspi.

100. Andres Bonifacio is considered the “Father of Philippine Revolution” as he

founded the Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan
(KKK) which sought to free the country from the rule of Spain.

101. The Battle of Leyte Gulf is said to be the biggest naval battle in the history.

Philippines historical timeline

c.40,000 BC

Migrants cross land bridge from Asian mainland and settle in

the archipelago.
AD 900

Chinese establish coastal trading posts over the next 300 years.

late 14th century

Muslim clergy start to bring Islam to the Philippines from

Indonesia and Malaya.

1521

Explorer Ferdinand Magellan lands on Cebu and claims the

region for Spain. Lapu Lapu (Rajah Cilapulapu), in defending
his island of Mactan, slays Magellan.

1543

Next Spanish expedition led by Ruy de Villalobos lands in

Mindanao. He names the archipelago “Filipinas,” after Crown
Prince Felipe II.

1872

Uprising in Cavite, south of Manila. Spain executes Filipino

priests Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez, and Jacinto Zamora,
martyrs to the cause of nationalism.

1892

Jose Rizal founds La Liga Filipina, is arrested and exiled to

Dapitan, Mindanao. Andres Bonifacio founds the Katipunan with
aim to revolt.
1896

Spanish colonists imprison and kill hundreds of Filipinos in

Manila. Bonifacio and the Katipunan launch the Philippine
revolution. Rizal is executed.

1898

The United States defeats Spain in war. Treaty between the

United States and Spain grants the US authority over the
Philippines.

1941-2

Japanese land on Luzon, overrun Manila. Roosevelt rejects

Philippine neutrality.

1944

MacArthur and Osmeña land in Leyte and begin the Allied effort
to retake the archipelago.

1945

Allies recapture Manila, which is subject to intense

bombardment. Much of the city is destroyed.

1946

On July 4, the Philippines is granted independence.

1972–81
Martial law imposed. President Marcos accumulates a vast
fortune. His wife, Imelda, dominates Manila government.

1984

“Parliament of the street” holds frequent anti-Marcos

demonstrations. Spiraling economic crises.

1986

Violence escalates before elections, at least 30 are killed on

election day. Election rigging enrages Filipinos and millions join
in uprising against Marcos regime. On February 26, Marcoses
flee. Corazon Aquino elected to presidency. New constitution
drafted.

1991

Dramatic eruption of Mt Pinatubo. Americans pack up and leave

the Philippines.

1992

Fidel Ramos, Aquino’s defense secretary and a strong ally who

backed her during coup attempts, wins presidential election. His
pragmatic leadership defies traditional perceptions of inept
Filipino government. Foreign investors return.

2002
US military joins the Philippines in large-scale exercises in the
southern Philippines to rescue kidnapped American tourists.

2010

Benigno Aquino III, son of former president Corazon Aquino,

wins the presidential race; a year later his government holds
landmark talks with Muslim rebels.

2012

China and the Philippines clash over Scarborough Shoal in the

contested South China Sea, seeding a high-level diplomatic
dispute. Breakthrough ceasefire and agreement in the long-
running dispute with separatists in the south.

TIMELINE OF PHILIPPINE HISTORY

● 1380 - Muslim Arabs arrived at the Sulu Archipelago.

● 1521 - Ferdinand Magellan "discovers" the islands and names them: Archipelago of
San Lazaro.

● 1542 - Spanish expedition commandeered by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos claims the

islands for Spain; names them "Philippines" after Prince Philip, later King Philip II of
Spain; the Philippines becomes part of Spanish Empire.

● 1872 - Gomburza (Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jocinto Zamora) were
executed by the Spaniards.

● 1892 - Jose Rizal founded the civic organization La Liga Filipina.

● 1896 - Katipuneros tear their cedulas & shout in contempt of the Spaniards in what is
called the Cry of Pugadlawin.

● 1897 - General Emilio Aguinaldo establishes the a new republic at Biak-na-Bato in

Bulacan.
● 1886 - José Rizal publishes anti-Spanish novel, Noli Me Tangere (The Lost Eden); and
seers up independence sentiment.

● 1896 - Spanish execute Rizal for instigating insurrection; public outrage spawns
rebellion.

● 1898 - American warship Maine was blown up in Havana harbour, triggers the the
Spanish-American war, the battle of Manila Bay ensues.

● 1898 - Emilio Aguinaldo assembled the Malolos Congress in Bulacan, then declares
independence in Kawit, Cavite

● 1899 - Treaty of Paris ends Spanish-American War, cedes Philippines to U.S. after
payment to Spain by U.S. of $ 20 million. Emilio Aguinaldo declares independence then
leads a guerrilla war against U.S.

● 1901 - U.S. captures Aguinaldo; William Howard Taft arrives as first U.S. governor of
Philippines.

● 1902 - Insurrection ends; Taft improves economic conditions, settles disputes over
church ownership of land, establishes "Pensionado" program, allowing Filipinos to study
in U.S., which helped modernize and westernize the country.

● 1916 - U.S. congress passes the Jones Law establishing elected Filipino legislature
with house and senate.

● 1934 - U.S. congress approves the Tydings-McDuffie Law promising Philippine

independence by 1946; transition to independence begins.

● 1935 - Filipino people approve constitution creating the Philippine

Commonwealth with Manuel Quezon y Molina as president.

● 1941 - Japanese invades the Philippines, and defeats Gen. Douglas MacArthur at
Bataan and Corregidor; Quezon establishes government in exile in the U.S.

● 1944 - Quezon dies in exile; Vice President Sergio Osmeña assumes the presidency;
MacArthur returns to the Philippines and lands in Leyte with little resistance.

● 1945 - Gen. MacArthur liberates Manila and President Osmeña establishes

government.

● 1946 - The U.S. gave the Philippines independence and Manuel Roxas y Acuña is
elected as the first president of the new republic.

● 1965 - Ferdinand E. Marcos is elected by a big majority as president.

● 1972 - Martial Law was declared by President Marcos. This period is marked with
human rights abuses and corruption.

● 1981 - Marcos lifts Martial Law.

● 1983 - Opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino returns from exile and is
assassinated on arrival at Manila International Airport; Aquino's widow Corazon leads
the "People Power" protest movement.

● 1986 - Marcos was officially declared winner in a presidential election beating

Corazon Aquino amid charges of fraud; demonstrations erupt; Marcos flees to Hawaii;
Aquino is declared president and forms a new government.

● 1992 - Endorsed by Aquino, her Secretary of Defense Gen. Fidel Ramos wins
presidential election. U.S. Philippine congress rejects a new treaty with the U.S. and
Subic Bay naval base and Clark Air Field returns to Philippine government,
ending American military presence in the Philippines.

● 1996 - The government of Ramos agrees to greater autonomy for southern island of
Mindanao. Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) ends the guerrilla war with the
government.

● 1997 - Asian financial crisis grips Asia and the Philippines escapes the crisis despite
series of currency devaluations.

● 1998 - Former movie actor Joseph Estrada is elected president.

● 2000 - On charges of corruption, the lower house impeach Estrada.

● 2001 - Estrada was forced to step down due to public outrage over corruption
allegations. Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumes the presidency.

● 2004 - Presidential election takes place. Arroyo's closest rival (a dear friend of Ex-
President Estrada) is film actor Fernando Poe, Jr. Arroyo narrowly defeats Poe, taking
39.5% of the vote to Poe's 36.6%.

● 2005 - A taped conversation between President Arroyo & an election official surfaced
during the 2004 elections implying she influenced the official election results. Calls for
her resignation and demonstrations followed soon after. In September 2005, Congress
voted down the filing of an impeachment against Arroyo.

● 2007 - Former President Joseph Estrada is convicted of plunder, the first ever in the
history of the Philippines.

● 2010 - First automated national elections in the Philippines.

● 2010 - Benigno "Noynoy" Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III wins the Presidential
elections and sworn in at Manila's Rizal Park on June 30, 2010.

● 2016 - Rodrigo "Rody" Roa Duterte, the former Mayor of Davao City assumes the
Presidency. He is the first president to come from Mindanao.

● 2017 - Pres. Duterte declares Martial Law in Mindanao Island due to the rebellion in
Marawi City by ISIS-affiliated Maute group on May 23 and extended by both houses of
congress to December 31, 2017. The devastated city of Marawi was declared liberated
by Duterte on October 17, 2017.
SPELLING

Condottiere (condo-teeair-ay, noun, Italian): a leader of a band of

mercenaries common in Europe between the 14th and 16th centuries

Soubresaut (sue-breh-sow, noun, French): a jump performed with the legs

held together and the body erect but slightly curved to the side

Praxitelean (prax-it-eel-e-an, adjective, Greek): in the style of Praxiteles,

a Greek sculptor

Ispaghula (isp-uh-gooluh, noun, Persian): the dried seeds of a southern

Asian plantain, chiefly used medicinally in the treatment of dysentery

Paucispiral (poss-iss-piral, adjective, Latin): (of a mollusc's operculum or

shell) having few whorls

Cantal (kahn-tawl, noun, French): a hard cheddar-type cheese made in the

south of France

Uraeus (ur-ee-us, noun, New Latin): a representation of the sacred asp

(Naja haje) appearing in ancient Egyptian art and especially on the
headdress of rulers and serving as a symbol of sovereignty

Metatarsus (met-uh-tarsus, noun, New Latin): the group of bones in the

foot, between the ankle and the toes

Bewusstseinslage (buh-voos-tines-lahga, noun, German): a state of

consciousness or a feeling devoid of sensory components

Miarolitic (mee-uh-roe-litic, adjective, Italian-derived): characterized by

irregular cavities into which well-formed crystals project

Grognard (grogg-nard, noun, French): an old soldier

Haecceitas (heck-see-uh-tass, noun, Medieval Latin): the status of being

an individual or a particular nature
Amyloid (am-uh-loid, adjective, Latin & Greek): starch-like

Poutine (pu-teen, noun, French Canadian): a dish of chipped potatoes

topped with curd cheese and a tomato-based sauce

Chaudfroid (shoh-frwah, noun, French): a jellied sauce (as a white or

brown sauce fortified with gelatin) used as a garnish especially for meat or
fish
Aardwolf is a hyena-like animal of southern and eastern Africa.
Aberration is departing from the usual course.
Abridgment is a shortened form of a book.
Abscission is sudden termination.
Acerbate is to make sour or bitter.
Aficionado is a devotee of something.
Algorithm is a set of rules for solving a problem.
Alignment is arrangement in a straight line.
Allocution is a formal speech.
Ancillary is a subordinate or subsidiary.
Apocalypse is widespread destruction or disaster.
Applique is ornamentation applied to a material.
Archetype (arkitype) is the original model.
Avenge is to exact satisfaction for.
Babushka is a woman's scarf.
Baccalaureate is a religious service held before commencement day.
Balalaika is a Russian musical instrument.
Baroque pertains to architecture and art from 17th century Italy.
Barracuda is a long, predaceous fish.
Bayou is a marshy arm of a river, usually sluggish or stagnant.
Beleaguer is to surround with troubles.
Belligerence is a hostile attitude.
Beret is a soft, visorless cap.
Bivouac is a military encampment.
Blithe is joyous, glad or cheerful.
Boatswain is a warrant officer on a warship.
Bourgeois is to be a member of the middle class.
Boutique is a small shop within a larger store.
Boutonniere is a flower worn by a man in his lapel.
Boysenberry is a blackberry-like fruit.
Buoy is a float used to mark a water channel.
Cabaret is a restaurant providing food, drink and music.
Calisthenics are gymnastic exercises.
Callous is hard or indifferent.
Camouflage is hiding oneself from one's enemy.
Cannoneer is an artilleryman.
Cantankerous is disagreeable to deal with.
Cardiopulmonary pertaining to the heart and lungs.
Carnivorous means flesh-eating.
Catastrophe is a sudden and widespread disaster.
Celerity is swiftness, speed.
Censer a container in which incense is burned.
Changeable is liable to change or to be changed.
Chaparral is a dense growth of shrubs or trees (southwest).
Commemorate is to serve as a reminder of.
Committal is an act or instance of committing.
Connoisseur is a person competent to pass critical judgment.
Convalescence is the gradual recovery to health after illness.
Cornucopia is the horn of plenty in mythology.
Corruptible is that which can be corrupted.
Crevasse is a fissure in ice or the earth.
Croissant is a rich, buttery crescent-shaped roll.
Curmudgeon is a bad-tempered, cantankerous person.
Cynic is a person who believes in selfishness as prime motivation.
Dachshund is a long, German dog.
Decaffeinate is to extract caffeine from.
Deliverance is an act or instance of delivering.
Denouement is the final resolution of the intricacies of a plot.
Diaphragm is a part of the human body.
Dichotomy is division into two parts.
Dietitian is a person who is an expert on nutrition.
Diphthong is an unsegmented gliding speech sound
Docile is easily handled or manageable.
Echo is a repetition of sound produced by reflection of sound waves.
Eclair is a finger-shaped creampuff.
Eczema is an inflammatory condition of the skin.
Effervescent is bubbling, vivacious or gay.
Eloquence is using language with fluency and aptness.
Encumbrance is something burdensome.
Exquisite is of special beauty or charm.
Extemporaneous is done without special preparation.
Facsimile is an exact copy.
Fallacious means logically unsound.
Fascinate is to attract and hold attentively.
Fauna are the animals of a region considered as a whole.
Flocculent is like a clump of wool.
Foliage is the leaves of a plant.
Forage is food for cattle or horses.
Forsythia is a shrub of the olive family.
Fraught means full of or accompanied by.
Fuchsia is a bright, purplish-red color.
Gauche means lacking in social grace.
Genre is a class of artistic endeavor having a particular form.
Germane means relevant.
Gerrymander is dividing election districts to suit one group or party.
Glockenspiel is a musical instrument.
Gnash is to grind or strike the teeth together.
Granary is a storehouse for grain.
Grippe is the former name for influenza.
Guillotine a device for execution.
Hallelujah means praise ye the Lord.
Handwrought is formed or shaped by hand, esp. metal objects.
Harebrained means giddy or reckless.
Harpsichord is a keyboard instrument, precursor of the piano.
Haughty is disdainfully proud.
Heir is a person who inherits.
Hemorrhage is a profuse discharge of blood.
Heterogeneous is different in kind, unlike.
Hoard is a supply that is carefully guarded or hidden.
Holocaust is a great or complete destruction.
Homogenize is to form by blending unlike elements.
Homonym is a word the same in spelling and sound, but different in meaning.
Horde is a large group, a multitude.
Humoresque is a musical composition of humorous character.
Hydraulic is employing water or other liquids in motion.
Hydrolysis is chemical decomposition by reacting with water.
Hypothesis is a proposition set forth to explain some occurrence.
Hysterical is of or pertaining to hysteria.
Idyll is a composition, usually describing pastoral scenes or any appealing incident, or the like.
Iguana is a large lizard native to Central and South America.
Imperceptible is very slight, gradual or subtle.
Impetuous is characterized by sudden or rash action.
Impossible means not possible or unable to be done.
Impromptu means done without previous preparation.
Incidence means the rate of change or occurrence.
Indicator is a person or thing that indicates.
Infallible is absolutely trustworthy or sure.
Inferior is lower in station, rank or degree.
Insurgence is an act of rebellion.
Interfere is to meddle in the affairs of others.
Invoice is an itemized bill for goods or services.
Iridescent is displaying a play of bright colors, like a rainbow.
Isle is a small island.
Isthmus is a narrow strip of land with water on both sides, connecting two larger strips of land.
Jackal is a wild dog of Asia and Africa.
Jacuzzi is a trade name for a whirlpool bath and related products.
Joist is a beam used to support ceilings or floors or the like.
Juxtaposition is the act of placing close together.
Kaiser is a German or Austrian emperor.
Kaleidoscope is a continually shifting pattern or scene.
Ketch is a two-masted sailing vessel.
Knave is an unprincipled or dishonest person.
Knell is the sound made by a bell rung slowly, at a death.
Knoll is a small, rounded hill.
Labyrinth is an intricate combination of paths in which it is difficult to find the exit.
Laconic is using few words, being concise.
Laggard is a lingerer; loiterer.
Lagoon is an area of shallow water separated from the sea by sandy dunes.
Laryngitis is the inflammation of the larynx.
Larynx is the structure in which the vocal cords are located.
Lavender is a pale bluish purple.
Legionnaire is a member of any legion.
Leprechaun is a dwarf or sprite in Ireland.
Liege is a Feudal lord entitled to allegiance or service.
Luau is a feast of Hawaiian food.
Luscious is highly pleasing to the taste or smell.
Lyre is a musical instrument of ancient Greece, harp-like.
Lymphatic is pertaining to, containing or conveying lymph.
Mace is a club-like, armor-breaking weapon, used in the Middle Ages.
Magnanimous is generous in forgiving insult or injury.
Magnify is to increase the apparent size of, as does a lens.
Malfeasance is wrongdoing by a public official.
Maneuver is a planned movement of troops or warships, etc.
Mantle is a loose, sleeveless cloak or cape.
Marquee is a projection above a theater entrance, usually containing the name of the feature at the
theater.
Masquerade is a party of people wearing masks and other disguises.
Mature is complete in natural growth or development.
Maul is a heavy hammer.
Melee is a confused, hand-to-hand fight among several people.
Memento is a keepsake or souvenir.
Mercenary is working or acting merely for money or reward.
Mesquite is a spiny tree found in western North America.
Mettle is courage or fortitude.
Minuscule means very small.
Mirage is something illusory, without substance or reality.
Momentous is of great or far-reaching importance.
Monastery is a house occupied by usually monks.
Monocle is an eyeglass for one eye.
Morgue is a place in which bodies are kept.
Morphine is a narcotic used as a pain-killer or sedative.
Mosque is a Muslim temple or place of public worship.
Motif is a recurring subject, theme or idea.
Mousse is a sweetened dessert with whipped cream as a base.
Mozzarella is a mild, white, semi-soft Italian cheese.
Muenster is a white cheese made from whole milk.
Municipal is of or pertaining to a town or city or its government.
Mysterious is full of or involving mystery.
Mystique is an aura of mystery or mystical power surrounding a particular occupation or pursuit.
Naughty means disobedient or mischievous.
Neuter is gender that is neither masculine nor feminine.
Nickel is a coin of the U.S., 20 of which make a dollar.
Nickelodeon is an early motion-picture theater.
Nomenclature are names or terms comprising a set or system.
Nonchalant is coolly unconcerned, unexcited.
Nonpareil is having no equal.
Noxious is harmful or injurious to health.
Nuance is a subtle difference in meaning.
Nucleus is the core.
Nuisance is an obnoxious or annoying person.
Nuptial is of or pertaining to marriage or the ceremony.
Nylons are stockings worn by women.
Obnoxious is highly objectionable or offensive.
Obsolescent means passing out of use, as a word.
Occurrence is the action, fact or instance of happening.
Ocelot is a spotted, leopard-like cat, ranging from Texas to South America.
Ogre is a monster in fairy tales.
Onyx is black.
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine dealing with anatomy, functions and diseases of the eye.
Ordnance is cannon or artillery.
Orphan is a child who has lost both parents through death.
Oscillate is to swing or move to and fro, as a pendulum.
Overwrought is extremely excited or agitated.
Oxygen is the element constituting about one-fifth of the atmosphere.
Pacifist is a person who is opposed to war or to violence of any kind.
Palette is a board with a thumb hole, used by painters to mix colors.
Palomino is a horse with a golden coat, and a white mane and tail.
Pamphlet is a short essay, generally controversial, on some subject of contemporary interest.
Pantomime is the art of conveying things through gestures, without speech.
Papacy is the office, dignity or jurisdiction of the pope.
Parable is a short story designed to illustrate some truth.
Paralysis is a loss of movement in a body part, caused by disease or injury.
Paraphernalia is apparatus necessary for a particular activity.
Parishioner is one of the inhabitants of a parish.
Parochial is of or pertaining to a parish or parishes.
Parody is a humorous imitation of a serious piece of literature.
Parquet is a floor composed of strips or blocks of wood forming a pattern.
Partition is a division into portions or shares.
Pasture is grass used to feed livestock.
Patriarch is the male head of a family or tribal line.
Patrician is a person of noble rank; an aristocrat.
Paunchy is having a large and protruding belly.
Pause is a temporary stop or rest.
Pavilion is a building used for shelter, concerts, or exhibits.
Peak is the pointed top of a mountain.
Penchant is a strong inclination or liking for something.
Penguin is a flightless bird of the Southern Hemisphere.
Penicillin is an antibiotic of low toxicity.
Penitentiary is a prison maintained for serious offenders.
Perennial is lasting for a long time; enduring.
Periphery is the external boundary of any area.
Perjury is lying under oath.
Perseverance is doggedness, steadfastness.
Persuade is to prevail on a person to do something.
Peruse is to read through with care.
Pesticide is a chemical preparation to destroy pests.
Petition is a formally drawn request.
Phalanx is a body of troops in close array.
Phenomenon is a fact or occurrence observed or observable.
Philosopher is one who offers views on profound subjects.
Phoenix is a mythical bird able to rise from its own ashes.
Physics is the science that deals with matter, energy, motion and force.
Picturesque is visually charming or quaint.
Peace is a country's condition when not involved in war.
Pinnacle is a lofty peak.
Pinafore is a child's apron.
Pixie is a fairy or sprite, especially a mischievous one.
Placard is a paperboard sign or notice.
Placebo is a pill with no medicine but used to soothe a patient.
Plaid is any fabric woven of differently colored yarns in a cross-barred pattern.
Plight is a condition or situation especially an unfavorable one.
Plumber is a person who installs and repairs piping, fixtures, etc.
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs with congestion.
Poignant is keenly distressing to the feelings.
Poinsettia is sometimes called the Christmas flower.
Politicize is to bring a political flavor to.
Populous means heavily populated.
Porridge is a food made of cereal, boiled to a thick consistency in water or milk.
Posse is a force armed with legal authority.
Posthumous is arising, occurring, or continuing after one's death.
Potpourri is any mixture of unrelated objects, subjects, etc.
Practitioner is a person engaged in the practice of a profession or occupation.
Prairie is a tract of grassland; a meadow.
Precise is definitely or strictly stated.
Prerogative is an exclusive right or privilege.
Prestigious is having a high reputation.
Prey is an animal hunted or seized for food.
Principle is an accepted or professed rule of action or conduct.
Pronunciation is an accepted standard of the sound and stress patterns of a syllable or word.
Psalm is a sacred song or hymn.
Psychology is the science of the mind or of mental states and processes.
Purge is to cleanse or to purify.
Quaff is to drink a beverage.
Quandary is a state of uncertainty.
Quarantine is a strict isolation.
Questionnaire is a list of questions submitted for replies.
Queue is a braid of hair or a line of people.
Quiche is a dish with cheeses and other vegetables.
Quintessence is the pure and concentrated essence of a substance.
Rabble is a disorderly crowd; mob.
Raffle is a form of a lottery.
Rambunctious is difficult to control or handle.
Rancid is having an unpleasant smell or taste.
Raspberry is the fruit of a shrub.
Ratchet is a tool.
Rationale is the fundamental reason serving to account for something.
Recede means to go or move away.
Recluse is a person who lives apart or in seclusion.
Reconnaissance is the act of reconnoitering.
Rectify is to make or set right.
Recurrence is an act of something happening again.
Reggae is a style of Jamaican popular music.
Rehearse is to practice.
Reign is the period during which a sovereign sits on a throne.
Rein is the leather strap used to control a horse.
Remembrance is a memory.
Reminiscence is the process of recalling experiences.
Requisition is the act of requiring or demanding.
Rescind is to annul or repeal.
Respondent is a person who responds or makes replies.
Resume is a summing up, a summary.
Resurrection is the act of rising from the dead.
Revise is to amend or alter.
Rhapsodic is ecstatic or extravagantly enthusiastic.
Rhetoric is bombast or the undue use of exaggeration or display.
Rhubarb is a plant of the buckwheat family.
Right is in accordance with what is good or just.
Rigor is strictness, severity or hardness.
Rotor is a rotating part of a machine.
Rouge is any of various red cosmetics for cheek and lips.
Roulette is a game of chance.
Rubella is a disease also called German measles.
Sable is an Old World weasel-like animal.
Sachet is a small bag containing perfuming powder or the like.
Sacrilegious is pertaining to the violation of anything sacred.
Saffron is a crocus having showy, purple flowers.
Salutatorian is the person ranking second in the graduating class.
Sanctimonious is making a hypocritical show of religious devotion.
Sapphire is a gem with a blue color.
Sarcasm is harsh or bitter derision or irony.
Satellite is a body that revolves around a planet, a moon.
Sauerkraut is cabbage allowed to ferment until sour.
Sauna is a bath that uses dry heat to induce perspiration.
Scandalous is disgraceful or shocking behavior.
Scarab is a beetle regarded as sacred by the ancient Egyptians.
Scenario is the outline of a plot of a dramatic work.
Scepter is a rod held as an emblem of regal or imperial power.
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder.
Schnauzer is a German breed of medium-sized dogs.
Sciatic is pertaining to the back of the hip.
Scour is to remove dirt by hard scrubbing.
Scourge is a cause of affliction or calamity.
Scrod is a young Atlantic codfish or haddock.
Scruple is a moral standard that acts as a restraining force.
Sculptor is a person who practices the art of sculpture.
Seance is a meeting in which people try to communicate with spirits.
Seclude is to withdraw into solitude.
Seine is a fishing net.
Semaphore is an apparatus for conveying visual signals.
Sensuous means pertaining to or affecting the senses.
Separate means to keep apart or divide.
Sepulcher is a tomb, grave or burial place.
Sequoia is a large tree, aka redwood.
Sergeant is a noncommissioned officer above the rank of corporal.
Serial is anything published in short installments at regular intervals.
Sew is to join or attach by stitches.
Shackle is something used to secure the wrist, leg, etc.
Sheathe is to put a sword into a sheath.
Sheen is luster, brightness, radiance.
Shrew is a woman of violent temper and speech.
Shroud is a cloth or sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial.
Sierra is a chain of hills or mountains, the peaks of which suggest the teeth of a saw.
Silhouette is a two-dimensional representation of the outline of an object.
Simile is a figure of speech in which two unlike things are compared, as in she is like a rose.
Simultaneous is occurring or operating at the same time.
Singe is to burn slightly, to scorch.
Siphon is a tube bent into legs of unequal length, for getting liquid from one container to another.
Skeptic is a person who questions the validity of something.
Skew is to turn aside or swerve.
Slaughter is the killing of cattle, etc., for food.
Sleigh is a vehicle on runners, especially used over snow or ice.
Sleight is skill or dexterity.
Sleuth is a detective.
Slough (sloo) is an area of soft, muddy ground.
Sojourn is a temporary stay.
Solder is an alloy fused and applied to the joint between metal objects to unite them.
Solemn is grave or sober or mirthless.
Sovereign is a monarch or a king.
Spasm is a sudden involuntary muscular contraction.
Specter is a ghost, phantom or apparition.
Sponsor is a person who vouches for or is responsible for a person.
Squabble is to engage in a petty quarrel.
Squeak is a short, sharp, shrill cry.
Squint is to look with the eyes partly closed.
Stationery is writing paper.
Stimulus is something that incites to action or exertion.
Strait is a narrow passage of water between 2 larger bodies of water.
Straitjacket is a garment made of strong material and designed to bind the arms.
Stroganoff is a dish of meet sauteed with onions and cooked in a sauce of sour cream.
Suave is smoothly agreeable or polite.
Subpoena is the usual writ for the summoning of witnesses.
Subtle is thin, tenuous or delicate in meaning.
Succinct means expressed in few words, concise, terse.
Sufficiency is adequacy.
Suite is a number of things forming a set.
Supersede is to replace in power, or acceptance.
Supposition is something that is supposed; assumption.
Surety is security against loss or damage.
Surrey is a light carriage for four persons.
Surrogate is a person appointed to act for another; a deputy.
Surveillance is a watch kept over a person or group.
Swerve is to turn aside abruptly.
Symposium is a meeting to discuss some subject.
Synod is an assembly of church delegates.
Synonym is a word having nearly the same meaning as another.
Syntax is the study of the rules for the formation of grammatical sentences in a language.
Tabernacle is a place or house of worship.
Tableau is a picture of a scene.
Tabular means arranged into a table.
Tachometer is a machine to measure velocity or speed.
Tacky is not tasteful or fashionable.
Tact is a sense of what to say without raising offense.
Taffy is a chewy candy.
Tail is the hindmost part of an animal.
Taint is a trace of something bad or harmful.
Tally is an account or reckoning.
Tambourine is a small drum consisting of a circular frame with skin stretched over it and several pairs
of metal jingles attached.
Tandem is one following or behind the other.
Tangible is capable of being touched.
Tantalize means to torment with.
Tapestry is a fabric used for wall hangings or furniture coverings.
Tassel is an ornament consisting of a bunch of threads hanging from a round knob, used on clothing or
jewelry.
Taught is the past participle of teach.
Taunt means to mock.
Tawdry means showy or cheap.
Tea is something to drink.
Tee is a golfer's aid.
Technique is the manner in which the technical skills of a particular art or field of endeavor are used.
Tedious means long and tiresome.
Teeter means to move unsteadily.
Telegraph is an apparatus to send messages to a distant place.
Telepathy is communication between minds.
Telephone is an apparatus to send sound to distances.
Temblor is a tremor; earthquake.
Tempt means to entice or allure to do something often considered wrong.
Tenor is the meaning that runs through something written or spoken.
Tense is stretched tight; high-strung or nervous.
Terrain is a tract of land.
Terse is neatly or effectively concise; brief and pithy.
Tetanus is a disease, commonly called lockjaw.
Thatch is a material used to cover roofs.
Thermometer is a device for measuring temperature.
Thesaurus is a dictionary of synonyms and antonyms.
Thesis is a proposition put forth to be considered.
Thigh is between the hip and the knee.
Thimble is a small cap, worn over the fingertip to protect it when pushing a needle through a cloth in
sewing.
Third is next after the second.
Thistle is a prickly plant.
Thorough is executed without negligence or omissions.
Thumb is the short, thick inner digit of the human hand.
Tier is one of a series of rows rising one behind or above another.
Tinsel is a glittering, metallic substance, usually in strips.
Titanic meaning gigantic.
Titlist is a titleholder, champion.
Tobacco is the plant used in making cigarettes.
Tongue is the movable organ in the mouth of humans.
Tonsillectomy is the operation removing one or both tonsils.
Topaz is a mineral used as a gem.
Torque is something that produces rotation.
Tout is to solicit business.
Toxicity is the degree of being poisonous.
Traceable is capable of being traced.
Trachea is the windpipe.
Trait is a distinguishing characteristic or quality.
Tranquil is calm or peaceful.
Transcend is to rise above or go beyond.
Transient means not lasting or enduring.
Translucent is letting pass through, but not clearly.
Trapeze is an apparatus consisting of a horizontal bar attached to two suspending ropes.
Trauma is a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury.
Trestle is a type of frame, used in railroad spans.
Trichotomy means divided into three parts.
Trivial means of little significance or importance.
Trough is a receptacle, usually for drinking from.
Troupe is a group of actors or performers, esp. travelers.
Truancy is the act of being truant or late.
Tyrannize is to exercise absolute control or power.
Ulcer is a sore on the skin.
Uncollectible means it can't be collected.
Unkempt is disheveled or messy.
Vaccinal pertaining to vaccine or vaccination.
Vague is not clearly expressed or identified.
Vaudeville is a theatrical entertainment.
Vehemence meaning ardor or fervor.
Veneer is a thin layer of wood.
Vengeance means violent revenge or getting back.
Vermicelli is a form of pasta.
Victuals are food supplies.
Viscount is a nobleman just below an earl or count.
Vogue means something in fashion.
Vying is competing or contending.
Waive is to give up or to forgo.
Whack is to strike with a sharp blow or blows.
Wheelwright is a person whose trade is to make wheels.
Wherever is in, at or to whatever place.
Wince is to draw back or tense the body.
Wrack is wreck or wreckage.
Wreak to inflict or execute as punishment or vengeance.
Wren is a small, active songbird.
Yeoman is a petty officer in a navy.
Zeppelin is a rigid airship or dirigible.
Zoological is of or pertaining to zoology.
Zucchini is a variety of summer squash.