Nero Wolfe continues to speak - a quiz
My previous musing in the form of a quiz regarding Nero Wolfe's vocabulary (Out of the mouth of Wolfe ) seemed to generate much interest, so I thought I'd do another. Again, they are words I have run across mostly in Nero Wolfe novels which were written by Rex Stout. Mr. Stout's novels were written over several decades so a few of the words are peculiar to earlier times.
In any event, the challenge is to see if you know the meanings of these words. Once you think you do or give up, scroll down to see the definitions. By the way, often I have to check the definitions of the words myself, so don't think I sit here smugly knowing all of them.
Conflate -
Celerity -
Capacious -
Marconigram -
Calix -
Darb -
Affianced -
Ejaculation -
Osmundine -.
Doyen -
Foetid -
Verity -
Impecunious -
Sententiously -
Puerile -
Curry (not food definition)
Exigent
Ineludtable
Egregious
Probity
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Conflate - to fuse into one entity; merge
Celerity - swiftness; speed
Capacious - capable of holding much; spacious or roomy
Marconigram - wireless message named after Guglielmo Marconi
Calix - A flower-shaped or funnel-shaped structure (also calyx)
Darb - an excellent person or thing
Affianced - pledged by promise of marriage; betroth
Ejaculation - an abrupt discharge of fluid
Osmundine - I couldn't fine the definition of this. It was used as an adjective with fork.
Doyen - the senior member, as in age, rank, or experience, of a group, class, profession, etc.
Foetid - fetid, foul
Verity - the state or quality of being true; in accordance with fact or reality
Impecunious - penniless, poor
Sententiously - given to pompous moralizing
Puerile - childishly foolish; immature or trivial
Curry (not food definition) - to seek or gain favor by fawning or flattery
Exigent - requiring immediate action or remedy or requiring much effort or expense; demanding
Ineludtable - not to be avoided or escaped; inevitable
Egregious - conspicuously bad or offensive
Probity - complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness
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Well you can sit there smugly knowing that I did not know any of them - save one. And I have not used that one in so long I am beginning to forget what it is!!
Postscript from John: If my computer screen were printed pages of a dictionary, I would have worn it out a long time ago.
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