the mensa book of words abbie salny

BOOK OF WORDS,

PUZZLES І ODDITIES


The Mensa Book of Words,
Word Games, Puzzles & Oddities


The Mensa Book
of Words, Word Games,
Puzzles & Oddities
Abbie F. Salny

I

PEHENNIAL

11 В И А И У

HARPER & R O W , PUBLISHERS, N e w York
Cambridge, Philadelphia, San Francisco,

Washington

L o n d o n , M e x i c o City, Sao Paulo, S i n g a p o r e ,

Sydney


To Jerry Salny, as always, and to fellow Mensans

Roberta Rubin, M.D., and Barnett Zumoff, M.D.,for
helpful words.

THE MENSA BOOK OF WORDS, W O R D GAMES, PUZZLES & ODDITIES.

Copyright © 1988 by

Dr. Abbie F. Salny. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever
without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied
in critical articles and reviews. For information address Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc., 10 East 53rd Street, New York, N.Y. 10022. Published simultaneously in Canada by Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited, Toronto.

Designer:

C. Linda

Copy editor:

Dingier

Abigail

Bok

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Salny, Abbie F.
The Mensa book of words, w o r d games, puzzles & oddities.
1. Vocabulary.
games.

2. English language—Etymology—Miscellanea.

4. Puzzles.

PE1449.S283

1988

I. Title.
428.1

87-45661

ISBN 0-06-096208-9 (pbk.)
88 89 90 91 92

FG

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

3. Word


CONTENTS
Foreword

vii

Introduction

1

1. Words, Words, and More Words
How

many

have

their

changed

common

and

present
our

not

so

meanings,

language,

and

5

common

how
how

the

words
rest

some

came

of the

people

to

world

turned

into

things

2. "That's Not English!"
Derivations:
"knock

Why
on

you

order

find

in

do

wood"?
a dish

we
What

87
sometimes
is an

a la Crecy,

say

"amicus

what

are

"d.v."

instead

curiae,"

and

you

most

of
if

likely

to

it?

3. Misunderstood, Mispronounced, and
Misused

112
Words

that

they're

being

forte

are

so

common

used

(pronounced

most

of us don't

incorrectly—unless

words

f o r t , not

f o r t - a y , unless

music)

Puzzles and Games
How Smart Are You?

131
145

you

realize
are
are

your
playing


FOREWORD
T h i s b o o k is a b o u t t h e g l o r i e s a n d d e l i g h t s o f m y

language,

English. Despite the Eastern European origin of m y n a m e , I
a m a n E n g l i s h m a n . E n g l i s h is t h e l a n g u a g e I s p e a k , t h e l a n g u a g e I u s e a s a n a u t h o r , a n d t h e l a n g u a g e I l o v e . E n g l i s h is
p a r t o f all o u r c u s t o m s a n d c u l t u r e , a n d t h e c u s t o m s a n d c u l ture that foster t h e language in t u r n are part of o u r

world

h e r i t a g e . It is t h i s h e r i t a g e t h a t l e n d s r i c h n e s s a n d s t r e n g t h t o
o u r l a n g u a g e , n o t b e c a u s e E n g l i s h is p u r e a n d

homogenous,

b u t b e c a u s e it i s a n e c l e c t i c a n d h e t e r o g e n e o u s s e l e c t i o n

of

t h e b e s t f r o m m a n y s o u r c e s . A n d in its t u r n E n g l i s h h a s c o m e
t o i n f l u e n c e its m a n y s o u r c e s : b e c a u s e o f t h e e n o r m o u s w o r l d
influence of Anglophone

peoples, the British Empire,

more recently America and other m e m b e r s of the

and

Common-

w e a l t h , E n g l i s h is r a p i d l y b e c o m i n g a l i n g u a f r a n c a . It is t h e
first-choice second language the w o r l d over.
M y s e c o n d g r e a t l o v e is f o r t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t h a s e n a b l e d
m e to discover a higher loyalty to the w o r l d culture

shared

a n d contributed to b y eighty t h o u s a n d m e m b e r s w o r l d w i d e :
M e n s a . T h i s w o r l d c u l t u r e is t h e s y s t e m o f k n o w l e d g e , k n o w h o w , skills, arts, s c i e n c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y , c o m m e r c i a l p r a c t i c e ,
style of c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d cooperation that e d u c a t e d
intelligent people e v e r y w h e r e

and

share.

As a great M e n s a n , Dr. Abbie Salny h a s a place of particular
i m p o r t a n c e i n t h i s c u l t u r e . S h e is o n e o f t h e f e w

enthusiasts

w h o k e e p o u r s t r a n g e s h i p afloat. As a v e r y able a n d

well-

trained psychometric psychologist, she w a s of inestimable use
to m e in m y l o n g y e a r s as M e n s a ' s International

Chairman.

W i t h o u t h e r w o r l d travel a n d assiduous w o r k in m a n y lands,


viii

FOREWORD

Mensa

would

not

have

spread

so

far in a n d b e y o n d

the

I n t h i s d e l i g h t f u l , p e r c e p t i v e , a n d m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y , fun

et-

Anglophone world.
ymology, Abbie takes us on an adventurous journey

around

the varied and unexpected sources of the language w e

all

delight in using. Y o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e r i c h subtleties o f

E n g l i s h a n d y o u r j o y i n its b e a u t y w i l l b e g r e a t l y

enhanced

b y this book.
—Victor

Serebriakoff

Honorary International
President of Mensa


INTRODUCTION
S i n c e t h i s is a M e n s a b o o k o f w o r d s , w o r d o r i g i n s , d e r i v a t i o n s ,
meanings, a n d oddities, p e r h a p s w e should begin b y defining
the word

"Mensa"—or

rather, by saying w h a t

"Mensa"

is

n o t . It is n o t a n a c r o n y m o r a s l a n g S p a n i s h e x p r e s s i o n . N o r
i s it t h e w o r d f o r s t u d e n t d i n i n g h a l l , a l t h o u g h it i s u s e d t h i s
w a y i n s o m e E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s . It is n o t e v e n a n o b s c u r e o r
f o r e i g n w o r d f o r g e n i u s . " M e n s a " is t h e L a t i n w o r d f o r t a b l e

and the n a m e of an international society c o m p o s e d exclusively
of individuals w h o h a v e s c o r e d in t h e top 2 p e r c e n t o n

any

s t a n d a r d i n t e l l i g e n c e test (or its e q u i v a l e n t ) . W h e n t w o b a r risters, t h e late Roland Berrill a n d Dr. Launcelot Lionel W a r e ,
O.B.E., f o u n d e d a n d n a m e d t h e organization m o r e t h a n forty
y e a r s a g o in O x f o r d , E n g l a n d , t h e y e n v i s i o n e d a r o u n d table
o f e q u a l s w i t h m e m b e r s f r o m a r o u n d t h e w o r l d . It is i n t e r esting to note that the design for the M e n s a e m b l e m

features

a slightly m i s s h a p e n M f o r m i n g a s q u a r e table, w i t h a globe
f l o a t i n g s o m e w h a t p r e c a r i o u s l y a b o v e it: a n e x c e l l e n t s y m b o l
for a s o m e w h a t a m o r p h o u s group, speaking d o z e n s of languages, with no coherent philosophy, linked only b y

high

s c o r e s o n IQ tests.
Under the long-term direction of the n o w honorary president, Victor Serebriakoff, an almost irrepressible

enthusiast

a n d p r o m o t e r of Mensa, the organization has g r o w n to nearly
80,000 m e m b e r s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d with, to p a r a p h r a s e

the


2

INTRODUCTION

old joke, at least 8 0 , 0 0 1 opinions. A l t h o u g h t h e M e n s a

Con-

stitution strictly forbids M e n s a itself f r o m e x p r e s s i n g a n o p i n ion, like-minded M e n s a n s h a v e f o r m e d Special Interest G r o u p s
(SIGs) t o e x c h a n g e i d e a s , u s u a l l y b y m a i l . A t last c o u n t

we

f o u n d a listing o f o v e r 150 SIGs, i n c l u d i n g A s t r o n o m y

and

Space, the Libertarians, the Millard Fillmore Association,

the

S h y n e s s SIG, t h e S k y d i v i n g SIG, t h e S o u l SIG, O v e r 8 0 , t h e Civil
Liberties SIG, a n d so o n .
T h e q u e s t i o n t h a t a n y M e n s a n w h o is i n t e r v i e w e d b y a n y o n e m u s t b e p r e p a r e d t o f a c e is, " W e l l , h o w c a n y o u

justify

s u c h a n elitist o r g a n i z a t i o n ? " T h e r e ' s o n l y o n e a n s w e r to t h a t
loaded question. Any organization with an admission criterion
is elitist. T h e f a c t t h a t M e n s a h a s o n l y o n e c r i t e r i o n , w h e t h e r
y o u live in Lagos, L o n d o n , o r L o s A n g e l e s , o r e v e n

Ladakh,

m a k e s it l e s s e l i t i s t t h a n m o s t m e m b e r s h i p o r g a n i z a t i o n s . R a n k ,
m o n e y , social standing, occupation, race, sex, a n d skin color
a r e t o t a l l y i r r e l e v a n t . A l l t h a t m a t t e r s is a s c o r e i n t h e t o p 2
p e r c e n t o n a n y s t a n d a r d I Q test.
D e s p i t e p o p u l a r o p i n i o n , n o t all M e n s a m e e t i n g s a r e intellectual. T h e r e m a y b e family picnics, cruises, "fold, staple,
a n d m u t i l a t e " p a r t i e s (at w h i c h t h e r a t h e r o n e r o u s t a s k

of

putting together several h u n d r e d n e w s p a p e r s for the

local

g r o u p is t u r n e d i n t o a n o c c a s i o n f o r f u n m i x e d w i t h

hard

work), a Great Books discussion, a local theater-going group,
a g a m e s evening, a n i m p r o m p t u p a r t y in h o n o r o f a visiting
Mensan, a lunch group (one of w h i c h has gathered o n c e

a

m o n t h for twenty-two years), or an evening of table-hopping,
eating, a n d d r i n k i n g at a local (tolerant) restaurant.
A b o v e all, M e n s a n s l o v e t o u s e w o r d s , a n d t h e

propensity

o f M e n s a n s t o w r i t e , s p e a k , a n d , i n g e n e r a l , t o u s e w o r d s , is
a p p a r e n t in m a n y M e n s a activities. T h e local n e w s p a p e r s for
e a c h M e n s a group, the national m a g a z i n e that goes to every
M e n s a n , a n d t h e p u b l i c i t y f o r M e n s a all t e n d t o f e a t u r e w o r d s ,
w o r d puzzles, w o r d games, and a great deal of

correspon-

d e n c e . F o r those isolated b y g e o g r a p h y or for a n y o t h e r rea-


INTRODUCTION

З

s o n , t h e r e is t h e "little g r e e n r a g , " f o n d l y k n o w n t o its r e a d e r s
a r o u n d t h e w o r l d a s The

Isolated

M,

a

member-to-member

service. T h e "little g r e e n r a g " also features, to t h e

expressed

d i s m a y o f n e w r e a d e r s , t h i n g s c a l l e d f e g h o o t s , a f t e r t h e title
o f t h e b o o k in w h i c h t h e y originally a p p e a r e d . F e g h o o t s a r e
s o m e w h a t s p o o n e r i s t i c p u n s . T y p i c a l is t h e s t o r y o f t h e t w o
little S w i s s b o y s r i d i n g d o w n a n A l p , w i t h t h e i r m o t h e r
t h e h a n d l e b a r s . A f t e r o n e s h a r p c u r v e , t h e first b r o t h e r

on
says

to t h e s e c o n d , " L o o k Hans, n o M a ! " No M e n s a gathering
complete without a few n e w feghoots although,

is

admittedly,

there are those w h o hate t h e m passionately.
T h e r a n g e o f m e m b e r s is w i d e . C o m p u t e r w h i z S i r Clive
S i n c l a i r is, a m o n g

many

other things, chairman

of

British

M e n s a . I s a a c A s i m o v , t h e n o t e d , p r o l i f i c p o l y g l o t a u t h o r , is
honorary vice-president of International Mensa. A m o n g other
wordsmiths of o n e variety or another are J e a n Auel, the bests e l l i n g a u t h o r o f t h e Clan

of the

Cave

Bear

series; W a r r e n Mur­

p h y , u p in t h e multimillion sales in m a n y languages o n

the

Destroyer

series, a n d also the author of the s c r e e n version of

The

Sanction

Eiger

and coauthor of some prize-winning

de­

tective books; R e b e c c a Brandywine, the author of m a n y pop­
ular r o m a n c e s ; William W i n d o m , the actor; T h e o d o r e Bikel;
and Mensa's honorary president, Victor Serebriakoff. Experts
in o t h e r fields i n c l u d e D o n a l d P e t e r s o n o f t h e F o r d

Motor

Company; the c h a r m i n g lady k n o w n as Morocco, w h o

hap­

p e n s to hold several graduate d e g r e e s in Middle-Eastern stud­
ies a n d G y p s y folklore, but m a y b e best k n o w n for h e r MiddleEastern dancing; the British-born

engineer w h o

holds

the

c r e d i t f o r s o m e r a t h e r n o t a b l e a c h i e v e m e n t s in t h e oil i n d u s t r y ,
including the f a m o u s d r y hole gravel island off the North Slope
of Alaska. She even has a ship n a m e d for her.
W h i l e all t h e t h o u s a n d s o f j o b s listed i n t h e

government

manuals m a y not b e represented, M e n s a does have postal e m ­
p l o y e e s , o n e o f w h o m fills l e c t u r e h a l l s r e g u l a r l y w h e n

he

speaks o n S h e r l o c k Holmes. W e also h a v e a w o r l d - r e n o w n e d


4

INTRODUCTION

c a n c e r specialist; a l a w y e r w h o o b t a i n e d h e r d e g r e e at a n a g e
w h e n m a n y of us are thinking of retirement, and then b e c a m e
a successful m e m b e r of a law firm; a n d m a n y , m a n y

more

f r o m all w a l k s o f life. M a n y a r e p o l y m a t h s w h o h a v e d e l i b erately c h o s e n to live l o w - k e y lives at w o r k in o r d e r to p u r s u e
t h e i r m a n y o t h e r interests. T h e w o r l d m a y not call t h e m " s u c c e s s f u l , " b u t t h e y live r i c h lives a n d c o n s i d e r t h e m s e l v e s b o t h
s u c c e s s f u l a n d h a p p y — a n d M e n s a w e l c o m e s all o f t h e m .
P e r h a p s t h e m o s t e n d e a r i n g f e a t u r e o f M e n s a is t h e

gen-

e r o s i t y o f its m e m b e r s t o o t h e r m e m b e r s . It is p o s s i b l e f o r a
m e m b e r to lose his job, s e n d notes to half a d o z e n

Mensa

n e w s l e t t e r s in t h e U n i t e d States a n d a b r o a d , a n d w i n d u p not
o n l y w i t h a j o b but w i t h a t e m p o r a r y p l a c e to live w h i l e getting
settled a n d a r e a d y - m a d e n e t w o r k of friends. M e n s a

news-

letters often contain thank-you notes indicating that the recipient h a s h a d h e l p o f f e r e d in a n e m e r g e n c y , a n illness, o r
a d e a t h . It is t h i s s e n s e o f e x t e n d e d f a m i l y t h a t s e e m s t o g l u e
together the m e m b e r s of the society, a n d this sense of "belonging" that keeps Mensans r e n e w i n g their

membership.

Unless, o f c o u r s e , t h e y h a v e b e c o m e life m e m b e r s a n d
that they are part of the group forever.

know


1
WORDS, WORDS,
AND MORE WORDS
Perhaps y o u have a poinsettia plant adorning y o u r house, or
y o u might have seen the beautiful bougainvillea that

grows

in t h e tropics. Y o u ' v e p r o b a b l y h a d y o u r silhouette d r a w n at
a fair o r a n a m u s e m e n t park. But d o y o u k n o w w h y o r

how

e a c h o f t h e m a c q u i r e d its n a m e ? L o u i s A n t o i n e d e B o u g a i n v i l l e
was

t h e first F r e n c h m a n

to circumnavigate

the globe.

He

brought h o m e the pretty flowers and they've been k n o w n by
his n a m e ever since. But silhouette? a n d Poinsettia? You'll have
t o r e a d o n a n d f i n d o u t a b o u t t h e m . W h y , f o r e x a m p l e , is a
t a b o o c a l l e d a t a b o o ? It's t h e title o f a v e r y f a m o u s b o o k ,
and

Tabu,

Totem

w h i c h m o s t college students h a v e to read. But w h y

t a b o o (or tabu)? W e talk a b o u t t h o s e w h o h a v e s t u d i e d in t h e
groves of Academe or w h o those have been

academicians,

but w h y a r e t h e y called that? You'll find t h e a n s w e r in this
chapter, and you m a y be very surprised!
If y o u h a v e e v e r s e e n a vaudeville s h o w — o n television o r
in t h e m o v i e s — o r if t h e r e w a s a t h e a t e r in y o u r t o w n ,

years ago, n a m e d the Vaudeville, y o u m a y have

many

wondered

w h e r e it g o t i t s n a m e . O n a l e s s h a p p y n o t e , s h r a p n e l i s w e l l
k n o w n to soldiers u n f o r t u n a t e e n o u g h to c o m e into contact
w i t h it. B u t w h y " s h r a p n e l " ? W h o g a v e it i t s n a m e ? Y o u w i l l
find that o u t t o o b y c a r e f u l l y r e a d i n g t h i s c h a p t e r . (But

we

will tell y o u r i g h t n o w t h a t a h a r l o t w a s o r i g i n a l l y a k n a v e ,
a n d male!)


6

THE MENSA B O O K OF W O R D S
M a n y of the m o r e c o m m o n derivations that y o u c a n find

in a n y t e x t b o o k h a v e b e e n intentionally o m i t t e d h e r e . B u t in
t h i s c h a p t e r y o u will f i n d t h e o d d , t h e u n u s u a l , t h e u n e x p e c t e d ,
a n d e v e n t h e startling.
S o test y o u r s e l f o n t h e q u e s t i o n s first. S e e h o w m u c h
really do k n o w about the w a y s o u r language g r e w a n d
veloped. T h e n

c h e c k y o u r answers; a n d find out the

you
deodd

twists, t u r n s , a n d allegorical ideas that h a v e c r e p t in o v e r t h e
years during w h i c h the Old English of the Saxons w a s overlaid
with

German, with

Norman

F r e n c h , w i t h Latin, a n d

with

Greek, to c r e a t e t h e a m a l g a m w e call English today.
But r e m e m b e r i n g y o u r Latin roots isn't going to b e

much

help either. In a particularly fiendish m a n n e r , w e have carefully o m i t t e d t h o s e w o r d s w h i c h h a v e c o m e d o w n

directly

f r o m t h e Latin prefixes a n d suffixes m a n y o f u s h a d to m e m o r i z e in s c h o o l . T h e r e a r e n ' t m a n y " e * = f r o m " in this b o o k .
Instead, there are a good m a n y invented w o r d s here. Shakes p e a r e is r e p u t e d t o h a v e m a d e u p s e v e r a l h u n d r e d

words

all b y h i m s e l f . Not all o f t h e m h a v e s u r v i v e d , a n d s e v e r a l w e r e
printer's e r r o r s in transcription, b u t m a n y w o r d s s p r a n g direct
f r o m his fertile a n d inventive brain, a n d s o m e a r e

included

here.
C u s t o m s h a v e c h a n g e d , l a n g u a g e h a s c h a n g e d : n o w a n aft e r n o o n s h o w , m a t i n e e w a s o n c e a m o r n i n g p e r f o r m a n c e ; its
r o o t i s matin,

w h i c h means "morning." How about noon? That

one m a y surprise you.
I n s h o r t , o r r e a s o n a b l y s h o r t , E n g l i s h is full o f i n t e r e s t i n g
surprises. Here y o u will find several h u n d r e d s u c h surprising
w o r d s , w i t h d e r i v a t i o n s t h a t a r e n o t o n l y not

obvious,

but

rather unusual. T h e w o r d s have b e e n picked to inform, educate, a n d a m u s e . S o m e will lead y o u d o w n the
path of misdirection,

primrose

some are straightforward w h e n

you

t h i n k o f t h e m , a n d s o m e a r e o b s c u r e . All w i l l p r o v i d e

you

w i t h a n i n t e r e s t i n g v o c a b u l a r y a n d fill y o u r s t o r e h o u s e o f o d d
facts a n d ideas. E a c h w o r d will give y o u a small insight into


W O R D S , W O R D S , AND M O R E W O R D S

7

t h e o d d w a y s in w h i c h t h e h u m a n m i n d w o r k s . T h e c o n n e c tions a r e clear, o n c e y o u see t h e m , but totally invisible until
you ponder them. Enjoy!

T h e r e a r e m a n y d e r i v a t i o n s , w i t h w h i c h w e a r e all familiar,
that have passed into c o m m o n usage. Most people k n o w that
macadam comes

from

t h e n a m e o f t h e m a n w h o i n v e n t e d it.

But did h e also popularize the m a c a d a m i a nut? Read o n a n d
f i n d o u t . T h e r e i s a f o l k l o r e s t o r y a b o u t t h e g u i l l o t i n e . I s it
t r u e ? T h e facts a r e given in this c h a p t e r . Astonish

yourself,

a m a z e y o u r friends, and learn the true m e a n i n g of w o r d s y o u

use every day. Take the quiz that follows a n d see h o w

much

y o u really k n o w about c o m m o n , ordinary w o r d s with

quite

extraordinary backgrounds a n d derivations.

1.

ACADEMY

A p l a c e o f learning, a g r o u p o f l e a r n e d m e n (peo-

ple), like t h e F r e n c h A c a d e m y
a.

F r o m t h e G r e e k Plato's A c a d e m y , b a s e d o n t h e G r e e k w o r d
meaning learned

b.

F r o m P l a t o ' s last n a m e , a s h i s s c h o o l w a s n a m e d a f t e r h i m

c.

F r o m A k a d e m o s (or A c a d e m o s ) , t h e o w n e r o f t h e a r e a t h a t
Plato rented, w h e r e h e h e l d his school

2.

ADMIRAL

Usually, the c h i e f c o m m a n d e r o f a n a v y

a.

F r o m Old F r e n c h , m e a n i n g " t o a d m i r e "

b.

F r o m J o h n Admiralis, an early English sea lord w h o w a s

c.

F r o m A r a b i c a m i r al-bahr,

responsible for founding t h e British Navy
3.

AGNOSTIC

meaning "Lord of the Sea"

One w h o believes that w e k n o w nothing b e y o n d

material p h e n o m e n a . Often used as a description of s o m e o n e
w h o does not believe in t h e existence o f a S u p r e m e Being

a.

Used since the days of the Greek philosophers to describe
s o m e o n e w h o believes only that w h i c h h e can see

b.

Originally used as the n a m e for a nonreligious

group

f o u n d e d in the Middle Ages in s e c r e c y for fear of b e i n g
charged as heretics, but eventually an
society

acknowledged


8

THE MENSA B O O K OF W O R D S
c.

A c o i n e d w o r d , m a d e u p b y T . H. H u x l e y i n 1 8 6 9 from t h e
G r e e k roots m e a n i n g , m o r e o r less, " n o t k n o w i n g "

4.

ALGEBRA

A m e t h o d of calculating b y symbols

a.

From Pythagoras, w h o developed geometry and algebra

b.

F r o m t h e initial s t e p s o r i g i n a l l y u s e d t o c a l c u l a t e a l g e b r a i c

and gave t h e m their names
formulas; n o w disused, but originally taught as

basic

principles
c.

F r o m A r a b i c al-djabr,

"to put together something that w a s

broken"—therefore a combination—from the verb

djabara,

"to reunite"
5.

ALIBI

A generalized excuse

a.

F r o m the Latin, m e a n i n g "I w a s e l s e w h e r e "

b.

From a corruption of an early court term meaning

"to

p l e a d 'Not G u i l t y ' "
c.
6.

F r o m the Latin, m e a n i n g "I did not d o this t h i n g "

AMETHYST

A bluish-violet quartz

a.

F r o m the Greek w o r d for that particular color

b.

F r o m t h e G r e e k w o r d s m e a n i n g a n t i d r u n k e n n e s s , a s it w a s

c.

F r o m t h e n a m e of a Latin goddess, patroness o f p r e c i o u s

s u p p o s e d to p r e v e n t intoxication
stones
7.

AMOK

To run wild

a.

A m a d e - u p w o r d , a n a c r o n y m f o r A M a d Old Killer, u s e d

b.

F r o m M a l a y , amoq,

in English courts for m a s s m u r d e r e r s
c.

meaning "frenzied"

Old Norse, a t e r m applied to the w a r r i o r s w h o w e n t out
with the express intention of cutting d o w n a n y o n e w h o
stood in t h e w a y of their conquests

8.

ANTIMACASSAR
a.

A covering for chair and sofa b a c k s

A particular knit stitch developed during Q u e e n Victoria's
t i m e for s u c h coverings a n d t r a n s f e r r e d to t h e coverings
themselves, w h i c h are often knitted or crocheted

b.

D e r i v e d from M r . M a c a s s a r , a n o t e d b o n v i v a n t o f t h e s e v e n t e e n t h c e n t u r y , w h o u s e d s o m u c h h a i r oil t h a t it w a s
n e c e s s a r y for society hostesses to h a v e special coverings
a n y w h e r e h e might rest his h e a d


W O R D S , W O R D S , AND M O R E W O R D S
c.

9

F r o m m a c a s s a r oil, c o m m o n l y u s e d f o r h a i r d r e s s i n g , b u t
q u i t e g r e a s y a n d t e n d i n g t o stain c h a i r b a c k s a n d s o f a b a c k s

9.

APERIENT

A form of drink

a.

A n o t h e r w o r d for a n aperitif, o r d r i n k usually s e r v e d b e -

b.

A particularly bitter drink, as c o m p a r e d to the usual aper-

c.

A laxative, f r o m the Latin w o r d m e a n i n g "to o p e n "

fore d i n n e r to w h e t t h e appetite o f t h e prospective d i n e r
itif, w h i c h is o f t e n s e m i s w e e t o r , a t m o s t , s l i g h t l y d r y
10.

ARCTIC
a.

Relating to the north; e x t r e m e l y cold

F r o m the star Arcturus, w h i c h the early astronomers k n e w
w a s part of a constellation that pointed north

11.

b.

Latin for an e x t r e m e l y cold place

c.

From the Greek w o r d for bear

ASSASSIN

A m u r d e r e r , often u s e d for political m u r d e r s

a.

F r o m Old F r e n c h , m e a n i n g " t o kill"

b.

F r o m A r a b i c , m e a n i n g " h e w h o kills f o r t h e g l o r y o f h i s

c.

F r o m Iran, as a derivative of a particular sect that w a s

country"
s u p p o s e d to c o m m i t m u r d e r u n d e r the influence of h a s h ish, a n d w a s t h e r e f o r e called h a s h s h a s h i n
12.

ATLAS

A b o o k o f m a p s , plates, a n d geographical information;

a m o u n t a i n r a n g e in Africa
a.

Atlas w a s t h e T i t a n w h o b o r e t h e h e a v e n s o n h i s s h o u l d e r s ,
so any representation of the heavens or the Earth w a s
n a m e d after h i m

b.

A t l a s ' s p i c t u r e a p p e a r e d o n t h e first w i d e l y s o l d b o o k o f
m a p s , a n d p e o p l e g o t i n t o t h e h a b i t o f c a l l i n g it " t h e A t l a s , "
w h e n c e t h e n a m e w a s t r a n s f e r r e d t o all b o o k s o f m a p s

c.

From the Greek w o r d meaning "to support" and, b y ext e n s i o n , to s u p p o r t t h e w o r l d

13.

AURORA

T h e dawn; a rich orange color; a luminous m e -

teoric p h e n o m e n o n of the northern and southern polar regions
a.

F r o m Latin Aurora, the goddess o f t h e d a w n

b.

F r o m Latin, m e a n i n g " r o s y g l o w , " o r the color involved

c.

F r o m a u r a , a s a b a c k - f o r m a t i o n : a u r a is a s u p p o s e d s u b t l e
e m a n a t i o n , a n d b y e x t e n s i o n this t e r m w a s e n l a r g e d to
m e a n t h e e m a n a t i o n o f light at d a w n


10
14.

THE MENSA B O O K OF W O R D S
AZALEA
a.

A subgenus of Rhododendron

F r o m S i m e o n Azael, a Middle-Eastern botanist (1563-1616)
w h o i n t r o d u c e d the plant to E u r o p e

b.

F r o m t h e O l d E n g l i s h , m e a n i n g a p l a n t t h a t g r o w s in flat
a r e a s (lea)

c.

F r o m t h e G r e e k w o r d m e a n i n g " d r y , " a s it w a s b e l i e v e d
t o g r o w b e s t i n d r y soil

15.

BADMINTON
a.

A game played with shuttlecocks

T h e Hindu w o r d for shuttlecock, w h i c h the British acquired w h e n t h e y learned the g a m e in India

b.

Old English for a similar g a m e p l a y e d in m e d i e v a l times

c.

F r o m B a d m i n t o n Castle, h o m e o f t h e d u k e o f Gloucester,
w h e r e the g a m e s e e m s to h a v e originated

16.

BAGATELLE
a.

A trifle, a s m a l l n o t h i n g

F r o m t h e B a g a t e l l e P a l a c e i n t h e B o i s d e B o u l o g n e in P a r i s ,
w h i c h is a t i n y , m i n i a t u r e p a l a c e b u i l t i n a v e r y s h o r t t i m e
on a bet

17.

b.

F r o m the Old F r e n c h , m e a n i n g " a small building"

c.

O l d F r e n c h o r I t a l i a n , m e a n i n g a c o n j u r o r ' s t r i c k o r trifle

BALDACHIN (or BALDAQUIN)

A canopy over a throne or

p u l p i t (like t h e m a g n i f i c e n t a n d f a m o u s o n e a t St. P e t e r ' s C a thedral in Rome)
a.

Architectural t e r m for s u c h a covering, originally of w o o d
or stone

b.

Latin w o r d m e a n i n g " c o v e r i n g "

c.

F r o m Italian, originally B a l d a c c o , o r B a g h d a d , w h e r e t h e
cloth for s u c h a c a n o p y w a s m a d e

18.

BALLOT

A m e a n s of voting

a.

Named for the small b o x into w h i c h ballots w e r e originally

b.

N a m e d for t h e inventor of this m e a n s o f v o t i n g — d r o p p i n g

dropped
m a r k e d copies of an election choice into a box—instead
of public hand-raising, J o h a n n u s Balotinus
c.

F r o m t h e Italian f o r " s m a l l ball," as f o r m e r l y ballots w e r e
cast b y d r o p p i n g w h i t e balls into a b o x for yes, a n d b l a c k
balls into the s a m e b o x for a n o vote


W O R D S , W O R D S , AND M O R E W O R D S
19.

BARBARIAN

11

Originally o n e w h o w a s neither Greek n o r Ro­

m a n , a n u n c o u t h p e r s o n w i t h o u t taste o r r e f i n e m e n t
a.

F r o m t h e G r e e k barbaros,
from

literally,' 'stammering,'' derived

the odd sounds foreigners made

b.

F r o m the Latin w o r d for b e a r d — a s the foreigners t e n d e d

c.

F r o m a foreign tribe of extremely rough savages, the Bar­

to b e b e a r d e d , like t h e n o t e d w a r r i o r F r e d e r i c k Barbarossa
b a r i a n s , w h o i n v a d e d G r e e c e in 6 0 0 в.с.
20.

BASCULE

A t y p e o f b r i d g e i n w h i c h a w e i g h t at o n e e n d is

l o w e r e d in o r d e r t o r a i s e t h e o t h e r e n d
a.

F r o m Pierre Bascule, w h o invented this type o f bridge
d u r i n g t h e H u n d r e d Y e a r s ' W a r , to k e e p e n e m i e s

from

crossing a river w i t h o u t forcing the d e f e n d e r s to b l o w u p
t h e b r i d g e , s o t h e y c o u l d still u s e it a t s o m e f u t u r e t i m e
b.

F r o m t h e F r e n c h w o r d f o r s e e s a w , a s t h a t is w h a t t h e
bridge's action resembles

c.

F r o m a misunderstanding of a different t e r m in engineer­
i n g , s o t h a t it d e v e l o p e d a s f o l k e t y m o l o g y ( " s p a r r o w g r a s s "
f o r " a s p a r a g u s " is a t y p e o f f o l k e t y m o l o g y )

21.

BEDLAM

A madhouse, a place of uproar

a.

A corruption of Babel, the tower w h e r e everyone spoke a

b.

F r o m t h e p r i o r y o f St. M a r y o f B e t h l e h e m in L o n d o n , w h i c h

c.

F r o m Sir T h o m a s Bedlam, a noted physician of medieval

different language, w h i c h s o u n d e d m a d
later b e c a m e a m a d h o u s e
England w h o fought for h u m a n e care of the insane
22.

BIBLE

Usually, the s a c r e d writings of J u d a i s m o r the Chris­

t i a n c h u r c h , c o n s i s t i n g o f t h e O l d a n d (for C h r i s t i a n s ) t h e N e w
Testaments—by extension, any sacred writings
a.

F r o m G r e e k biblios,

b.

F r o m the n a m e given to those writings b y the

" b o o k s , " originally m e a n i n g " p a p y r u s "
early

prophets

c.

From the description used b y manuscript writers w h o
copied them by hand


12
23.

THE MENSA B O O K OF W O R D S
BLAZER

A type of sports jacket, originally w o r n only b y

men
a.

F r o m the fact that the originals w e r e always blazing red,
a n d t h e n a m e c a m e to b e a p p l i e d t o a n y j a c k e t o f t h a t t y p e

b.

F r o m the Earl of Blazer, a friend of Beau Brummel, w h o

c.

F r o m Blaezera, in n o r t h e r n India, w h e r e t h e British officers

popularized the style for hunting jackets
first h a d t h e s e l o o s e c o t t o n j a c k e t s m a d e t o s a v e t h e m f r o m

t h e d i s c o m f o r t o f t h e t i g h t , fitted r e g i m e n t a l j a c k e t s w o r n
on duty
24.

BOWDLERIZE

T o c l e a n u p l i t e r a r y m a t e r i a l , to c e n s o r , u s u -

ally in a n u n n e c e s s a r y sense
a.

F r o m the n a m e of Dr. T. B o w d l e r (1754-1825), w h o decided
to e x p u r g a t e S h a k e s p e a r e a n d took out e v e r y t h i n g that
" c o u l d b r i n g a b l u s h to t h e c h e e k " w h e n h e p u b l i s h e d a
n e w edition

25.

b.

F r o m Middle English, m e a n i n g "to e x p u r g a t e "

c.

From the German, meaning "to scrub" or "clean"

BOYCOTT

An o r g a n i z e d refusal to deal w i t h a p e r s o n o r

business firm
a.

A slang t e r m m a d e u p in t h e early days of t h e n i n e t e e n t h
c e n t u r y , w h e n t h e r e w e r e r a c i a l p r o b l e m s in v a r i o u s p a r t s
of the United States

b.

F r o m Captain Charles Boycott, a land agent in Ireland w h o
m a d e h i m s e l f s o u n p o p u l a r t h a t a f t e r h a v i n g h i s life p r o tected b y British soldiers, h e w a s f o r c e d to m o v e . T h e
" b o y c o t t " w a s totally effective

c.
26.

Origin u n k n o w n

BUNKUM

B o m b a s t i c s p e e c h m a k i n g t h a t is r e a l l y n o t i n t e n d e d

f o r t h e a u d i e n c e , b u t is a c t u a l l y m e a n t t o b e r e a d e l s e w h e r e
to m a k e

the speaker sound

important;

also n o n s e n s e

or

humbug
a.

F r o m bunko, meaning a confidence game or a trickster

b.

A l l e g e d l y f r o m a s e n a t o r w h o s p o k e a t l e n g t h in C o n g r e s s
and, w h e n reproved for the length of his speeches a n d
their irrelevancies, said that h e w a s just speaking for the
r e c o r d i n B u n c o m b e C o u n t y (his c o n s t i t u e n c y )


W O R D S , W O R D S , AND M O R E W O R D S
c.

13

W i l l i a m H. B u n k u m , a l o n g - w i n d e d , b o m b a s t i c s e n a t o r , t h e
butt of m a n y jokes for his n o n s e n s e s p e e c h e s

27.

BURNOUT

A c o m m o n expression m e a n i n g that the person

i n v o l v e d h a s lost i n t e r e s t i n w h a t e v e r it is h e o r s h e is d o i n g —
a s in s u c h e x p r e s s i o n s a s " v o l u n t e e r b u r n o u t "
a.

F r o m t h e p o i n t in t h e flight o f a r o c k e t w h e n t h e r o c k e t

b.

F r o m the original use of the w o r d , m e a n i n g

engine's fuel r u n s out
"entirely

consumed"
c.
28.

Origin a n d earliest use in c u r r e n t sense u n k n o w n

CABOCHON

A gem, usually precious, cut r o u n d e d on top

a n d flat o n t h e b a c k , w i t h o u t f a c e t s
a.

F r o m t h e j e w e l e r L. M. C a b o c h o n , w h o d e v e l o p e d this cut

b.

F r o m t h e F r e n c h for half-rounded, to d e s c r i b e t h e s h a p e

c.

F r o m t h e Latin, m e a n i n g " h e a d , " i n o t h e r w o r d s , t h a t t h e r e

originally

w a s n o b a c k to t h e s t o n e a n d o n l y t h e h e a d s h o w e d
29.

CALCULATE

T o c o u n t o r r e c k o n ; to think out o r

think

t h r o u g h , especially w i t h r e g a r d to m a t h e m a t i c s
a.

From the Greek w o r d meaning "to count,"

b.

F r o m t h e root m e a n i n g "to a d d t o g e t h e r , " o c c u r r i n g in

kalyjc

c.

F r o m t h e L a t i n w o r d calculus,

m a n y early languages
30.

CAMELLIA

"little s t o n e "

A g e n u s of e v e r g r e e n closely akin to tea, n o t e d

for their beautiful

flowers;

a n d the s h r u b o f this n a m e

a.

F r o m L a t i n camellus,

as the leaves have a h u m p resembling

b.

F r o m the t o w n Camelot in England, w h e r e t h e y w e r e

that of a camel
first

i n t r o d u c e d to the W e s t e r n w o r l d
c.

F r o m the Moravian Jesuit priest Kamel, w h o collected the
plant in t h e Philippine Islands

31.

CATECHISM

Any organized system of teaching d r a w n up

o n the question-and-answer basis
a.

T h i s n a m e w a s given to religious instruction b y the early
H e b r e w s — m e a n i n g "religious teachings"


14

THE MENSA B O O K OF W O R D S
b.

F r o m t h e n a m e given to this style of t e a c h i n g a n d learning
b y the philosopher Catechismus of the University of Bol o g n a in t h e f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y

c.

Via Latin, f r o m t h e G r e e k roots o f " s o u n d " a n d " b a c k , "

forming a G r e e k w o r d m e a n i n g "to din into the e a r s "

32.

CHAUVINISM

Pride in o n e ' s c o u n t r y c a r r i e d to a ridiculous

degree, coupled with contempt for other groups o r nations
a.

F r o m Nicolas Chauvin, a v e t e r a n o f t h e Napoleonic W a r s ,
w h o w a s m a d e a p u b l i c figure b y h i s c a r i c a t u r e in a p l a y
of the times

b.

F r o m t h e F r e n c h , m e a n i n g "patriotism," basically, love o f

c.

Origin u n k n o w n

one's country
33.

CHESS

A g a m e o f skill, w i t h v a r y i n g figures, p l a y e d b y t w o

players on a board with checkered squares
a.

F r o m the Old F r e n c h , m e a n i n g " w a r g a m e s "

b.

F r o m Guillaume Chessier, w h o developed the game from
its N e a r E a s t e r n o r i g i n

c.

O r i g i n a l l y f r o m P e r s i a n shah,

m e a n i n g " k i n g , " w h i c h is

t h e m o s t p o w e r f u l figure o n t h e b o a r d
34.

CHICANERY

C o m m o n u s a g e is t r i c k e r y o r d e c e i t , e s p e c i a l l y

at l a w
a.

F r o m a legal t e r m m e a n i n g deceitful practices

b.

F r o m t h e P e r s i a n w o r d tchuagun,

c.

F r o m a N o r m a n F r e n c h l a w y e r , Nicolas C h i c a n e ( 1 1 4 0 -

meaning a crooked mallet

1 1 8 3 ) , w h o w a s n o t e d f o r w i n n i n g all o f h i s c a s e s b y t h e
use o f s o m e trick o r ruse in the presentation o f e v i d e n c e
or the interviewing of witnesses
35.

CLINK

Slang w o r d for prison

a.

F r o m t h e s o u n d t h e d o o r m a k e s w h e n it s h u t s b e h i n d t h e

b.

F r o m the clinking s o u n d s of t h e c h a i n s a t t a c h e d to the

c.

F r o m the Clink Prison o n Clink Street in

prisoner

ankles of the prisoners
London

Southwark,


W O R D S , W O R D S , AND M O R E W O R D S
36.

CLOCK

15

A machine for measuring time, n o w c o m m o n l y with

a dial a n d h a n d s s h o w i n g t h e h o u r s a n d m i n u t e s
a.

F r o m the Latin w o r d m e a n i n g " t h e m e a s u r e m e n t of t i m e "

b.

F r o m t h e s o u n d o f t h e t i c k i n g — p o e t i c a l l y giving t h e s o u n d

c.

F r o m the Late Latin, m e a n i n g " a b e l l "

as " c l o c k , c l o c k , c l o c k "
37.

COACH

A vehicle; a private cabin; a motor bus; a four-

w h e e l e d special private carriage, usually for state o c c a s i o n s ,
a n d the like; a m o t o r c a r b o d y
a.

F r o m Old English, m e a n i n g a vehicle d r a w n b y a t e a m of
horses

b.

F r o m t h e F r e n c h cache,

m e a n i n g " h i d d e n , " as the o c c u -

pants w e r e hidden from view
c.

From the Hungarian Kocs, the town w h e r e these vehicles
s e e m to have b e e n m a d e originally

38.

COBALT

A metallic element, o f atomic n u m b e r 27

a.

F r o m t h e n a m e o f t h e c o l o r , a f t e r w h i c h it w a s n a m e d

b.

F r o m G e r m a n Kobold,

a d e m o n . T h e m i n e r s believed that

the metal w a s dangerous and that the mines or the metal
w e r e a c t i v a t e d b y t h e s p i r i t o f t h e s e little d e m o n s
c.

F r o m t h e d i s c o v e r e r o f t h i s e l e m e n t , N i c h o l a s Coball ( 1 8 7 1 1 9 0 3 ) , w h o h a d it n a m e d a f t e r h i m f o l l o w i n g h i s e a r l y d e a t h
from

39.

e x p o s u r e to Cobalt 60, a radioactive f o r m

COFFEE

N o w , t h e p o w d e r m a d e from g r i n d i n g t h e c o f f e e

b e a n ; t h e d r i n k m a d e from t h i s p o w d e r
a.

F r o m t h e A r a b i c kahwah,

originally m e a n i n g w i n e but t h e n

m e a n i n g coffee, via t h e T u r k i s h
b.

F r o m t h e d i s c o v e r e r o f t h e c o f f e e p l a n t , Li K a h - F e e , a b o u t

c.

F r o m t h e English, via t h e n a m e o f t h e t a v e r n o w n e d b y

1100, in China
J o h n C o f f e e , w h e r e t h e b e v e r a g e w a s first s e r v e d t o t h e
public
40.

COPPER
a.
b.

A metal, atomic n u m b e r 29

F r o m the Latin, m e a n i n g " s h i n y "
F r o m t h e caves of C o o p e r i u m , in T u r k e y , w h e r e the metal
w a s first i d e n t i f i e d


16

THE MENSA B O O K O F W O R D S

c.

F r o m L a t i n , d e r i v e d from cyprium,

b e c a u s e it w a s o r i g i -

nally found in C y p r u s
41.

CURFEW

Now, c o m m o n l y , a regulation requiring persons

to b e i n d o o r s at a c e r t a i n t i m e
a.

F r o m Old English, m e a n i n g "to lock d o o r s "

b.

F r o m O l d F r e n c h , m e a n i n g " t o c o v e r a fire," a n d i n m e dieval times t h e ringing o f a bell signaling t h e time to ext i n g u i s h all l i g h t s a n d

fires

c.

English legal t e r m r e g a r d i n g t h e right of t h e State to reg-

d

Just as printed, an abbreviation for the British p e n n y , as

ulate travel in the streets
42.

i n £ , S, d f o r p o u n d s , s h i l l i n g s , a n d p e n c e ( t h e n e w c u r r e n c y
system uses pennies and pounds on a decimal system)
a.

Originally abbreviated in this m a n n e r to avoid confusion
with pounds, the m o n e y unit

43.

b.

T o avoid confusion with pounds, the unit of weight

c.

F r o m the Latin

denarius

DAGUERREOTYPE

A t y p e o f p h o t o g r a p h y o n c o p p e r plates,

word used generically for m a n y early photographs
a.

From the French, meaning "etched image"

b.

F r o m Louis D a g u e r r e , w h o h e l p e d to invent a n d to pop-

c.

F r o m t h e t o w n o f D a g u e r r e , F r a n c e , w h e r e t h e first p h o -

u l a r i z e t h i s t y p e o f p h o t o g r a p h y in t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y
t o g r a p h i c film o f t h i s s o r t w a s m a n u f a c t u r e d
44.

DAHLIA

A Mexican genus of garden composites, with large,

brightly colored

flowers

a.

From the Spanish w o r d meaning "brightly colored"

b.

Named b y the famous Swedish botanist and taxonomist

Linnaeus, after o n e of his students

c.

A native M e x i c a n n a m e f o r t h e plant, w h i c h w a s adopted
w h e n the plant w a s discovered

45.

DAMASK
a.

A type of heavily patterned, w o v e n cloth

Named for the damask rose, w h i c h w a s the pattern always
used originally

b.

Named for the inventor of the loom that w o v e that type
of pattern, Petrus Damusk


W O R D S , W O R D S , AND M O R E W O R D S
c.

17

N a m e d for D a m a s c u s , w h e r e material like this s e e m s to
h a v e b e e n first w o v e n

46.

DELTA

T h e m o u t h o f a r i v e r ; a n alluvial d e p o s i t , u s u a l l y a t

a river mouth
a.

T h e Greek for "river m o u t h "

b.

T h e g e o l o g i c t e r m f o r alluvial d e p o s i t s o f t h i s t y p e

c.

F r o m t h e G r e e k letter delta, s h a p e d like a triangle, as t h e
Nile D e l t a h a s t h a t s h a p e ( m a n y o t h e r s d o n o t ) ; a n d t h e
w o r d , b y extension, h a s c o m e to b e u s e d for a n y riverm o u t h delta

47.

DISASTER

An adverse or unfortunate event; a great a n d

sudden misfortune
a.

F r o m t h e G r e e k w o r d s m e a n i n g " f a l l i n g from g r a c e "

b.

F r o m Desastra, the R o m a n goddess of misfortune

c.

F r o m Greek, t h r o u g h Latin a n d F r e n c h to c u r r e n t usage,
v i a a G r e e k r o o t m e a n i n g " a s t a r , " w i t h a n evil s e n s e

48.

DOILY ( s o m e t i m e s doyley)

A piece of cloth; a small piece

of cloth on a serving tray
a.

F r o m Old F r e n c h m e a n i n g "lace c l o t h "

b.

F r o m a haberdasher, famous for his cloth,

apparently

English

c.

Origin u n k n o w n — f i r s t a p p e a r e d in a S h a k e s p e a r e play,
a n d h e is k n o w n t o h a v e c o i n e d n e w w o r d s

49.

DOLLAR

A coin, usually w o r t h o n e h u n d r e d cents, used as

a unit of m o n e t a r y value b y m a n y countries, including Canada,
Australia, N e w Z e a l a n d , a n d t h e United States
a.

W o r d i n v e n t e d d u r i n g t h e A m e r i c a n R e v o l u t i o n to d i s t i n g u i s h A m e r i c a n c u r r e n c y from t h a t o f G r e a t B r i t a i n , w h i c h
w a s not on the decimal system

b.

F r o m t h e G e r m a n w o r d Joachimsthaler,

w h i c h p a s s e d into

English as dollar
c.
50.

F r o m t h e L a t i n dolarius,

DYNAMITE

"payment"

A powerful explosive

a.

N a m e g i v e n t o it b y A l f r e d N o b e l , w h o i n v e n t e d it

b.

A rough approximation of the sound of the Chinese w o r d
m e a n i n g e x p l o s i v e , a s it w a s u s e d in C h i n a f o r m a n y y e a r s
p r i o r t o its d e v e l o p m e n t i n W e s t e r n c o u n t r i e s


18

THE MENSA B O O K OF W O R D S
c.

51.

F r o m t h e G r e e k w o r d dynamos,

EARL

meaning "power"

A British rank of nobleman, b e t w e e n a marquis and a

viscount
a.

Title invented b y William t h e C o n q u e r o r to r e w a r d his
loyal followers after the Battle of Hastings

b.

F i r s t b e s t o w e d b y C h a r l e s II t o c r e a t e a n e w l e v e l o f c o u r -

c.

F r o m t h e O l d E n g l i s h eorl,

tiers w h o w o u l d b e loyal to h i m
from
52.

m e a n i n g " w a r r i o r " ; originally

t h e Old Norse s p o k e n b y the Vikings

ELEPHANT

A large m a m m a l , of two general types, Indian

a n d A f r i c a n , d i s t i n g u i s h e d b y its t r u n k a n d e a r s
a.

F r o m t h e n a m e g i v e n t o it i n I n d i a , w h i c h t h e e a r l y o b -

b.

F r o m the African w o r d for "large beast that tramps through

s e r v e r s a d o p t e d a s its n a m e
the jungle"
c.

O r i g i n a l l y it w a s c a l l e d b y t h e s a m e n a m e a s a c a m e l , a p p a r e n t l y o n t h e t h e o r y t h a t all e x o t i c a n i m a l s w e r e t h e
same

53.

ENEMY

O n e w h o h a t e s o r d i s l i k e s (as a n o u n ) ; h a t i n g (as a n

adjective)
a.

F r o m the Latin w o r d m e a n i n g " t h e opposite o f a

b.

F r o m Old English, m e a n i n g " h a t r e d instilled b y b l o o d "

c.

S o u r c e u n k n o w n — a p p e a r e d first i n t h e K i n g J a m e s t r a n s l a t i o n o f t h e B i b l e , a s a s u b s t i t u t e f o r t h e word

54.

friend"

ENGINEER

foe

O n e w h o designs, m a k e s , puts to practical use,

or applies engines and other m a c h i n e s
a.

D e v e l o p e d w h e n the s t e a m e n g i n e c a m e into use to describe the m e n w h o built t h e m a n d t h e m e n w h o ran t h e m

55.

b.

From the French

c.

B y u s a g e from t h e L a t i n w o r d m e a n i n g " s k i l l "

ENIGMA
a.

ingenieur

An obscure or hidden meaning; a puzzle

O n e o f t h e Greek ' 'mysteries''; t h e protagonist o f this d r a m a
with a hidden, obscure meaning

b.

From the Greek words meaning "to speak darkly" and " a
fable"

c.

T h e n a m e of a f a m o u s b o o k in Old English literature; t h e
first r e c o r d e d m y s t e r y n o v e l