Word Puzzle Answers

1. swashbuckling - A: Recklessly daring; daredevilish;
swaggering; as, an old Errol Flynn swashbuckling film about
pirates. English swash (splashing water) and buckler (shield).

2. competent - D: Capable; well-qualified; as, A competent
mechanic is a blessing. Latin competere (to be suitable).

3. spritz - C: Squirt or spray; as, A quick spritz of this
or that will not eliminate termites. German spritzen (to
spray).

4. omnibus - B: All-embracing; covering many items; as, An
omnibus bill in Congress includes a number of unrelated
items. Latin (for all).

5. ingenuity - B: Cleverness; inventive skill; resourceful-
ness; as, the cat's ingenuity in opening the refrigerator
door. Latin ingeniosus (gifted with genius).

6. canon - C: Guiding principle used as a standard; as,
canons of good taste. Also, sacred writings of the Bible.
Greek kanon (measuring rod).

7. parlance - D: Manner or style of speaking or writing; as,
legal parlance; my grandmother's quaint parlance. Old French
parler (to speak).

8. muster - A: To assemble or bring together; summon up; as,
to muster troops for inspection; muster courage. Latin
monstrare (to show).

9. personable - C: Attractive; having a pleasing manner; as,
a personable salesclerk. Latin persona (person, character).

10. concave - D: Curving inward; as, the interesting concave
shape of an antique bottle. Latin concavus (hollow).

11. infatuation - C: Temporary, unreasoning and shallow
passion; as, a teenager's infatuation with a rock star. Latin
infatuare (to make foolish).

12. forfeit - B: To be forced to give up something; to be
penalized for wrongdoing. Middle English forfet (crime).

13. query - A: To question; express doubts as to correctness;
as, to query a company's claim about the benefits of a
product. Latin quaerere (to ask).

14. intergalactic - D: Occurring or existing between
galaxies; as, intergalactic travel in science fiction. Latin
inter- (between) and English galactic, from Greek galaktikos
(milky; derivation for Milky Way).

15. steadfast - D: Unwavering; as, a steadfast gaze. Also
loyal and constant; as, a steadfast friend. Old English
stedefaest.

16. permutation - A: Alteration or change; complete
rearrangement; as, political permutations in Eastern Europe.
Latin per- (through) and mutare (to change).

17. rookery - C: Breeding place of birds, seals or other
animals; as, a rookery teeming with penguins. English rook
(black European crow).

18. ransack - D: To search thoroughly and vigorously; as,
to ransack a room for a document; also, to plunder. Old
Norse rann (house) and -saka (to search).

19. infamous - D: Having a bad reputation; notorious; as,
No nation can trust that infamous dictator. Latin in (not)
and fama (fame).

20. inkling - C: Slight indication; hint; intimation; as,
She had no inkling of his true intentions. Middle English
inclen (to hint).