Word Power

Mixed Messages

Purists grind their teeth when they encounter words that mix Latin and Greek origins. See if you can root out the meanings of these hybrid words.

1. amoral adj. – A: point of a story. B: outside the scope of moral judgement. C: small mushroom.

2. monolingual adj. – A: speaking one language. B: a repetitive sound. C: having a tongue that isn’t forked.

3. neonate n. – A: newborn. B: a new employee. C: illuminated sign.

4. bigamy n. – A: marriage to more than one person. B: twofold increase in size. C: twice-removed relative.

5. geostationary adj. – A: world map on paper. B: designed for digging soil. C: matching the Earth’s rotation.

6. dysfunction n. – A: abnormal workings. B: power surge. C: fire prevention.

7. hexadecimal adj. – A: of a number system with a base of 16. B: six-sided die. C: one sixth of a dollar.

8. sociopathy n. – A: culture shock. B: antisocial personality disorder. C: pathological friendliness.

9. periglacial adj. – A: light blue in colour. B: of an area next to a glacier. C: involving skiing.

10. meritocracy n. – A: underwater city. B: society controlled by billionaires. C: group run by the most accomplished and talented.

11. bioluminescence n. – A: production of light by living organisms. B: electrostatic discharge. C: generating power.

12. quadraphonic adj. – A: on four legs. B: signalled from a drone. C: using four sound channels.

13. liposuction n. – A: removal of fat. B: carpet-cleaning solution. C: the creation of a vacuum.

14. biodiversity – A: ability of living organisms to reproduce. B: variety of life forms in a specific area. C: species with varied forms.