WHICH WORD?

NO. 1641

1 AUSTERE (a) Pertaining to the ear (b) Severely simple (c) The south wind

2 BOMBAST (a) High-sounding language (b) Twilled fabric of cotton and worsted (c) An artillery attack

3 CONGENITAL (a) To one’s taste (b) Born with a disease or infirmity (c) Gathered into a mass

4 DUDGEON (a) A short clay tobacco pipe (b) A close, dark prison (c) Offended indignation

5 FARRIER (a) One who shoes horses (b) A Spanish gypsy dance (c) A board over a shop-front bearing the proprietor’s name

6 GYMKHANA (a) A minor official in India (b) A meeting for equestrian sports (c) A genus of hardy perennials

7 HOWDAH (a) A short, squat gun (b) A young owl (c) A seat fixed on an elephant’s back

8 INVECTIVE (a) Ready in contrivance (b) A violent utterance of censure (c) Confirmed in any habit

9 KISMET (a) A form of solid graphite (b) An Israeli communal settlement (c) Destiny

10 LAPIDARIST (a) An expert in gems (b) Inhabitant of a flying island discovered by Gulliver (c) A beekeeper

11 LUGUBRIOUS (a) Mournful (b) Made smooth or slippery (c) Talkative

12 MILLENIUM (a) A rare metallic element (b) A thousand years (c) A form of coral with many pores

13 NOVENA (a) A star that suddenly flares violently (b) A devotion lasting nine days (c) A new convert or church member

14 OVINE (a) Open to view (b) Sheeplike (c) Relating to the Latin poet Ovid 15 PORTCULLIS (a) A large travelling bag (b) A list of securities held (c) A grating let down to close a castle gateway

16 QUAGMIRE (a) Wet, boggy ground (b) A dance form for four couples (c) An ancient Roman magistrate

17 ROTUND (a) A platform for public speaking (b) Rounded or nearly spherical (c) A game of chance

18 SODALITY (a) A fellowship or fraternity (b) High seriousness (c) Comfort in distress

19 TRIENNIAL (a) Arranged in three rows (b) A light three-wheeled vehicle for the disabled (c) Happening every third year

20 VORACIOUS (a) Eating greedily or in large quantities (b) Pertaining to a whirlpool (c) Full of life and sprightly