Word Power ANSWERS

1. jejune (b) immature. My childhood diaries seem so jejune to me now!

2. doubloon (c) gold coin. As the ship’s first mate, I earn two doubloons a week.

3. importune (c) urge. The home crowd has been known to importune the referees to reverse a questionable call.

4. dragoon (b) soldier on horseback. The dragoons charged toward the enemy palace.

5. festoon (a) decorate. Aunt Morticia’s creepy attic is festooned with spiderwebs.

6. picayune (a) trivial. I can’t be bothered with your picayune facts!

7. boon (b) blessing. “The new bridge will be a boon for drivers, shortening their commutes at rush hour,” the mayor promised.

8. clair de lune (a) blue porcelain glaze. “I can’t believe you got this antique clair de lune vase for only a dollar!”

9. saskatoon (c) Juneberry shrub. When the saskatoons bloom, it’s a sure sign that spring has arrived.

10. tribune (a) Roman official. If you plebeians have a complaint, take it directly to your tribune.

11. harpoon (b) barbed spear. The whaling museum’s permanent

collection includes harpoons from the 1700s.

12. opportune (c) timely. My ex-wife couldn’t have arrived at a less opportune moment.

13. galloon (b) lace trim. Margaret’s wedding gown has hand-stitched galloon on the bodice and pearl buttons on the back.

14. rune (c) mystical writing. The stone tablet is inscribed with an ancient Icelandic rune.

15. maroon (b) leave stranded. Isn’t he that scientist who was marooned on Mars for a year?

Vocabulary Ratings

9 & below: no buffoon

10–12: word tycoon

13–15: over the moon