Word Power ANSWERS

1. buccaneer (b) pirate. After the raid, the band of buccaneers divvied up their loot.

2. terrazzo (a) mosaic flooring. Tamara installed cheery green-and-white terrazzo in her guest bathroom.

3. heedless (b) inconsiderate. “How can you be so heedless of my feelings?” Diego asked, looking heartbroken.

4. muumuu (c) loose dress. While visiting Maui, I bought two flower-patterned muumuus.

5. settee (b) sofa. Our dog Harpo likes to nap on our vintage settee despite having a bed of his own.

6. hippogriff (a) mythical animal. According to legend, a hippogriff has the front half of an eagle and the hind half of a horse.

7. bassoon (b) woodwind instrument. Erica is the only bassoon player in her high school’s orchestra.

8. skiddoo (c) depart. “I’d love to stay and chat, but I have to skiddoo!” Amos said as he left.

9. guerrilla (b) outlaw soldier. The guerrilla leader hatched a plot to overthrow the government.

10. milliwatt (b) unit of power. A milliwatt is equal to one thousandth of a watt—not enough to give off much light!

11. abbess (b) convent leader. The younger nuns looked to their abbess for guidance.

12. fuddy-duddy (a) old-fashioned person.

Call me a fuddy-duddy all you like, but I’m still not getting a smartphone.

13. lessee (c) renter. Per the contract, the apartment’s lessee pays the cable bill.

14. kookaburra (c) Australian bird. The kookaburra’s call sounds like fiendish laughter.

15. riffraff (a) questionable character. Mom says that in her day, people who got tattoos were considered to be total riffraff.

Vocabulary Ratings

9 & below: committed

10–12: successful

13–15: peerless