Adjectives

Front 1

Ruritanian \rur-ih-TAY-nee-un\ adjective

Back 1

of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an imaginary place of high romance

Hint 1

Tolkien fans were elated when the Ruritanian world of Middle Earth was finally depicted on the big screen.

Front 2

motley \MAHT-lee\ adjective

Back 2

*1 : variegated in color
2 : composed of diverse often incongruous elements

Hint 2

Lenny went to the medieval festival dressed in the bright motley garb of a court jester.

Front 3

placid \PLASS-id\ adjective

Back 3

: serenely free of interruption or disturbance; also : complacent

Hint 3

It was fortunate that the horse Becky was riding had a placid disposition and didn't try to bolt when the car backfired

Front 4

eristic \ih-RISS-tik\ adjective

Back 4

characterized by disputatious and often subtle and specious reasoning

Hint 4

Scott grew tired of the eristic arguments his friend put forth and refused to discuss the issue further

Front 5

indigenous \in-DIJ-uh-nuss\ adjective

Back 5

having originated in and being produced, growing, living, or occurring naturally in a particular region or environment
2 : innate, inborn

Hint 5

Most people know that kangaroos are indigenous to Australia, but some species are also found on the island of New Guinea.

Front 6

avuncular \uh-VUNK-yuh-ler\ adjective

Back 6

of or relating to an uncle
*2 : suggestive of an uncle especially in kindliness or geniality

Hint 6

Despite avuncular assurances that he remembered what it was like to be young, Katy's landlord still expected her to be a responsible tenant.

Front 7

eclectic \ih-KLEK-tik\ adjective

Back 7

selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles
*2 : composed of elements drawn from various sources; also : heterogeneous

Hint 7

Old-school musicians joined with today's rising stars to showcase an eclectic mix of music for charity

Front 8

extraneous \ek-STRAY-nee-us\ adjective

Back 8

1 : existing on or coming from the outside
2 *a : not forming an essential or vital part b : having no relevance
3 : being a number obtained in solving an equation that is not a solution of the equation

Hint 8

After he finished the first draft of his essay, Brad reread it and deleted the extraneous material, making it more concise and focused.

Front 9

incontrovertible \in-kahn-truh-VER-tuh-bul\ adjective

Back 9

not open to question : indisputable

Hint 9

If something is indisputable, it's incontrovertible. But if it is open to question, is it "controvertible"? It sure is. The antonyms "controvertible" and "incontrovertible" are both derivatives of the verb "controvert" (meaning "to dispute or oppose by reasoning"), which is itself a spin-off of "controversy." And what is the source of all of these controversial terms? The Latin adjective "controversus," which literally means "turned against."

Front 10

spontaneous \spahn-TAY-nee-us\ adjective

Back 10

done, said, or produced freely and naturally
2 : acting or taking place without apparent external cause or influence

Hint 10

Since childhood, Marie has been prone to spontaneous displays of affection.

Front 11

doctrinaire \dahk-truh-NAIR\ adjective

Back 11

attempting to put into effect an abstract doctrine or theory with little or no regard for practical difficulties : dogmatic

Hint 11

"Doctrinaire" didn't start out as a critical word. In post-revolutionary France, a group who favored constitutional monarchy called themselves Doctrinaires. "Doctrine" in French, as in English, is a word for the principles on which a government is based; it is ultimately from Latin "doctrina," meaning "teaching" or "instruction." But both ultraroyalists and revolutionists strongly derided any doctrine of reconciling royalty and representation as utterly impracticable, and they resented the Doctrinaires' influence over Louis XVIII. So "doctrinaire" became an adjective in French, and "there adhered to it some indescribable tincture of unpopularity which was totally indelible" (Blanc's History of ten years 1830-40, translated by Walter K. Kelly in 1848). Within 20 years "doctrinaire" had also become the English adjective we have today.

Front 12

capricious \kuh-PRISH-us\ adjective

Back 12

governed or characterized by sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated ideas or actions : unpredictable

Hint 12

Given his capricious nature, Irving is more likely to go wherever the road takes him than follow any scripted plan.

Front 13

vernal \VER-nul\ adjective

Back 13

of, relating to, or occurring in the spring
2 : fresh or new like the spring; also : youthful

Hint 13

The stream began to murmur by the door, and the fragrance of growing herbs and flowers came softly on the vernal breeze." (Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi

Front 14

haptic \HAP-tik\ adjective

Back 14

relating to or based on the sense of touch
2 : characterized by a predilection for the sense of touch

Hint 14

Mark could tell the different kinds of yarn apart purely by haptic clues.

Front 15

volant \VOH-lunt\ adjective

Back 15

having the wings extended as if in flight — used of a heraldic bird
*2 : flying or capable of flying
3 : quick, nimble

Hint 15

Archaeopteryx, a dinosaur with well-developed wings, had wing feathers with a structure and arrangement like that of modern volant birds — indicating it could fly.