RD201812-201901

1. ambience n.
   ('am-bee-ents)
   aact of listening.
   bstroll.
   catmosphere.


2. diabolical adj.
   (dy-uh-'bah-lih-kuhl)
   adevilish.
   btwo-faced.
   cacidic.


3. sabbatical n.
   (suh-'ba-tih-kuhl)
   aprayer shawl.
   bstrict command.
   cextended leave.


4. abject adj.
   ('ab-jekt)
   alofty.
   blowly.
   ccentral.

You’re busy at this time of year, so we made

this quiz as easy as a, b, c. All these words

include those letters—in order (ignoring

some repeats). You’ll find this aerobic mental

exercise more fun if you don’t fabricate the

answers, which are on the next page.

By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

To play an interactive version of Word Power on your iPad,

download the Reader’s Digest app.

WORD POWER

9. lambency n.
   ('lam-ben-see)
   ameekness.
   bdesperation.
   cradiance.


10. abdicate v.
    ('ab-dih-kayt)
    agive up.
    bstart.
    cdecline to vote.


11. Malbec n.
    (mal-'bek)
    acoffee blend.
    bFrench pirate.
    cred wine.


12. abeyance n.
    (uh-'bay-ents)
    afollowing orders.
    bbarking.
    ctemporary inactivity.


13. shambolic adj.
    (sham-'bah-lik)
    amisleading.
    bdisorganized.
    cwidely shunned.


14. abscond v.
    (ab-'skond)
    asteal away.
    btrip and fall.
    cfail to rhyme.


15. sawbuck n.
    ('saw-buk)
    ahorse trainer.
    bten-dollar bill.
    ctree trimmer.


16. swashbuckler n.
    ('swahsh-buh-kler)
    astudded belt.
    bdaring adventurer.
    cthreshing blade.


17. abacus n.
    ('a-buh-kuss)
    asundial.
    bmagic spell.
    cancient counting tool.


18. rambunctious adj.
    (ram-'bunk-shuss)
    agoatlike.
    bunruly.
    cwide-awake.


19. ambivalence n.
    (am-'bih-vuh-lents)
    amedical aid.
    bcontradictory feelings.
    cleft-handedness.

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The Genius Section