Words! Words! Words!

On this day in 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of France and one of the greatest military leaders in history, abdicates the throne, and, in the Treaty of Fontainebleau, is banished to the Mediterranean island of Elba. As we consider some French words and concepts, among other things, see if your vocabulary skills will keep you from being banished to le grand couloir de dictionnaires.

1. “Able was I ere I saw Elba”:

1. an apothegm;
2. a cliché;
3. a palindrome;
4. a trope.

2. age of reason:

1. the 17th century in Europe;
2. the 16th century in England and France;
3. the 18th century in England and France;
4. the 21st century in the United States.

3. rambouillet:

1. a French mercenary;
2. a government security (as in France) paying interest;
3. a full-bodied sweet white wine;
4. any of a breed of large sturdy sheep developed in France.

4. Bourbon:

1. a member of a French family founded in 1272 to which belong the rulers of France from 1589 to 1793 and from 1814 to 1830;
2. of or relating to a Frankish dynasty dating from about A.D. 613 and including among its members the rulers of France from 751 to 987;
3. of or relating to the German royal house to which belong the rulers of Austria from 1278 to 1918;
4. whiskey distilled in France especially from malted barley.

5. imperial:

1. a decree of a ruler or ministry having the force of a law enacted by the legislature;
2. a pointed beard growing below the lower lip;
3. a member of an aristocratic political party in medieval France supporting the authority of the French king;
4. a son of the sovereign.

6. dauphin:

1. the eldest son of a king of France;
2. the secretary of a nobleman, prince, or king;
3. the titular head of a French university;
4. a judge in a court of chancery or equity in various provinces of France.

7. napoleon:

1. custard baked with a caramel glaze;
2. a cold dessert made of layers of fruit, syrup, ice cream, and whipped cream;
3. an oblong pastry with a filling of cream, custard, or jelly;
4. a dessert consisting of sponge cake and custard or pudding that is flavored with rum, covered with cream, and garnished with fruit.

8. despot:

1. a ruler with absolute power and authority;
2. a commander in chief or emperor of the ancient Romans;
3. something resembling a political empire;
4. a lord paramount.

9. water:

1. a fluid culture medium;
2. degree of excellence;
3. a flow of cash;
4. liquid diffused or condensed in relatively small quantity.

10. loo:

1. a small body of standing liquid;
2. a quiet place in a stream;
3. a word or phrase made by transposing the letters of another word or phrase;
4. an old card game in which the winner of each trick or a majority of tricks takes a portion of the pool while losing players are obligated to contribute to the next pool.

Correct answers:

1c; 2c; 3d; 4a; 5b; 6a; 7c; 8a; 9b (as in a scholar of the first water); 10d

Figure your reward or your banishment: