1.) Born in 1758, this Connecticut educator, statesman, and lexicographer is best remembered as the "Father of the American Dictionary."

2.) Select the word or phrase that you think best explains the italicized word in the following quotation:

"But the main thing I don't want to be is unfunny. That's really the mandate."—Jon Stewart

3.) Franklin P. Adams coined the word aptronym to describe a name that is aptly suited to its owner. Which of the following is the most suitable aptronym for an unsuccessful gambler?

4.) Dozens of new words enter the dictionary every year. Which of the following definitions best describes the newcomer sandwich generation?

5.) Select the word or phrase that you think best explains the italicized word in the following quotation:

"Joyce is a poet and also an elephantine pedant."—George Orwell

6.) The "idylls" in Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King are best described as:

7.) On which of the following national cable television networks would you most likely find out how to make an amuse-bouche?

8.) Which of the following recent additions to the dictionary can best be used to describe the famous tourist attraction Niagara Falls?

9.) Select the word or phrase that you think best explains the italicized word in the following quotation:

"It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims"—Aristotle

10.) A certain cryptologist vacationing in Europe sent a postcard to his friend back home in the States inscribed with the following message:

"What a foreign stone pile!"

As a fellow wordplay enthusiast, the recipient instantly identified the message as an anagram for which of the following tourist attractions?

1.)    B:     Noah Webster's A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language, published in 1806, was the first truly American dictionary. Daniel Webster, another statesman and contemporary of Noah, was named Secretary of State by President Millard Fillmore in 1850—but he had nothing to do with dictionaries or dictionary-making.

2.)    C:     The dictionary defines the word mandate as "an authorization to act given to a representative."

3.)    C:     Owen Lotz (owin' lots) is the aptronym. "A" is actually a palindrome (a word or phrase that reads the same backwards and foreword).

4.)     A:    The dictionary defines the term sandwich generation as "a generation of people who are caring for their aging parents while supporting their own children."

5.)     A:     The dictionary definition for pedant is "a: one who makes a show of knowledge b: one who is unimaginative or who unduly emphasizes minutiae in the presentation or use of knowledge."

6.)     B:     Tennyson's Idylls of the King is a version of the Arthurian legend told in twelve narrative poems.

7.)     A:     The dictionary defines amuse-bouche as "a small complimentary appetizer offered at some restaurants," so to find out how to make one, your best bet is to tune into the Food Network.

8.)     B:     New addition to the dictionary aquascape is defined as "a scenic view of a body of water." Incidentally, the words agritourism ("the practice of touring agricultural areas to see farms and often to participate in farm activities") and dreamscape ("a dreamlike usually surrealistic scene") are also newcomers.

9.)     C:    A maxim is defined as both "a general truth, fundamental principle, or rule of conduct," and "a proverbial saying."

10.)     C:     You could call each of these three European structures a "stone pile," but only one—The Leaning Tower of Pisa—is an anagram for "What a foreign stone pile!"