jeff_999  +  128240 Thu, 18 Aug 05 04:25 PM BAIT: A. perplex B. disarm C. delude D. release E. fortify (Choose the word among the five choices that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in capital letter.) I was totally caught up with this one. I have no clue at all what "bait" is supposed to mean in this question. Thank you. jeff_999 Joined on Wed, Oct 20 2004 Xiamen Regular Member 817 Capital Letters

	davkett  +  128246 Thu, 18 Aug 05 04:38 PM None of the five choices seem to me like good antonyms.  Bait attracts and interests. 'Perplex' (to confuse, to puzzle) seems to come the closest.  BAIT n. 1. a. Food or other lure placed on a hook or in a trap and used in the taking of fish, birds, or other animals. b. Something, such as a worm, used for this purpose. 2. An enticement; a temptation. 3. Archaic A stop for food or rest during a trip. v. bait·ed, bait·ing, baits v.tr. 1. To place a lure in (a trap) or on (a fishing hook). 2. To entice, especially by trickery or strategy. 3. To set dogs upon (a chained animal, for example) for sport. 4. To attack or torment, especially with persistent insults, criticism, or ridicule. 5. To tease. 6. To feed (an animal), especially on a journey. v.intr. Archaic To stop for food or rest during a trip.   davkett Joined on Tue, Jun 7 2005 Pennsylvania, USA Senior Member 2,788 "The rose stays fresh in its name..." -Bernard of Morlay Antonyms

	Clive  +  128264 Thu, 18 Aug 05 05:04 PM Hi, Although it has more sophisticated meanings, 'to bait' is to try to entice or trap. So, I'd choose 'release'. Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,580 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	MrPedantic  +  128384 Fri, 19 Aug 05 12:15 AM A. perplex B. disarm C. delude D. release E. fortify I bait you when I deliberately set out to annoy you. If I'm successful, you'll look at me in a negative light. 1. When I perplex you (intentionally or not), you may be annoyed. Not A. 2. When I disarm you, I set out to make you look on me (or my recommendation) in a positive light. Possibly B. 3. When I delude you, you will be annoyed if you find out. Not C. 4. When I release you, you will be pleased. But 'release' suggests prior physical restraint, whereas 'bait' is psychological. Not D. 5. When I fortify you, I build up your confidence with encouraging words. Not E. So I would say B. It's not an entirely perfect antonym, though: baiting can describe the deliberately annoying action itself, whereas disarming is the consequence of the deliberately pleasing action. MrP MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member 12,592 ...opella forensis / adducit febris... Negatives, Antonyms

	davkett  +  128395 Fri, 19 Aug 05 12:36 AM MrP,  --I can imagine someone who has been disarmed being extremely annoyed.  Does the world today not have plenty of bigtime examples of this? The answer must be C, because we've given evey answer but C.  How's that for resolving the thread? But I'm going to finally go with D:  entrapment / release     davkett

	MrPedantic  +  128398 Fri, 19 Aug 05 12:47 AM Yes...though I'm thinking of 'disarm' in its sense of 'depriving of reason or disposition to be hostile'. It seems a psychological context... MrP   MrPedantic