Your question is incomplete because you have not provided the underlined word or the answer options, which are:
Underlined word: hapless
Answer options:
unlucky or unfortunate; pitiable
unknown or unfamiliar; mysterious
without intelligence; foolish
without tenderness; harsh
Answer:
unlucky or unfortunate; pitiable
Explanation:
The adjective hapless means unfortunate. In the excerpt, the author makes reference to lexicography, which is the act of compiling dictionaries. In that respects, he mentions that it is difficult and exhausting to describe things that are widely known but also those which are very little known.
