Words
Content
Word: DAPPER (adj) Meaning
(of a man) neat in dress and appearance
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
spruce, elegant, smart, trim, debonair, neat, tidy, crisp, well dressed, well turned, well groomed,
Antonyms
-
Usage
The dapper youngman, charmed everyone e veryone at the party with his impeccable manners.
Sanative, curative, healing, therapeutic Spinster , noun:
1. A woman who has remained single beyond the usual age of marrying. 2. In law, a woman who has never married. 3. A woman whose occupation is spinning. spinning. Cicatrize to become healed after an injury by the formation of scar tissue noun form: cicatrization
adjective form: cicatrizant
Ruse, trick, subterfuge, wile or stratagem s tratagem Homespun, unsophisticated, rustic, unpolished, natural
Tutelage noun Definition: instruction, Definition: instruction, guidance, and supervision provided by a tutor or guardian Synonyms: instruction, Synonyms: instruction, guidance, guardianship, protection, custody
Camelot PRONUNCIATION:
(KAM-uh-lot) MEANING:
noun: An idealized time or place, one regarded as enlightened, beautiful, and peaceful.
enmity Function: noun : a very deep unfriendly feeling
E nm nmity ity is is hatred such as might be felt for an enemy: the wartime enmity of of the two nations. nations. Hostility implies the clear expression of enmity: "If we could read the secret history of our Hostility implies enemies, we should find . . . enough to disarm all hostility" (Henry (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow). ntagonism is hostility that quickly results in active act ive resistance, opposition, or contentiousness: "the early struggles of famous authors, the notorious no torious antagonism of publishers and editors to any new writer of exceptional promise" (Edith (Edith Wharton). Ani often triggers bitter Anim mosit sity y often resentment or punitive action: overcame her animosity toward to ward her parents. parents. Rancor suggests vengeful hatred and resentment: filled resentment: filled with rancor after after losing his job. job. Antipa Antipathy is is deep-seated aversion or repugnance: an antipathy to social pretension. pretension. Anim Ani mus is distinctively personal, often based on one's prejudices pre judices or temperament: an inexplicable animus against intellectuals. intellectuals.
Word: STATUESQUE (adj) Meaning
(of a woman) attractively tall, graceful and dignified.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
tall and dignified, imposing, striking, stately, majestic, noble, magnificent, splendid, impressive,
Antonyms
unimpressive, plain
Usage
A statuesque woman and a stickler st ickler for discipline, discipline, headmistress won the admiration of students.
fulminate Function: verb [no object ] Inflected forms: fulminates; fulminated; fulminating
Status: formal Meaning: a ngrily : to complain loudly or angrily Examples: <She was fulminating about/over about/over/at /at the dangers of smoking.> <The editorial fulminated against the proposed tax increase.> Derived form: fulmination noun Plural: fulminations Examples: [count ] <a fulmination against the proposed tax increase> [noncount ] <The proposed tax increase has been the subject of much anger and fulmination.>
Stolid, unemotional, emotionless, stoic, impassive, unfeeling, staid, indifferent
Word: PRECINCT (noun) Meaning
the area around a place or building, often enclosed by a wall.
Root of the word
-
Synonyms
area, zone, sector, district, section, quarter, region
Antonyms
-
Usage
Women are not allowed to enter the precincts of the temple at Sabarimala.
Adjunct: n An additional additional part Conflagration: n
Fire, blaze, flames, inferno, firestorm, holocaust The conflagration claimed several lives and damaged several houses.
] usury [ YOO-zhuh'-ree YOO-zhuh'-ree ] [ noun ] noun ] MEANING : 1. the lending of money at very high interest rates 2. an exorbitant amount or rate of interest
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The practice of usury is still prevalent in some rural ru ral areas of our country.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : Forbearance was a way round the notion of usury, because the lender was foregoing the ability to profit from the sum that had been lent.
enfant terrible PRONUNCIATION:
(ahn*-fahn* te-REE-bluh) [* these syllables are nasal] plural enfants terribles (ahn*-fahn* te-REE-bluh)
MEANING:
noun: A person, especially someone famous or successful, whose
unconventional lifestyle, work, or behavior appears shocking. ETYMOLOGY:
From French enfant terrible (terrible child). USAGE:
"Once an enfant terrible, who as a young filmmaker challenged censors and outraged conservative critics, Koji Wakamatsu has not mellowed so much as ripened."
prude prude [ [ prood ] ] [ noun ] MEANING : : a person, esp., a woman who is excessively conscious about proper behaviour and appearance USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : : Being a prude, she refused to attend her school's Saturday night dance programme. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : : In the blood of the socialist, there should always run a trace of the anarchist and the libertarian, and not too much of the prig and the prude.
Telegraph, Forget the school, it's the teaching that counts, By Susan Crosland
prudence [ PROOD-ns ] prudence [ [ noun ] MEANING : : 1. the quality of exercising good judgement 2. careful management of practical matters prudence, discretion, discretion, foresight, foresight, forethought, forethought, circumsp circumspection ection
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : : Before contracting to acquire the assets of a firm, prudence is required. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : : The public rightly expect this Government to exercise some kind of prudence when the country is in the grip of a recession. The Telegraph, Whitehall expands 'Twittercrat' empire, Chris Irvine, 2 September 2009 defunct [ di-FUHNGKD ] defunct [ [ noun, adjective ] MEANING : : 1. (adj.) not functioning or no longer in use 2. (adj.) having ceased to live or exist 3. (adj.) no longer in existence or dead 4. (n.) a person who is no more or extinct USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : : The defunct machines in the factory were sold as scrap metal. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : : The "anti-targets" include defunct armoured vehicles used for target t arget practice on Cape Wrath in Sutherland.
Volubility : noun
The volubility of the new entrant charmed everyone. Though your writing skills are wonderful, I think you should work on your volubility as you stammer a lot when you speak. Articulateness, fluency, eloquence
Protract verb
We protracted our stay because of the warning of a storm by meteorological department. Can we draw out the meeting? Extend, prolong
Noun: voodoo 1. a charm superstitiously believed believed to embody magical magical powers 2. a religious religious cult practiced practiced chiefly in Caribbean countries countries (especially Haiti) Verb: voodoo 1. bewitch by or as if by a voodoo Synonyms:
fetich, fetish fetich, fetish,, hoodoo hoodoo,, hoodooism hoodooism,, juju juju,, vodoun vodoun,, voodooism voodooism,, Type of:
bewitch,, charm charm,, cult cult,, cultus cultus,, enchant enchant,, glamour glamour,, good luck bewitch charm,, hex charm hex,, jinx jinx,, religious cult, cult, witch witch,,
Noun: frolic 1. Gay or light-hearted recreational activity activity for diversion diversion or amusement
"Their frolic in the surf threatened to become ugly" Verb: frolic 1. Play boisterously
"The children frolicked in the garden" Synonyms:
caper, cavort caper, cavort,, disport disport,, frisk frisk,, gambol gambol,, lark lark,, lark about,, play about play,, rollick rollick,, romp romp,, run around, around, skylark skylark,, sport, The actor and actress capered in the rains during du ring the shooting of the song. The children cavorted in the park. The children disported in the garden. The children frisked in the garden. The gambol of the children in the premises of the building disturbed those living on ground floor. The children skylarked in the park. The toddlers romped in the playground. The children rollicked in the garden. Type of:
Diversion,, play Diversion play,, recreation recreation,,
Types:
Coquetry,, craziness craziness,, dalliance dalliance,, flirt flirt,, flirtation flirtation,, flirting flirting,, folly folly,, foolery foolery,, Coquetry Game, horseplay Game, horseplay,, indulgence indulgence,, lunacy lunacy,, teasing teasing,, tomfoolery tomfoolery,, toying toying,, word play,
Noun: demulcent 1. A medication (in the form of an oil oil or salve etc.) that soothes soothes inflamed or
injured skin Adjective: demulcent 1. Having a softening or soothing effect especially to t o the skin Having convinced of its demulcent properties, she rubbed the salve on her chapped hands. Synonyms:
Emollient, Emollient, salving salving,, softening softening,,
Nonetheless
Function: adverb Status: somewhat formal Meaning: : in spite of what has just been said :nevertheless Examples: ], no <There’s no doubt the city is changing for the better. Nonetheless [=however ], one has been too surprised by the recent violence.> <The hike was difficult, but fun nonetheless . [=the hike was fun even though it was difficult]>
Feculent PRONUNCIATION:
(FEK-yuh-luhnt)
MEANING:
Adjective: Full of filth or waste matter. fecal Synonyms: fecal Everyone condemns the state of Indian In dian politics but nobody is ready to clean up the feculent corruption.
The first reason, call it the ostrich syndrome, is based on the belief that if you bury your head in the sand, you can fool yourself into believing everything is hunky-dory
The police, however, fall in a different category in their view as they represent the might of the “bourgeois” state. Killing them, therefore, is a lesser sin for the proletarian revolutionaries.
Automakers taking potshots at each other is pretty common in Germany —among BMW, Mercedes and Audi.
Vigor, energy, dynamism, heartiness, vim He is full of vim and an d vigor, has right kind of energy and dynamism needed for this daunting task. Epigraph- epi: upon, on ; graph: writing Epigraph in the beginning of each chapter, epigraph on the statue Inscription, citation, quotation
Spangle: ] spangle [ SPANG-guh'l SPANG-guh'l ] [ noun, intransitive verb, transitive verb ] verb ] MEANING : 1. (n.) a small circular piece of glittering metal or other material 2. (n.) any small, bright drop, spot, or the like 3. (tr. v.) to stud or sprinkle with small, bright pieces 4. (intr. v.) to sparkle or glitter like decorative spots
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The room looked bright due to the sparkle and spangle of her evening gown. The banner was spangled to make it attractive in moon light.
Ratify, confirm, approve, and give consent to
Haggle:
She would always haggle with the vegetable vendors before buying. Wrangle, chaffer
Doodle:
She doodled in the notebook without taking notes. Scrabble, scribble
Plutocracy:
Pluto: wealth cracy: govt Government by the wealthy Capitalism was thought as plutocracy by the socialists.
Covetousness: Thinking about profits is another thing, but a covetousness attitude can kill your good will.
Cupidity, rapacity, avarice, greed
Indolent, lazy, slothful Tessellated:
A tessellated floor I want a room which well furnished fu rnished walls and hangings, smooth floor tessellated with marbles and a window facing sea.
] uhp-shot ] upshot [ uhp-shot [ noun ] noun ] MEANING :
1. the result or the conclusion of 2. the gist or central theme 3. Consequence
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The upshot of their tiff was that they were not talking to each other. The upshot of the meeting was that we again have to meet.
Abut :
The house we buy doesn't need to be perfect, but it should be in a peaceful neighborhood and it must abut a park with running trails. The shop abuts on the highway road where it is illegal. Betoken, foretell, auspicate, predict, presage, prefigure, prognosticate, augur,
hortatory [ HAWR-tuh'-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ] [ adjective ] MEANING : : 1. encouraging or urging to some course of action USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : : The team went on to win the match after listening to the hortatory speech delivered by their coach. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : : What we don't want is another six-party meeting that just turns into hortatory exchanges of view. CNN, Powell: Serious talks over N Korea, 7 January 2004.
Conjure: on the surface it appears peaceful but it only needs a slight provocation to conjure up the anger. v.tr. v.tr. 1. a. To summon (a devil or spirit) spirit) by magical or supernatural power. b. To influence or effect by or as if by magic: tried to conjure away the doubts that beset her. her.
2. a. To call or bring to mind; evoke:
Arizona "
conjures up an an image of stark deserts for most Americans" (American Demographics). b. To imagine; picture: " a
sight to store away, then conjure up someday when they they were no longer together " " (Nelson (Nelson DeMille).
3. Archaic Archaic.. To call on or entreat solemnly, especially by an oath. v.intr. v.intr. 1. To perform magic tricks, especially by sleight of hand. 2. a. To summon a devil by magic or o r supernatural power. b. To practice black magic.
tantamount [ TAN-tuh'-mount ] tantamount [ [ adjective ] MEANING : : equivalent in force, significance or effect USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : : The strike was tantamount to a declaration of war. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : : North Korea's KCNA news agency quoted an official as saying a recent remark by President Lee that he wanted unification of the two Koreas under democracy was tantamount to declaring he would use war to rejoin the two Koreas. Philosophically Philosophical ly having few goo good d friends is tantam tantamount ount to having a hu huge ge fan ollowing. Studying for 2 hours seriously is tantamount to sitting in front of books for 8 hours.
Ham- handling approach of a tricky problem. The proverbial red flag- widely known and talked about.
Her proverbial lateness has harmed her reputation. Prudery: the character of the actor in the movie suffers from prudery and so is unable to find a match.
Prudery, primness, Grundyism
In the science fiction movie the protagonist was a cyborg. Derelict: Aver Incest: khap panchayats see sam samee gotra marriages as incest and and force already married couples to treat each other as brother-sister, brother -sister, Polyandry: polyandry was a practice in ancient times ti mes as suggested in Mahabharata epic where draupadi had 5 husbands. Promiscuity: in highly industrialized industrialized cities peopl peoplee suffer from paranoia and promiscuity is the the new fashion to kn know ow people qui quickly. ckly. Polemic: he is deliberately giving comments on polemic issues to garner public attention. Talisman: she wears the cross as a talisman after the plane crash.
She wears the ring as a amulet as told by his religious guru. Copious , ample, plentiful, voluminous, rich. Totemism: The belief that people are descended from animals, plants, and other natural objects. objects. Symbols Symbols of these natural ancestors, known as totems, are often o ften associated with clans (groups of families tracing common descent). By representing desirable individual qualities (such as the swiftness swiftness of a deer) and helping to explain the mythical origin of the clan, totems reinforce clan identity and solidarity.
cyrus brocha is known for his natural wit, and his journal on family management was a jeu d’espirit laughing off the parents who treat their children c hildren as their future bank balance.
Jeu d’espirit:
Esprit de corps : noun [noncount ]
Meaning: : feelings of loyalty, enthusiasm, and devotion to a group among people who are members of the group The troops showed great esprit de corps. Though the neighbors are staunch enemies, but whenever there is a cricket cr icket match of India they are united by esprit de corps. Tawdry, cheap, garish, gaudy, Her tawdry dressing sense was criticized. We should not dictate our children but rather give them latitude to choose things they want to do.
] noun ] non sequitur [ noun MEANING : 1. a fallacy or a conclusion or inference that is illogical or not derived from the premises 2. a statement that logically does not succeed its predecessor
USAGE : Andrew Shouler's related point (Letters, January 12) that the current global recession was caused by government mistakes is a non sequitur. His point that they couldn’t organize the function due to lack of funds is a non sequitur and there are other reasons totally different from it.
[ noun ] noun ] plaintiff [ MEANING : 1. complainant, defendant or the parson who is the injured party in a court case
USAGE : Beth Kaeding with the Northern Plains Resource Council — a plaintiff in the 2005 lawsuit — said her group wants "to see that coal-bed coal -bed methane development is
done right" under the new plan. The testimony of the plaintiff in this case is not valid unless supported by strong stro ng evidence.
He is a miracle child when other children are barely able to read at this stage, he can enunciate whole verses of the Vedas. Enunciate, articulate, pronounce, say, sound.
gaunt [ adjective ] gaunt [ MEANING : : 1. thin, bony, haggard or emaciated 2. desolate, barren, grim or bleak USAGE : : What remains is the immensity of the sky, gaunt slopes scrubby with thistles and wild grasses, the roar of glacial torrents in dark ravines, and the powerful pull of the first gods ever feared by men.
expatriate [ adjective, transitive verb ] expatriate [ MEANING : : 1. (adj.) exiled or banished 2. (n.) one who has been exiled or banished 3 (tr.v.) to banish one from one's native country 4. (tr.v.) to withdraw oneself from one's native land USAGE : : He bought most of the land with money he earned in Saudi Arabia as an expatriate worker, like many others in his village.
Aphorism: “as he thinks so he does” an apt aphorism for the capricious minded. Prima facie: at prima facie it may seem that he is a haughty person, but when u spent some time with him u realize that he is really a nice guy. Approbation: before giving approbation to the gene mapping project we should realize its social implication.
Plenitude: plentifulness, plenty
We don’t have plenitude of funds that we give money to every ev ery novice and experienced idea. Affliction: poor suffer from affliction and badly need insurance insurance cover from gov. Finitude: finitude limits us to think only in some set terms ter ms only. Fallibility: the fallibility of the committee on this issue is more as it is very subtle. Hermeneutic : hermeneutic interpretation of religious texts Eugenic:
The study of factors that influence the hereditary here ditary qualities of future generations. It may be thought of as both a science and a social movement. Eugenics proposes to improve humanity's future by increasing the number of children produced by persons who are, by some definition, superior and by reducing the number produced by persons who are physically or mentally mentally deficient
Vilification, abuse, insult Invidious: Invidious practices in nursery schools towards white children undermine the confidence of the black ones. Supererogatory, excess, redundant, superfluous Vicissitude: the vicissitudes of life teach us to deal failure and success with equal acceptance. Fluctuation, variation
Epistemology: Incantation: Fratricidal: Mahabharata is a stor story y of a ffratricidal ratricidal war for p power. ower. Extolled: lauded, praised, exalted Transcendentalism: Contrarian:
NOO-guh’ uh’-tawr-ee, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, NYOO- ] NYOO- ] nugatory [ NOO-g [ adjective ] adjective ] MEANING : of no worth or meaning
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : If the government is unable to tackle corruption, the very substance of government becomes nugatory. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : Eventually the mortgage which starts out as a dreadful burden becomes nugatory. Telegraph, Tide turns on ludicrous boom in house prices, By Roger Bootle, 24/04/2008 24/04/2008 ] anomaly [ uh'-NOM-uh'-lee uh'-NOM-uh'-lee ] [ noun ] noun ] MEANING : 1. divergence or deviation from a rule or form 2. something that is strange odd or peculiar 3. (astronomy) the angular deviation of a planet orbiting the Sun from its perihelion (as observed from the Sun)
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The case was termed as an anomaly and filed for future reference. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : The Ten Thousand Things model remains something of an anomaly in the theater the ater world – a well-respected organization, staffed by a rotating cast of professional actors, that eschews traditional stages altogether. abcNEWS, Theater for an unlikely audience, By Matthew Shaer [ proh-SEE-neeproscenium [ proh-SEE-nee-uh’ uh’ m, pruh’pruh’- ] [ noun ] noun ] MEANING : 1. the area that is located between the orchestra and the curtain cu rtain as part of a modern theatre 2. the foreground or the stage itself 3. the proscenium arch
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : She tripped on some loose wiring that was carelessly left on the proscenium.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : Sarah Crompton describes how the Old Vic's grand old proscenium-arch auditorium has been transformed into a spanking new theatre in the round. abcNews, Attention to Bones Important in Women With Lupus, December 26, 2008 2008
paradigm [ PAR-uh'-dahym ] [ noun ] noun ] MEANING : 1. (n.) something that serves as a standard pattern or role model 2. (n.) an arrangement of all the inflected forms of a word in sequence USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The changes introduced changed the paradigm for the better. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : Perhaps most importantly, though, is the simple fact that we have no other choice but to move toward a new paradigm for water. BBC, Water policies suffer sinking feeling, Brian Richter, 18 August 2009
subtlety [ SUHT-l-tee ] [ noun ] noun ] MEANING : 1. the state or quality of being elusive or abstruse 2. delicacy of character or meaning 3. acuteness of mind or refinement of reasoning USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The subtlety with which he handled the situation put everyone at ease. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : His uncanny depiction of women's psyche, subtlety and strength remains one of the Vietnamese filmmaker's most potent weapons and one he uses to great effect in this, his third feature.
Mephitic PRONUNCIATION:
(muh-FIT-ik) MEANING:
adjective: Poisonous or foul-smelling.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin mephitis (foul smell). USAGE:
"Jack Black is a sterling example of the actor who starts out seeming like a breath of fresh air, and then turns into something stale, fetid, mephitic, nauseating."
In that case it is the American people who stand to lose most of all, as their government increasingly obfuscates its way out of serious blunders committed, committed, and and a pliant press press happily happily amplifies amplifies propagandistic messages.
However the core reason behind this form of reporting may not be restricted to an incestuous relationship between government and media.
Hoary
Function: adjective Comparative and superlative forms:hoarier; hoariest Meanings: 1 a : very old
Examples: <hoary [=ancient ] legends> <a hoary tale tale of revenge> 1 b : not interesting, funny, etc., because of being used u sed too often : not fresh
or original Example: <a hoary cliché/joke> cliché/joke> 2 literary :: having gray or white hair
Examples: <He bowed his hoary head.> <a man hoary with with age>
Risible, laughable, ludicrous, funny, comical, amusing Piquant, engaging, spicy, interesting, intriguing, appealing Voluble, garrulous, talkative, ] voluble [ VOL-yuh'-buh'l VOL-yuh'-buh'l ] [ adjective ] adjective ] MEANING : marked by a ready and continuous flow of words
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : Despite voluble protests from the Human rights commission, crimes against women and minorities are on the increase.
All that transpired in these closed cl osed 4 walls should not be kept a secret. Plants transpire water vapour. ] transpire [ tran-spahyuhr ] [ intransitive verb, transitive verb ] verb ] MEANING : 1. (intr. v.) to occur; happen; take place. 2. (tr. v.) to emit or give off (waste matter, watery vapor, an odor, etc.)
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : He made a note of everything that transpired in the courtroom. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : Monthly arguments regarding his disheveled clothes and overdue haircut now transpire only during semester breaks. The Times of India, It's goodbye time, 25 January 2010
Ostracized, banished, shun, cast out
Folderol PRONUNCIATION:
(FOL-duh-rol) MEANING:
noun: 1. Nonsense; foolishness. 2. A trifle; gewgaw. ETYMOLOGY:
From a nonsense refrain in some old songs. The word is also spelled as falderal. USAGE:
"Canonization is a slow business in the Catholic church: all that folderol about miracles and devil's advocates."
spartan [ SPAHR-tn ] [ noun ] MEANING : : 1. pertaining to or like Sparta or its people 2. characterized by rigorously self-discipline or self-restrain 3. undaunted or courageous in the face of adversity ascetic, austere USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : : He was an idealistic person and lived a spartan spartan lifestyle. lifestyle. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : : The reluctance to leave the university flats might also be because parents, with memories of more spartan student accommodation, are often taken aback by the relative luxury, says Mr Hicks. passe [ pahs ] passe [ [ noun, adjective ] MEANING : : 1. (adj.) outdated, outmoded or no longer in i n fashion 2. (adj.) faded, aged or past one's prime 3. (n.) (roulette) numbers nineteen through thirty six USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : : Wearing a passe wardrobe is considered to be a social faux pas. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : :
For someone who was written off as passe long before he died in 1953, Eugene O'Neill still has an uncanny ability to grab headlines and spark debate among theater critics. Pontificate Pontificate Function: verb [no object ] Inflected forms: pontificates ; pontificated; pontificating Status: disapproving Meaning: : to speak or express your opinion about something in a way that t hat shows that you think you are always right Example: <We had to listen to her pontificate about/on the best way to raise children.> Contumely PRONUNCIATION:
(KON-too-muh-lee, kuhn-TOO-muh-lee, KON-tuhm-lee, -tyoo-, -tyoom-) MEANING:
noun: Contemptuous or insulting treatment arising from arrogance.
Abuse, insult, revilement, v vilification ilification ETYMOLOGY:
Via French from Latin contumelia (insult), probably from con- (with) + tumere (to swell). USAGE:
"Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot was greeted mostly with boos, bafflement, and contumely when it was first seen in 1955." "For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, Th' oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely?"
blandishment [ BLAN-dishblandishment [ BLAN-dish-muh' muh' nt n t ] [ noun ] MEANING : : pleasing and flattering actions or words cajolery, palaver, wheedling USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : : The businessman's blandishments about the present administration left the Prime Minister unmoved. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : : Perhaps the 14 years he managed Ipswich Town, winning the FA Cup, UEFA Cup and supervising the creative mischief of captain Terry Butcher, grounded him so thoroughly that no amount of blandishment nor brickbat could corrupt him. (noun) [REV-ah-nahnt] 1. one that returns after a long absence: "Bingo Fridays at Jill's Whack-n-Fry had been floundering since its founder left town, but upon her return, the mastermind was able to bring back its original excitement." revenant revenant mastermind 2. one who returns after death, especially as a ghost
platonic platonic [ [ pluh’ pluh’-TON-ik, -TON-ik, pley- ] [ adjective ] MEANING : : 1. characteristic of or pertaining to Plato 2. pertaining to or characteristic of a relationship that is non-sexual non- sexual 3. nominal, theoretical or speculative USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : : Theirs was a platonic relationship built on trust and mutual admiration. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : : The concept of platonic friendship that arose and was w as largely talked and
written from the time of Greek Philosopher Plato still remains as unclear and confusing as ever. Nebbish PRONUNCIATION:
(NEB-ish) MEANING:
noun: A pitifully timid or ineffectual person.
The nebbish son-in-law did not have courage to speak in front of his shrewd wife.
Podgy: short and fat Bleak, grim, gloomy, dismal, dreary The scourge of war and social tension Scourge, bane, curse, nemesis Coterminous: adjective coextensive having the same boundaries or extent in space , time , or meaning the coterminous Borough and Parliame Parliamentary ntary Constituency of Blyth Valley
Apostolic:
parley [ PAHR-lee ] parley [ [ noun, intransitive verb ] MEANING : : 1. (n.) a talk or meeting with the enemy 2. (intr. v.) to negotiate with the enemy
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :: The troops asked for a parley after they were captured by the enemy.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : : He never partied, he never parleyed with the studio bosses.
] quidnunc [ KWID-nuhngk KWID-nuhngk ] [ noun ] noun ] MEANING : a person who is nosy and inquisitive
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : My room mate is an inveterate quidnunc. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : Let a mutual friend introduce to him a stranger, and the quidnunc quid nunc rides impatiently over the first sentence of salutation. Historical and Biographical Essays By John Forster equivocal [ i-KWIV-uh'-kuh' l ] l ] [ adjective ] adjective ] MEANING : 1. ambiguous or being open to multiple interpretations 2. having a doubtful or uncertain character 3. having a dubious, suspicious or questionable disposition USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : Many old texts are open to equivocal interpretations. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : The relatively equivocal statement differs from most human rights groups who have blamed Zanu-PF party thugs for the vast majority of the violence. BBC, Tough call for Zimbabwe opposition, By Peter Greste, 2 May 2008 2008 roseate [ ROH-zee-it, -eyt ] -eyt ] [ adjective ] adjective ] MEANING : 1. rosy or rose-coloured 2. extremely optimistic or cheerful
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The roseate tinge found in the painting was added while restoring the painting.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : At the J.N. Ding Darling refuge on Florida's Sanibel Island and two other Florida refuges, the colorful roseate spoonbill is out in force. BBC, Freezing fog creates 'snowy' feel, 22 December 2006 2006 ] plaintive [ PLEYN-tiv ] [ adjective ] adjective ] MEANING : 1. sorrowful 2. grief-stricken
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : Her plaintive cries echoed with the misery of her existence. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : Where hand in hand, their bodies gently lay, l ay, and croon upon the wind their plaintive song, calling the children to come out and play. BBC, Girls and Boys Come Out to Play, 14 September 2009 ] gustatory [ GUHS-tuh'-tawr-ee GUHS-tuh'-tawr-ee ] [ adjective ] adjective ] MEANING : 1. pertaining to the sense of taste 2. relating to taste or tasting
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The aroma of spicy food was a gustatory gustatory stimulation for the hungry people. people . USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : It has given the world the gustatory delights of the cream tea. The Telegraph, Devon is declared cream of the crop, 28 January 2009. 2009.
Cupid: Compunction: remorse, feeling of deep regret, repentance,
contriteness, penitence Acronym: like AIDS
Pique: noun noun Extreme displeasure caused by an insult or slight: slight: dudgeon, dudgeon, huff , miff , offense, offense, resentment,, ruffled feathers, feathers, umbrage. umbrage. resentment
verb verb insult,, miff , offend offend,, 1. To cause resentment or hurt by callous, rude behavior: behavior: affront, affront, huff , insult outrage. Idioms: add insult to injury, give offense to. outrage. 2. To stir to action or feeling: excite,, foment foment,, galvanize, galvanize, goad goad,, impel, impel, incite incite,, feeling: egg on, on, excite
inflame inflame,, inspire, inspire, instigate, motivate, motivate, move move,, prick, prod prod,, prompt , propel, provoke provoke,, set off, spur, stimulate spur, stimulate,, touch off, off, trigger, trigger, work up.
Did the lecture pique your interest in physics?
[ proh-ZEY-ik ] proh-ZEY-ik ] prosaic [ [ adjective ] adjective ] MEANING : 1. matter-of-fact matter-of-fact or uninteresting uni nteresting 2. pertaining to or in the form of prose rather than poetry
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : the elocution competition was that he had been His excuse for losing be en given a prosaic topic.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : Perhaps a beautiful question is sometimes better than a prosaic answer. BBC, Days like this, G. P. Jackson, 17 September 2009 ] rickety [ RIK-i-tee RIK-i-tee ] [MEANING adjective ] adjective : ] 1. shaky or unsteady 2. not firm or feeble in the joints 3. dilapidated 4. suffering from rickets or pertaining to the nature of rickets
USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : They had engaged a contractor to replace the rickety old fence between their properties. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : It was perhaps Gold’s favourite memory — of — of sneaking at half-time into the old 'Chicken Run’, a rickety wooden terrace that formed part of the modern-day modern-day East Stand — that featured uppermost in his mind as the first half petered out.
convene Function: verb Inflected forms: convenes; convened; convening Meaning: : to come together in a group for a meeting Examples: [no object ] <The students convened [= [=assembled ] in the gym.> <We convened at the hotel for a seminar.> <This class convenes twice a week.> [with object ] <convene a meeting> <A panel of investigators was convened by the president to review the case.>
CYNOSURE:
(noun) [SIE-nah-shoor', SIN-ah-shoor']
1. something that is a center of attention and admiration ad miration or attraction: "Dave may have been the cynosure of the league in high school, but at the college level, he's going to have to learn to share the ball." 2. something that serves to guide or direct The center of attention. The wonderful singer became the cynosure of all of the people on the plaza plaza adjective form: cynosural
Hairless, tonsure, alopecia, Glabrous
rancid [ RAN-sid ] [ adjective ] MEANING : 1. unpleasant, stale smell or taste 2. offensive, disagreeable USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : If left in the open air for too long, butter can turn rancid.
repartee [ rep-er-TEE, -TEY, -ahr- ] [ noun ] MEANING : 1. a witty and quick or swift reply
2. a conversation involving witty and quick replies 3. skill or expertise in repartee USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : Obama's repartee was followed by a burst of laughter from the journalists present. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : Mr Snow, the president's third chief ch ief spokesman in six years, has been notable for
his cheerful tone and sharp repartee with wi th reporters at White House bri briefings. efings.
snippy Function: adjective Comparative and superlative forms: snippier; snippiest also snippiest also more snippy; most snippy Status: US, informal Meaning: : feeling or showing s howing irritation Examples: <I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get snippy with you.> <snippy comments>
flagrant [ FLEY-gruh' nt ] [ adjective ]
MEANING : evidently unpleasant; shockingly bad USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : Flagrant errors in the case of air traffic controllers can lead to disaster in the skies.
peroration [ per-uh’ -REY-REY-shuh’ n ] [ noun ]
speech ech or MEANING : 1. the concluding part of an oration where the orator summarises the entire spe discourse emphatically 2. a lofty speech adorned with bombastic or grandiloquent words USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : The peroration prepared for the CEO C EO was witty and concise. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : Helms went on to equate New Labour with Neville Chamberlain finishing with a
lyrical peroration on the wonders of Margaret Thatcher.
slush fund Function: noun [count ] Plural: slush funds Meaning: : an amount of money that is kept secretly for illegal or dishonest purposes Examples: <a political slush fund > <a secret slush fund for for paying bribes>
macerate PRONUNCIATION: (MAS-uh-rayt) MEANING: verb tr., intr. :
1. To soften by soaking or steeping in a liquid. 2. To separate into parts by soaking. 3. To weaken or to become thin; to emaciate. ETYMOLOGY: From Latin macerare (to make soft, weaken). Ultimately from the Indo-European root mag-/mak- (to knead, to fit) that is also the source of make, mason, mass, match, among, mongrel, mingle, and maquillage maquillage..
USAGE: "The plastic rubbish has been macerated by marine forces and is composed of small particles that float
just below the surface, killing fish that mistake it for food." philistine [ FIL-uh'-steen ] [ noun, adjective ]
adj barbaric, boorish, boorish, churlish, churlish, coarse coarse,, anti-cultural, Lacking in delicacy or refinement: refinement: barbarian, barbarian, barbaric, crass crass,, crude crude,, gross, gross, ill-bred ill-bred,, indelicate, indelicate, rough, rough, rude rude,, tasteless, tasteless, uncivilized, uncivilized, uncouth, uncouth, uncultivated uncultivated,, uncultured, unpolished,, unrefined unrefined,, vulgar vulgar.. See courtesy/discourtesy, courtesy/discourtesy, smooth/rough. smooth/rough. uncultured, unpolished
noun noun An unrefined, rude person: person: barbarian, barbarian, boor, boor, chuff , churl, churl, vulgarian vulgarian,, yahoo yahoo
MEANING : 1. (n.) a person who is arrogantly indifferent to things like cultural values, intellectual and artistic pursuits etc.
2. (n.) an inhabitant of ancient Philistia 3. (adj.) uncultured 4. (adj.) ordinary or plane in a self satisfied way USAGE EXAMPLE 1 : He was termed a philistine by the art critics because of his lack of knowledge about
art. USAGE EXAMPLE 2 : Mr Mitterrand is a friend of Carla Bruni, the French first lady, who has been
credited with trying to transform her husband's image from philistine to art lover who w ho sprinkles his conversations with highbrow literary quotes.
