english words and meanings

7/28/2019 English words and meanings

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hiatus [ noun ]

MEANING :1. a break, gap or interruption2. an aperture or passage in an organ3. a temporary halt in pronunciation when two successive vowels are present in adjacent words orsyllables

USAGE :That eight-year interval may be the longest reproductive hiatus of any mammal.NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, Cheryl Knott, Biological Anthropologist.

enjoin [ transitive verb ]

MEANING :

1. to prescribe or impose authoritatively2. to prevent, prohibit or refrain by a judicial order

USAGE :

I enjoin the media, the fans and players to give maximum support to the Super Eagles because that iswhat they need to succeed.BBC, Nigeria coach Amodu slams critics, By Oluwashina Okeleji, Sunday, 13 April 2008

foist [ transitive verb ]MEANING :1. to insert or introduce fraudulently2. to pass off something fake as something genuine3. to impose without proper justification

USAGE :When he made it mandatory for all teachers and students of ABE schools to show up on the morningofAugust 15, a few teachers actually protested the decision with lawyers notices statingthatIndependence Day was a public holiday and the board could not foist them with flag hoisting.THE TIMES OF INDIA, Parents, teachers too want a holiday, 15 Aug 2008, Anahita Mukherji,TNN

askance [ adverb ]

MEANING :

1. glance obliquely or sideways2. to observe suspiciously

USAGE :No longer does society look askance at single parents who might be so as they never married, or aredivorced or lost a partner.The Times Of India, Parent Parochialism, 19 Sep 2008

epicure [ noun ]

MEANING :

1. a connoisseur of food and wine2. one who enjoys sensual pleasure and living

USAGE :Proof that Montreal is an epicure's dream: Les Touilleurs (152 Ave. Laurier Ouest; 514/278-0008) in Mile

End, where marble counters are piled with cooking implements, including Quebecer Tom Littledeer'smaple spoons and spatulas.CNN, Montreal's moment, By Amy Farley, September 6, 2007

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imperious [ adjective ]

MEANING :
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dominant, domineering or haughty

USAGE :

If he was to cast an imperious gaze at the Department of Trade and Industry he mightnote its failure to galvanise the regions of England in sharing proportionately in thenation's wealth.BBC, Kilfoyle: Time to reward the faith, Peter Kilfoyle MP, 1 March, 2001

patrician [ noun, adjective ]

MEANING :1. (n.) an aristocrat or a person belonging to a noble family, especially in ancient Rome2. (n.) a well-bred person who has good tastes and manners3. (adj.) aristocratic4. (adj.)charasteristic or a pertaining to a noble or patrician

USAGE :The great nothingness that the great patrician signifies in today's Phulpur is bestsymbolised by the ruins of Vaidji's house that Nehru made his home here.The Times of India, Nehru's Phulpur fails to keep its tryst, Gautam Siddharth,TNN, 10Aug 2008

natal [ adjective ]

MEANING :1. accompanying or pertaining to one's birth2. related to one's birthplace or time of birth3. native

USAGE :Reipurth figures the star is a relative newborn, deeply embedded in its own natal cloud.CNN, Amateur finds new nebula with small telescope, By Robert Roy Britt, February 23,2004

machination [ noun ]

MEANING :1. a cunning plot or schemean instance of plotting

USAGE :This steep increase in land value is not the machination of realtors, but a negative landprice hike effected by the stamps and registration department.THE TIMES OF INDIA, Land rate up 3000 per cent, 24 Mar 2008, S Kushala,TNN

ingratiate [ transitive verb ]

MEANING :

1. to curry favor by pleasing or flattering

USAGE :To the best that one can figure out, he seems to have only used his power to furtheringratiate himself to the political power structure in the country.The Times of India, LEADER ARTICLE: Cast In Our Likeness, Harsh V Pant, 21 May 2008

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inimical [ noun ]

MEANING :

adverse, harmful, unfriendly or hostile

USAGE :

There's no better or more immediate evidence supporting theDarwinian theory than this


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process of forced transformation among our inimical germs.National Geographic, Was Darwin Wrong?, ByDavid Quammen

malapropism [ noun ]

MEANING :

misuse of words, especially similar sounding ones, to create humour

USAGE :The president had been practicing, and the malapropism just slipped out ahead ofschedule.abcNEWS, Bush Loosens Up With Press, ByAnn Compton, W A S H I N G T O N, March 29

neophyte [ noun ]

MEANING :1. a novice, amateur or beginner2. someone newly baptized or converted

USAGE :

McCain regained some of the buzz with his choice ofSarah Palin, 44, a maverickRepublican neophyte who was not even on the shortlist of candidates that at one timeincluded the Indian-American governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal.

The Times of India, McCain picks Sarah Palin, little known Alaska governor, as VPrunningmate, Chidanand Rajghatta, Aug 30, 2008

peccadillo [ noun ]

MEANING :

an insignificant or trivial sin, flaw or mistake

USAGE :"Part of the problem now is that people seem to be more aware of his peccadilloes thanany actions that he has taken to make the city better since he was elected."Los Angels Times, Villaraigosa affair may not be one to remember, By Steve Hymon andDuke Helfand, July 7, 2007

impertinent [ adjective ]

MEANING :1. insolent, disrespectful or brash2. inappropriate or irrelevant

USAGE :Thats the trouble: the millions of people who want to look at the pictures of MissMiddleton and engage in impertinent speculations about whether she will one daybe Queen of England.Telegraph, A Royal fate, ByAndrew Gimson, 11/01/2007

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imperturbable [ adjective ]MEANING :

composed, calm or impassive

USAGE :

Nor have the wild gyrations ofAmazons share price over the past year caused itsfounder and chief executive to lose sleep. Mr Bezos manages to be simultaneously bothbouncy and imperturbable.The Economist, Amazons delta, Nov 18th 1999


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pedagogue [ noun ]

MEANING :

a strict or formal educator or teacher

USAGE :All claim of having teaching staff with high pedagogue skills.The Times of India, Educational opportunities open up, Swati Khanwalkar,TNN, 28 Nov

2003

nether [ adjective ]

MEANING :

1. lower, below or under2. positioned below or under the surface of the earth3. infernal

USAGE :

This nether world runs just below the surface of the world of bedecked and manipulativebrides, and is defined by superstition, black magic, occult, witchcraft, planchette,rebirth and evil spirits.The Times of Inda, Dark deeds of another worls invades TV, Piali Banerjee, Nov 30, 2003

malcontent [ noun, adjective ]MEANING :

1. (n.) a disgruntled or displeased person2. (adj.) disgruntled, displeased or dissatisfied

USAGE :That bothers Rich "Downtown" Brown, a wiry chain-smoking malcontent.National Geographic, ZipUSA: 33856, By Melba Newsome

innocuous [ adjective ]

MEANING :

1. not harmful or injurious2. inoffensive, insipid, uninspiring or not stimulating

USAGE :By using an innocuous virus derived from HIV, scientists at theCalifornia Institute ofTechnology have developed a new way of giving animals genes from other organisms toproduce specific traits.National Geographic, Fluorescent Mice Herald Gene-Transfer Breakthrough, D.L. Parsell,January 11, 2002

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inscrutable [ adjective ]

MEANING :1. mysterious, enigmatic or obscure

2. difficult to understand or interpret

USAGE :Ever since that decisive No. 1 draft in the NBA, Yao has become China's most famoussports icon, projecting an image of youth, vigor and greatness to a Western world thathad long viewed the Chinese as "inscrutable".CNN, Shooting high, bouncing back: Yao Ming, August 6, 2008

malefactor [ noun ]

MEANING :


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1. a criminal, evildoer, felon, or one who harms another

USAGE :

Offences involving food adulteration are non-cognisable and result in minimal fine. Themalefactor is free to go back to his illicit trade with impunity.DNA, Good Move, January 15, 2008

nettle [ noun, transitive verb ]MEANING :

1. (n.) a plant belonging to genus Urtica which comprises plants that have stinging hair2. (tr. v.) to annoy, exasperate or irritate

USAGE :

Spring is the best time to pick nettle tops as they are at their most tender, but they canbe picked at any time of year, provided you use young leaves.Telegraph, A stinging riposte to supermarket prices, 21/04/2007

pedant [ noun ]

MEANING :

1. a person who makes an excessive or inappropriate display of learning.2. a person who overemphasizes rules or minor details.

3. a person who adheres rigidly to book knowledge without regard to common sense.USAGE :

His decision sparked an ongoing squabble -- often cast as a battle between number-crunching pedants and free-spirited pragmatists -- over when centuries and millenniabegin and end.CNN, Is this the real millennium?, By Douglas Herbert, CNN.comEurope writer, January1, 2001

implausible [ adjective ]

MEANING :

improbable, inconceivable, unlikely or unbelievable

USAGE :

Repeatedly making economically implausible arguments about the efficiency of

government-run drug pricing, or plucking artificial windfalls from thin air, won't makePart D, a good program, work any better," Davis said.

abcNews, Democrats See Drugmaker Windfall From Medicare, By Georgina Coolidge, July24, 2008

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impolitic [ adjective ]

MEANING :

unwise, imprudent or not expedient

USAGE :

Mr Mori was infamous for such impolitic remarks during his 2000-2001 leadership.BBC, Japan's gaffe-prone politicians, 4 June, 2004

insolent [ noun, adjective ]

MEANING :1. proud, disrespectful or impudent2. overbearing or arrogant3. one who is insolent

USAGE :


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"Bush, the dwarf, has surprised us again with his insolent statement, accusing countrieswhich have suffered from the aggressive, arrogant policy of his country," said Babel, runby President Saddam Hussein's eldest son Uday.Telegraph, Iraqi press throws insults at Bush, 02 Feb 2002

malodorous [ adjective ]

MEANING :

having a foul, offensive or bad smell

USAGE :Eddie Ortega, the director of Del Rio's Community Health Service Center, said there's anunusually high number of the malodorous creatures running around these days.abcNEWS, Texas Border Town Faces Skunk Infestation, DEL RIO, TexasJuly 31, 2008

niggardly [ adjective, adverb ]

MEANING :

1. (adj.) miserly, stingy or petty when spending2. (adv.) like a niggard

USAGE :

India might get its own poor lawa prospect the niggardly Victorians could not

contemplate without serious apprehension.Economist, Employment guarantees in India, Jan 27th 2005

pejorative [ noun, adjective ]

MEANING :1. (adj.) derogatory, insulting or belittling2. (adj.) worsening or declining3. noun an expression or word that is pejorative or derogatory in nature

USAGE :When governments are described as pursuing populist policies the adjective is oftenintended to be pejorative.The Herald, A punishing schedule, August 23 2007

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importune [ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]

MEANING :

1. (tr. v.) to beg, urge or demand repeatedly2. (intr. v.) to immorally request or make advances

USAGE :

But there was no question ever of the Centre or the state government engaging itsspokesmen or despatching interlocutors to importune them for meetings.The Times of India, THE LEADER ARTICLE: Valley's New Voice: Hurriyat Doesn'tRepresent Kashmiri Aspirations, Anand K Sahay, 7 Dec 2004

insurgent [ noun, adjective ]

MEANING :

1. (adj.) rebellious, opposed to authority or mutinous2. (n.) one who indulges in insurgent activities or one who revolts against authority

USAGE :

Yet on Thursday, on Thai television a man claiming to represent 11 insurgent groupsannounced an immediate ceasefire.BBC, Thai insurgents 'call ceasefire' , By Jonathan Head, 17 July 2008


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maudlin [ adjective ]

MEANING :1. tearfully or weakly emotional2.mawkish or sentimental especially under the influence of alcohol

USAGE :One of the best impassioned outcries comes from a maudlin columnist in the Salt Lake

City Tribune.Chronicles magazine, Suleymen the Murderer, by Thomas Fleming

obloquy [ noun ]

MEANING :1. condemnatory, derogatory or abusive language2. disgrace or denunciation suffered due to abuse

USAGE :Imagine the obloquy which would have been heaped on theMetropolitan police if it hadnot involved the CPS at an early stage.BBC, UK: The toughest case, April 26, 2002

pensive [ adjective ]

MEANING :thoughtful especially when sad or gloomy

USAGE :Suresh Nanda told TOI that the incident had made his son pensive over the years.The Times of India, My son lost his youth in trial, Smriti Singh, 6 Sep 2008

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impregnable [ adjective ]

MEANING :1. unassailable, invincible or unconquerable2. capable of being impregnated

USAGE :A weekend poll giving the Conservatives a 7% lead over Labour and their best showingsince before Black Wednesday merely illustrates what we already knew: that the floatingvoters of the English marginals want to be reassured that their expensive homes are asimpregnable against the tax collector as any castle.The Herald, Simple steps to regain trust

insurrection [ noun ]

MEANING :

a rebellion, uprising or revolt against authority

USAGE :

The imprisoned East Timorese leader Xanana Gusmao has called for a popular insurrectionagainst Indonesia.BBC, World: Asia-Pacific Timorese leader calls for 'rebellion', April 5, 1999

mawkish [ adjective ]

MEANING :1. sentimental, emotional or mushy2. Having an insipid or nauseating taste

USAGE :


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"Friendship is like a China cup, precious rich and rare, once broken can be mended, butthe crack is always there" goes a piece of maudlin prose that has found its way into manyautograph books. Mawkish, but no less true for that.THE TIMES OF INDIA, Circle of friends, 26 Aug 2007

obsequy [ noun ]

MEANING :

a funeral or ceremony after one passes away

USAGE :When Powell died, in March of last year, at the age of ninety-four, the New York TimesBook Review devoted a "Bookend" column to the obsequy, written by Ferdinand Mount, theeditor of the Times Literary Supplement and Powell's nephew by marriage.The Atlantic, An Omnivorous Curiosity, byChristopher Hitchens

perdition [ noun ]

MEANING :1. destruction, damnation or ruin2. Hell

USAGE :

In it, he saw a train carrying innumerable people to perdition, and its meaning wasunveiled to him as representing the Nazis," it says.abc News, Catholic Church Beatifies WWII Objector, Catholic Church Beatifies WWIIObjector, October 26, 2007

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inadvertent [ adjective ]

MEANING :

heedless, careless or not intentional

USAGE :

Most of its customers are Western retailers worried about the bad publicity aninadvertent purchase of illegal logs might bring.The Economist, Forestry: Protected by bars, Mar 6th 2008

inter [ transitive verb ]

MEANING :

entomb or bury

USAGE :

He was interred in a tomb that was never intended for a king.The Times of India, Curse in Reverse, 10 November 2007

minatory [ adjective ]

MEANING :

threatening, alarming or ominous

USAGE :

These sound minatory, but as Japans population starts to decline due to the low birth-rate, and its number of elderly swell, robots are seen as a solution.Economist, Domo arigato, Mr Roboto, Dec 12th 2007

obstinate [ adjective ]

MEANING :


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1. stubborn, unyielding or mulish2. difficult to treat or alleviate3. persistent or refractory

USAGE :

Combine the obstinate mind-set with the strength of a seven-year old chimpfour toeight times as strong as an adult humanand that is a recipe for trouble, Fouts said.National Geographic, Goodall Group Calls for Curtain on Ape "Actors", Jennifer Hile,

February 13, 2004

peremptory [ adjective ]

MEANING :1. that cannot be challenged, refused or changed2. dictatorial or imperative3. (law) one that cannot be questioned, changed or denied4. assertive in behaviour5. urgent or commanding in nature

USAGE :While he still makes placatory noises about the Left, his erstwhile allies are yet to stopsmarting from the peremptory manner in which they were asked to get off the bus.The Times of India, Terror, inflation may dampen N-celebrations, Rajeev

Deshpande,TNN, 3 Oct 2008

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impassive [ adjective ]

MEANING :1. apathetic, expressionless or insensible2. placid, serene or calm

USAGE :

Much of the credit for this must go to the performers, particularly the soprano SusanBickley, whose bleached-out impassive tone was the perfect counterfoil to the music'sfevered intensity.

Telegraph, Bold programming delivers naivety and intensity, 26/01/2004.

inane [ adjective ]

MEANING :

1. vacant, insubstantial or empty2. silly, stupid or foolish

USAGE :

Although Australian Wayne Grady has never been one of my favourite sportscommentators, the former golf pro sank even lower in my esteem with his inane remarkabout the heavy Scots accent of Bob Torrance, who coaches Open champion PadraigHarrington.The Herald, Grady should kept his antipodean antics quiet

interloper [ noun ]MEANING :

one who meddles, trespasses or intrudes

USAGE :

Germany took the upper hand in the occupation of Ukrainian territory, and had no wishfor a Habsburg interloper as ruler there.Telegraph, Dead dreams of kingship, Noel Malcolm reviews The Red Prince byTimothySnyder, 27/06/2008


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mirth [ noun ]

MEANING :

gaeity, happiness or amusement

USAGE :This barrel chested striker was the subject of much mirth by way of a famous old musichall ditty.

The Herald, Who Was He?, JAMES PORTEOUS and JAMES MORGAN, June 04 2007

perennial [ noun, adjective ]

MEANING :

1. (adj.) existing throughout the yearbr/2. (adj.) persisting for a very long time3. (adj.) recurrent or perpetual4. (n.) a plant that is perennial in nature5. (n.) a recurrent phenomenon or thing

USAGE :

According to data from NASA's QuikSCAT satellite, between 2004 and 2005 the Arctic lostan unprecedented 14 percent of its perennial sea ice (shown in white)some 280,000square miles (725,000 square kilometers), or an area the size ofTexas.National Geographic, Photo in the News: Arctic Ice Melting Rapidly, Study Shows, Aalok

Mehta , September 14, 2006

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incontrovertible [ adjective ]

MEANING :

indisputable, indubitable or authentic

USAGE :UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he has seen evidence of an "incontrovertible link"between Osama Bin Laden and the US terror attacks.BBC, Blair certain of Bin Laden guilt, 30 September, 2001

interminable [ adjective ]

MEANING :

endless or excruciatingly long

USAGE :All of these lies were designed to tie American down in interminable wars in the MiddleEast for Israels benefit.Chronicles Magazine, War Without End, byPaul Craig Roberts

missive [ noun ]

MEANING :

written correspondence or letter

USAGE :Hunched over a spiral notebook, she wrote page after page, a missive to the beyond.National Geographic, Field Notes : Rick Atkinson.

onerous [ adjective ]

MEANING :1. arduous, burdensome or oppressive2. legal obligations overshadowing advantages

USAGE :


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We are talking about a standard verification package. This is not onerous; this is notunusual in terms of trying to verify activities that may have taken place.CNN, U.S. envoy to travel to N. Korea for nuclear talks, From Charley Keyes, September29, 2008

pernicious [ adjective ]

MEANING :1. injurious, harmful or destructive2. (archaic) evil, malicious or wicked3. deadly or fatal

USAGE :Apparently, Frum is unaware that TR declared, Thank God I am not a free trader.Pernicious indulgence in the doctrine of free trade seems inevitably to produce fattydegenerationof the moral fibre.Chronicles magzine, David Frum BlamesAmerica First, by Tom Piatak

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inculcate [ transitive verb ]MEANING :

to instill, teach or impress by repeating frequently

USAGE :

Perhaps with reference to the Taiwan Strait crisis, Hu urged media and propagandaworkers to inculcate among the public ideas and artistic work that "will be beneficial tothe unity of the Chinese race, the unification of the motherland, and the cohesiveness ofthe people."CNN, Maoist revival challenges reform efforts, By Senior China Analyst Willy Wo-Lap Lam,December 23, 2003

inundate [ transitive verb ]

MEANING :

1. deluge or to flood2. to overwhelm or engulf especially with work

USAGE :

Officials said areas in which hurricane Rita inundated 10,000 homes in 2005 werevulnerable again.abcNEWS, Hundreds of Homes Flood as Ike Passes Louisiana, by MICHAEL KUNZELMANAssociated Press Writer, LAKE CHARLES, La., September 12, 2008

modicum [ adjective ]

MEANING :

a moderate or small amount

USAGE :

We must assume that Thompson and Rogers were both ordinary country lads who fancied alife with a modicum of excitement, a bit of a uniform, and a small but steady wageinstead of being a farm hand.BBC, Abermule Disaster 1921, 24 April 2007

ordain [ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]

MEANING :1. (tr. v.) to endow or confer with authority2. (tr. v.) to decree or appoint3. (tr. v.) to predestine or prearrange


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4. (intr. v.) to command or order(intr. v.) to appointto endow or invest with authority

USAGE :

When women began to be ordained over a decade ago, conservative parishes were givenan elaborate opt-out: instead of labouring under the episcopal oversight of a liberal, pro-female-ordination type, they could choose to be in the care of a so-called flying bishop

who would never foist a female vicar on them.Economist, When compromise fails, Jul 10th 2008

pert [ adjective ]

MEANING :1. saucy, bold or impudent2. vivacious, stylish or chic3. lively or stimulating

USAGE :

A husky voice began singing, a slight but pert figure ascended the stage and the guestswent berserk.The Times of India, The big, fab Mittal wedding, Rashmee Z Ahmed & RuchikaMehta,TNN, 22 Jun 2004

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incursion [ noun ]

MEANING :

an invasion, inroad, intrusion or raid

USAGE :

Fearful that Moscow's recent armed incursion into Georgia suggests it is trying to regaincontrol over its "near abroad", Mr Lukashenko is now urgently seeking to mend relationswith the West, even hiring Lady Thatcher's former spin doctor, Tim Bell, for advice.Telegraph, Belarus dictator courts Europe before 'unfree and unfair' election, By Colin

Freeman, 28 Sep 2008

invective [ noun, adjective ]

MEANING :

1. (n.) a derogatory remark or insult, criticism or denunciation2. (adj.) abusive, insulting or denunciatory

USAGE :

Yahoo! was throwing invectives right back, mocking Mr Icahns ignorance in matterstechnical.Economist, Icahnt, Jul 24th 2008, SAN FRANCISCO

mollify [ transitive verb ]

MEANING :

1. to soothe or pacify2. to mitigate or soften

USAGE :The latest news may also mollify hawks on the policymaking Federal Open MarketCommittee who have been uncomfortable with interest rates being so low.Economist, Postpone the optimism, Sep 5th 2008

ossify [ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]

MEANING :


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1. (tr.v.) to harden and transform to a bone2. (tr. v.) to be rigid or resist change and unconventionality3. (intr. v.) to change a bone by hardening4. (intr. v.) to be rigid or unconventional in beliefs and behaviour

USAGE :

Economies that do not bring out the best in people will ossify and fall behind.BBC, UK Politics: Warring parties clash over elitism, June 3, 2000

pertinacious [ adjective ]

MEANING :

1. stubborn, obstinate or unyielding2. resolute or tenacious

USAGE :In travelling, there is nothing like dissecting people's statements, which are usuallycoloured by their estimate of the powers or likings of the person spoken to, making allreasonable inquiries, and then pertinaciously but quietly carrying out one's own plans.Telegraph, Great adventurers - and greater storytellers, Michael Kerr, 12 Mar 2007

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indict [ transitive verb ]

MEANING :

accuse, charge or prosecute

USAGE :

In 2006, while awaiting sentencing on the passport violations, he was indicted by a grandjury and charged with conspiring to commit torture, committing torture and the use of afirearm while committing a violent act in Liberia.CNN, Taylor Jr. to stand trial on charges of torture abroad, By John Couwels, September27, 2008

inveigh [ intransitive verb ]

MEANING :

1. to speak out vehemently or protest bitterly

USAGE :

In England, at least, Black was something of a model proprietor, refusing to fire A.N.Wilson or Taki even after ugly public quarrels overIsrael, preferring, instead, to inveighagainst them and his myriad other enemies in the pages of his publications.Chronicles Magazine, The Fall of Lord Blackadder and Lady Manolo (of Blahnik), byKevinMichael Grace

mordant [ noun, adjective, transitive verb ]

MEANING :

1. (adj.) caustic or bitingly sarcastic2. (n.) a chemical used to fix a dye3. (n.) a substance used for corrosion4.(tr. v.) to treat by using a mordant

USAGE :

That he laces them with mordant humour and haunting grace notes merely highlights hisuncommon genius.Telegraph, Import Export: a profoundly moral X-ray, Sukhdev Sandhu, 01/10/2008

ostensible [ adjective ]

MEANING :
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1. apparent, appearing or representing2. evident or obvious

USAGE :

U.S. officials say they can't discern Iran's motivations, citing the closed nature of theregime and ostensible differences between the country's hardline Islamic religious leaders,its Revolutionary Guardsand moderates.abc News, Analysis: US andIran Appear on Collision Course, By MATTHEW LEE Associated

Press Writer, July 9, 2008

pertinent [ adjective ]

MEANING :

relevant, applicable or directly connected to the current topic

USAGE :Ritchie told CNN, "People seem to make films similar to my kind of films in New York, butthey don't seem to in London. My expression of London is illustrated in what I find to bepertinent within the culture at that time, so I try to put that in my films, and no one elseseems to be doing that."

CNN, Rock 'n' roll Ritchie, By Mark Tutton, September 5, 2008

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indomitable [ adjective ]

MEANING :

invincible, unconquerable or unyielding

USAGE :

The Firhill side's ability to make life difficult for themselves remains unsurpassed, butthe indomitable spirit which so often proves their saviour was evident in abundance againlast night.The Herald, Partick Thistle 1 - 1 Livingston, MARTIN GREIG, February 13 2008

jaded [ adjective ]

MEANING :

wearied, bored, dulled or fatigued

USAGE :

Variously described as jaded and lacking belief in their futures"a burned generation," asKurdish filmmaker Bahman Ghobadi put itthey are increasingly leaving for Europe andelsewhere.National Geographic, Iran Archaeology

mores [ noun ]

MEANING :

1. Socially accepted customs and traditions2. attitudes, ways or manners

USAGE :With the print run nearing half a million, it is time for Chronicles to refocus on Americanculture in the proper sense of die Kultur, the sum of the life of a community and itsmores.Chronicles magzine, Its 2028, and All Is Well: The Diary of an AgingCounterrevolutionary, by Srdja Trifkovic

overweening [ adjective ]

MEANING :


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1. brash, arrogant or conceitedexcessive or overbearing

USAGE :

Despite its overweening ambition to re-write the rule book governing how multi-part TVcrime yarns unfold, Mobile's first episode succeeded in being as attention-grabbing as itwas implausible; as entertainingly complex as it was, from time to time, annoyingly daft.The Herald, Mixed-up messages on the mobey, DAVID BELCHER, March 26 2007

phlegmatic [ adjective ]

MEANING :

1. cool, composed or calm2. sluggish or unemotional3. pertaining to phlegh

USAGE :His long pony-tailed hair, designer stubble, phlegmatic demeanour, Bjorn Borg-like sinkingto his knees after defeating Mark Philippoussis, not to mention his infectious tears of joy,lend him a magnetic appeal, which could do wonders for the following of tennis.The Times of India, Roger Federerhas magnetic charm, ASHIS RAY, 20 Jul 2003

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indubitable [ adjective ]

MEANING :

certain, unquestionable or definite

USAGE :

In sum, the enlightenment was a cultural synthesis, which arose from a scientific andindustrial revolution, rather than a logical canon built from indubitable first principleswhich we cannot disown without sounding insane.The Times of India, Laptops & Liberalism, 30 May 2001

kismet [ noun ]

MEANING :

fate, luck or destiny

USAGE :

The enchanting sound of the kora (African harp) played by Jali Fily Cissokho and theEastern European tunes of Kismet could be heard in the Pitt Rivers, further enhancing theexperience of exploring the ground floor collections by torchlight.University of Oxford, Late night event at Oxford museums, 19 May 08

moribund [ adjective ]

MEANING :

1. in a near death condition2. stagnant or inactive

USAGE :

India's government is trying to kick some life back into its moribund privatisationprogramme, listing 13 state-owned firms that it hopes to sell off early next year.BBC, India hopes for speedier sell-offs, 28 September, 2001

pacifist [ noun ]

MEANING :

1. one who refrains from war and violence2. one who refrains from joining military service because of his belief in pacifism

USAGE :


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The German Green Party has averted a crisis by voting against a pacifist move from itsranks to demand a permanent ceasefire inYugoslavia.BBC, World: Europe Greens back leader over Nato, May 13, 1999

pillory [ noun, transitive verb ]

MEANING :

1. (n.) a device consisting of two parallel wooden boards with holes to lock the hands andlegs of criminals and subject them to public scorn2. (n.) a means for subjecting to public humiliation3. (tr. v.) to subject to punishment by placing in a pillory(tr. v.) to subject to public humiliation or abuse

USAGE :Did the government eventually agree to a mention of the "centrality" of the Kashmir issueand was it scotched at the last minute? is another loaded question that continues to hangin the air. There are no answers to these in the pronouncements of those who nowpilloryPakistan for the failure of the summit.The Times of India, Summitas Entertainment: The great Indian soap trick, ShastriRamchandran,TNN, 20 Jul 2001

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inexorable [ adjective ]

MEANING :

unyielding, relentless or unmoved

USAGE :

Chinese officialdom and many ordinary citizens were furious: another petulant effort byWestern foes to thwart Chinas inexorable rise.The Economist, Chinas dash for freedom, Jul 31st 2008

licentious [ adjective ]

MEANING :

1. lewd, immoral or promiscuous2. ignoring or disregarding rules and laws

USAGE :

His conduct to his Coadjutor Mr. Cogswell was compounded of all that was odious iningratitude and bad faith, whilst for mere purposes of popularity, he has pushed thedoctrines ofAgrarianism & Dorrism to the most disgusting & licentious extent.Chronicles Magazine, What Is History? Part 4B, by Clyde N. Wilson

mote [ noun ]

MEANING :1. (n.) a tiny speck or a tiny particle2. (tr. v.) must(aux.v.) (archaic) might or may

USAGE :There is a mote and beam problem here, however, that Scottish Nationalists regularlyignore.The Herald, Stop your greetin, Stephen Senn

paean [ noun ]

MEANING :1. a song or hymn to thank or praise2. a song sung in praise a deity in ancient Greece


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USAGE :Indeed, Carl Perkins CadillacCooleys paean to the 1950s Memphis label SunRecordscontains more quotable phrases than any other song in recent memory.Chronicles magzine, Soundtrack to the New Old South, by Robert Lurie

pittance [ noun ]

MEANING :1. a scanty or meagre allowance or remuneration2. a small monetary sum

USAGE :The long-suffering shareholders ofNorthern Rock will likely receive a pittance incompensation in the wake of Chancellor Alistair Darling's announcement yesterday thatthe beleaguered mortgage lender is to be taken into temporary public ownership.The Herald, Buy-out will have a knock-on effect for borrowers, MARK SMITH, DeputyBusiness Editor, February 18 2008

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infallible [ adjective ]

MEANING :

perfect, unerring or reliable

USAGE :

There's a need to get their stall in order before demanding payments in this way, as itwould appear the system is not infallible.BBC, Call for direct debit safeguards, 31 March 2007

limpid [ adjective ]

MEANING :

1. transparent, crystal clear2. lucid and simple3. Calm, serene or free of stress

USAGE :

Her mad scene is notable for limpid phrasing and crystalline high notes but most of all forlong stretches of otherworldly calm, punctuated by an outburst of deranged laughter andone gut-wrenching scream.abcNEWS, Review: Dessay Shines as 'Lucia' in San Francisco, By MIKE SILVERMANAssociated Press Writer, SAN FRANCISCO June 22, 2008

motley [ noun, adjective ]

MEANING :1. (n.) a heterogeneous mixture or combination2. a jester's parti-colored garb3. (adj.) varied, heterogeneous or diverse

USAGE :

Arthur Wakefield described the team of porters on one early expedition as "a motleythrong of old men, women, boys and girls."National Geographic, The Sherpas ofMount Everest, By Brian Handwerk, May 10, 2002

paltry [ adjective ]

MEANING :

worthless, measly, trivial or inferior

USAGE :


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Mr McCain, most notably, has suggested suspending Americas relatively paltry tax on fuelto make life easier for motorists.Economist, Greener than thou, Oct 2nd 2008

placid [ adjective ]

MEANING :

1. peaceful, tranquil or serene2. complacent

USAGE :

In a further twist, the normally placid Switzerland announced on May 23 that it hadsecretly destroyed highly technical blueprints for producing nuclear weapons.CNN, Disgraced Pakistani scientist denies nuclear charge, June 5, 2008

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infernal [ adjective ]

MEANING :

1. pertaining to hell2. diabolical, fiendish or annoying

USAGE :As Boston declared its first heat emergency, many utilities in New England expected toset power consumption records this week, especially as forecasters are not anticipatingany break in the infernal conditions until the weekend.abcNews, Midwest, East Coast Baking,Aug. 8

lithe [ adjective ]

MEANING :

1. flexed, supple or slender2. effortlessly graceful or flexible

USAGE :

Joseph's lithe alto coos and growls above two tenors and seven basses that makesoothing, rhythmic textures punctuated by breathy bursts.National Geographic, Iscathamiya, Banning Eyre.

multifarious [ adjective ]

MEANING :

diverse, varied or versatile

USAGE :

What you will see is a very different kind ofBritish jazz: thoroughly contemporary,bewilderingly multifarious, and on the face of it lacking any defining markers ofBritishness.Telegraph, Was William Blake really the first star of British jazz?, 09/11/2006

panache [ noun ]MEANING :

1. flair, style or flamboyance2. a tuft or plume of tassles or feathers esp. on a cap or helmeta pendentive's surface (in architecture)

USAGE :

A disc containing CIA material, Malkovich's character is using to write his memoirs, fallsinto the hands of Pitt and McDormand who set out to blackmail him with all the panacheof the Keystone Kops.abc News, Pitt, Clooney Dumb Down for Coens' `Burn', By DAVID GERMAIN AP Movie


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Writer, September 9, 2008

platitude [ noun ]

MEANING :

1. a banal or stale comment or remark2. insipid or dull

USAGE :Hamdan said that he hopes for Obama's promised platitude of change. "I hope he can giveus a state," he said. "All the presidents who come just support Israel. It's always Israel,Israel, Israel -- all the time."abc News, Obama or McCain: Israel Debates, By SARA SORCHER, July 2, 2008

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infirmity [ noun ]

MEANING :1. frailty or feebleness

2. foible or moral failing3. ailment or malady

USAGE :The European Court of Human Rights has agreed to consider as a matter or urgencywhether to free a convicted French war criminal because of age and infirmity.BBC, Maurice Papon bids for freedom, 23 January 2001

loathe [ transitive verb ]

MEANING :

to detest, despise or hate

USAGE :While the political leadership of the US would be loathe to accept, let alone inviteinternational intervention, it will argue that some action by the world community might

be the only way to undo the damage to the rule of law in America.University of Oxford, Session 3: Charter 88, Constitutionalism and the Law: The AssaultOn Constitutionalism: A Cautionary Tale David Fagelson, American University,Washington D.C

myriad [ noun, adjective ]

MEANING :

1. (n.) an enormous or incalculable number2. (n.) (archaic) Ten thousand3. (adj.) incalculable, indefinite or innumerable4. (adj.) multifaceted

USAGE :

Computer users have a tendency to hoard, reluctant to cull the myriad files on theirmachines.BBC, De-clutter that home computer: Dot.life - where technology meets life, everyMonday, By Mark Ward, 7 June, 2004

pandemic [ noun, adjective ]

MEANING :

1. (adj.) widespread; occuring over or affecting a very large area2. (n.) a widespread disease or epidemic

USAGE :

But if the virus mutates and a pandemic occurs, one-third of the U.S. population could


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become infected and two million people may die, the plan estimates.National Geographic, Bird Flu -- What You Can Do to Be Prepared, Brian Handwerk, May10, 2006

plebeian [ noun, adjective ]

MEANING :

1. (adj.) pertaining to or of common people (especially in Rome)2. (adj.) vulgar or coarse3. (n.) one belonging to the lower class or common people especially in ancient Rome4. (n.) one who is coarse or vulgar

USAGE :In the two final tables, the provision was added to forbid intermarriagebetween patricians and plebeians.

Chronicles magzine, Uncle Sams Harem II, by Thomas Fleming

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ingrate [ noun ]

MEANING :

a thankless, ungrateful person

USAGE :And should some commoner dare to disrespect himfail to obey an order or bump into hisswordthe samurai has the right (rarely invoked) to kill the ingrate on the spot.National Geographic, Japan's way of the worrior, ByTom O'Neill,

lugubrious [ adjective ]

MEANING :

sad, gloomy or mournful

USAGE :Despite its lugubrious title which reflects India's place in the football arena today, this

book of essay is not a long lament.THE TIMESOF INDIA, Fish, football andSaddam Hussein, 1 Jul 2006

nascent [ adjective ]

MEANING :

having recently developed or emerged

USAGE :

Each unit of the nascent Indonesian forces had to finance itself and any methodevensmuggling and drug-traffickingwas acceptable.Economist, Indonesia's army: Going out of business, Oct 2nd 2008

pathos [ noun ]

MEANING :

1. an emotion or sentiment of sorrow or sympathy2. a quality that evokes sadness or pity

USAGE :

What is less surprising is to learn that a particularly deadly form of kamikaze aircraft, apiloted rocket that could reach speeds of 880kph, was given the name "Ohka" fallingcherry blossom, a name whose poetic pathos and imagery of youthful sacrifice was lost onthe US sailors at whom it was aimed.CNN, Land of warriors holds on to traditions, By Dan Hayes, September 3, 2008


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plethora [ noun ]

MEANING :1. a very large amount, superfluity or overabundance2. an abnormality which is characterized by excessive blood in the circulatory system or insome organ or area of it

USAGE :

Bedrooms, spread over two floors of a shuttered building, are compact, but well kept, air-conditioned, en-suite and jollied up by a plethora of paintings of traditional Spanishscenes.Telegraph, Madrid's best budget hotels, Fred Mawer, 23 Sep 2008

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polemic [ noun, adjective ]

MEANING :1. (n.) a debate, controversy or argument2. (n.) one who is controversial or polemic3. (adj.) controversial, debatable or argumentative4. (adj.) pertaining to or of a dispute or controversy

USAGE :Jarecki's shrewd and intelligent polemic would seem to give an affirmative answer toeach of these questions.BBC, WHY WE FIGHT, Eugene Jarecki, 8 June 2007

presage [ noun, intransitive verb, transitive verb ]

MEANING :1. (n.) an omen, predition or intuition2. (tr. v.) to predict, warn or foretell3. (intr. v.) to have a premonition or to foretell

USAGE :Our members also have wider concerns that the new council will presage further cuts infunding for physical sciences and the early haemorrhage of key staff from the researchcouncils concerned.BBC, UK physics funding to be revamped, 25 July 2006

propensity [ noun ]

MEANING :

an innate tendency, preference or inclination

USAGE :At the High Court in Glasgow Lord Hodge told Harkins it was clear he had a "propensityfor violence".BBC, Bouncer jailed for three assaults, 11 April 2007

pungent [ adjective ]MEANING :1. having an irritating or acrid sensation2. sharp, caustic or penetrating

USAGE :With punch, as well as good timing, his new book, Palace Council, takes on Americanpolitics at its most pungent and most powerful.The Economist, Stephen Carter's Palace Council, Jun 19th 2008


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reprehensible [ noun, adjective ]

MEANING :

blameworthy or deserving rebuke

USAGE :Animal RightsAfrica said killing elephants was "undeniably cruel and morallyreprehensible" as well as counterproductive.

National Geographic, South Africa to Allow Elephant Killing, Celean Jacobson, February25, 2008

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portly [ adjective ]

MEANING :1. stout, fat or chubby2. distinguished, stately or imposing

USAGE :A slightly portly friend of mine with road rage recently got stuck in her sunroof trying to

climb out of her car in order to hit someone with her shoe.CNN, Driving-while-grooming amongpet peeves, By Jon Gromer, December 4, 2007

privation [ noun ]

MEANING :1. deprivation or lack of certain necessitiesa deed, consequence or state of lack or deprivation

USAGE :Not the old fear of privation but a sense that the future is limited only by Icelandersbelief in themselves and their willingness to reawaken that primeval Viking spirit idlingrestlessly behind their seeming impassivity.National Geographic, Power Struggle, By Marguerite Del Giudice

propinquity [ noun ]MEANING :1. a blood relationship or kinship2. similarity3. proximity or closeness in terms of time or space

USAGE :His major point, which I'm distorting a little here by casting his model into an electoralframework, is that social norms, often a result of nothing more than propinquity, make itunnecessary to think much about what to wear, which side of the road to drive on,when to eat, etc.abc News, Why People Vote Like Their Neighbors, By JOHN ALLEN PAULOS, Aug. 1, 2004

querulous [ adjective ]

MEANING :1. Discontented or grumbling2. peevish or complaining

USAGE :But she had become, according to sources, very "querulous" by this time, asking for "allkinds of things".The Times of India, Taslima puts Pranab in a bind, Indrani Bagchi, TNN, 18 Feb 2008

reproach [ transitive verb ]


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MEANING :1. (tr. v.) to blame, rebuke or reprove2. (tr. v.) to disgrace or discredit3. (n.) an instance or cause of shame4. (n.) blame or disapproval

USAGE :I do remember, however, that in the meeting on the 13th he stressed that the treatment

of the Muslim civilians in Srebrenica will be such as to put the Serbian side beyond anyreproach even by the non-benevolent media.Chronicles magzine, Witnessing at The Hague, by Srdja Trifkovic

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potentate [ noun ]

MEANING :1. a powerful personality who rules others, an emperor or sovereign2. a dominant person, leader of a group or venture

USAGE :

The coastline ofSouth Africa, stretching 1,740 miles (2,800 kilometers)from Mozambique to Namibia, is presided over by two great oceanic systems: a powerfulcurrent on one side of the continent and a strong upwelling on the other. Like potentates,they control what happens in their respective realms.National Geographic, Oceans of Plenty , By Kennedy Warne

probity [ noun ]

MEANING :

honesty, fidelity or integrity

USAGE :

Mr Begich touts his own probity, giving links to dozens of financial-disclosure reports on hiswebsite.The Economist, The challenger, Sep 4th 2008

propitiate [ transitive verb ]

MEANING :

1. to reconcile, appease, pacify or mollify

USAGE :To suggest audibly that officials should give the benefit of any doubt to Budge in order topropitiate the demonstrative crowd was not calculated to bring favour, though, beingfamiliar with champions who talk to themselves on the court, I did not share theirindignation.Telegraph, Fred Perrysets up American record, By A. Wallis Myers, 08 Sep 2008

quiescent [ adjective ]

MEANING :

1. inactive, motionless or quiet2. not showing symptoms or causing any trouble

USAGE :But the 662-mile-wide (1,066-kilometer-wide) moon hasn't always been quiescent. Billionsof years ago tectonic forces produced an enormous rift similar to the East African RiftValley on Earth, Nimmo said.National Geographic, Icy Moon Tethys Had Ancient Underground Ocean, Richard A. Lovett,March 24, 2008


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reprove [ noun, transitive verb ]

MEANING :1. (tr.v.) to admonish or criticize2. (intr. v.) to rebuke or find flaws in

USAGE :He tried to work together with them but did not hesitate to reprove them and pick them

up when they failed," added Mr Langdale.BBC, Boss 'did not gamble on safety', 4 February, 2005

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prattle [ noun, intransitive verb, transitive verb ]

MEANING :1. (intr. v.) to talk or chatter in silly, childish manner2. (tr. v.) to chatter, speak childishly or babble3. (n.) silly talk or a chattering sound

USAGE :

We prattle about the beautiful scenery, the warm hospitality shown by everyone we

meet and the progress the Kurds are making in rebuilding their nation.The Economist, Mountains and waterfalls, Jul 11th 2008

prodigal [ noun, adjective ]

MEANING :1. (n.) extravagance, a wasteful luxuriant or spendthrift2. (adj.) extravagant, wasteful or lavish

USAGE :Now the folks from whom we borrowed to buy all that oil and all those cars, electronicsand clothes are coming to buy the country we inherited. We are prodigal sons, and theday of reckoning approaches.Chronicles magzine, Subprime Nation, by Patrick J. Buchanan

proscribe [ transitive verb ]MEANING :1. to prohibit, condemn or banish2. to announce a person as outlawed

USAGE :Why the Bush administration continues to consort with the ISI, when there is probablyenough material to proscribe it, is something of a mystery?The Times of India, CIA doesn't see eye-to-eye with ISI, ByChidanand Rajghatta, 11 Oct2001

quixotic [ adjective ]

MEANING :1. pertaining to or ofDon Quixote

2. romantic or chivalrous3. impractical4. unpredictable, rash or impulsive

USAGE :However, the suggestion that we should be aiming at Dutch participation rates in cyclingby the over 60s is just quixotic.The Herald, Cycling as a mass form of transport is pure fantasy, February 27 2008

resplendent [ adjective, intransitive verb ]


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MEANING :1. shining luminously or radiantly2. dazzling, garish or splendid

USAGE :

It's a resplendent sun-drenched morning in the east of Scotland.The Herald, Barnes's storming finish, KENNY HODGART,

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abut [ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]

MEANING :

1. (tr.v.) to touch, be adjacent to, end at or border on2. (tr.v.) to support3. (intr.v.) to terminate, border or be adjacent to4. (intr.v.) to lean on so as to get supported

USAGE :

It will abut eight Albert Street to the annoyance of the occupants.Telegraph, Narrowest house in Britain will be just 9ft wide, By Sarah Knapton, 23 Dec2008

adventitious [ adjective ]

MEANING :

1. accidental, extrinsic or not inherent2. appearing or developing in unusual places

USAGE :

These varieties prefer limey soil, and they have tiny, clinging (or adventitious) roots.Telegraph, Ivy league, Val Bourne, 03 Dec 2004

aghast [ adjective ]

MEANING :

shocked, amazed, terrified or horrifiedUSAGE :The court was so aghast by the fact that NHAI has seen five chairmen in the past two-and-a-half years that it recommended that a law be enacted to ensure that heads ofpublic enterprises have fixed tenures of 3 to 5 years.The Times of India, Ministry delaying highways: HC, Abhinav Garg & Dipak Kumar Dash,19 December 2008

allay [ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]

MEANING :

1. (tr.v.) to end or lay to rest or to make quiet2. (tr.v.) to relieve, alleviate or mitigate3. (intr.v.) to subside

USAGE :Sheila Bair, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., sought to allay thoseworries Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press.abcNews, As Banks Teeter Again, Wall St. Looks forAnswers, By STEVENSON JACOBS APBusiness Writer, January 21, 2009

comely [ adjective ]

MEANING :

1. pleasing in appearance; attractive
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2. suitable or proper; seemly

USAGE :

We are in the Alps proper, mountains towering above comely valleys dotted variouslywith chalets and cows.Telegraph, Train travel: Exploring the French Alps, Anthony Peregrine, 31 Oct 2008

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abysmal [ adjective ]

MEANING :1.very bad,2.severe or wretched unfathomable, profound or bottomless

USAGE :A leading Aslef official claimed trains travelling through the main line tunnel intoWales had to slowdown, signals were worse and tracks were "abysmal".BBC, MPs toldSevern Tunnel is 'hole', 25 November 2008

affray [ noun, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) a public fray, brawl or fight2. (tr.v.) to scare or frighten

USAGE :Police have registered a case under IPC section 160, which refers to affray, a public fight that causesdisturbance.The Times ofIndia,Family claims black magic used on them, 12 Jan 2009.

alacrity [ noun ]

MEANING :1. promptness, eagerness or cheerful readiness2. briskness, celerity or liveliness

USAGE :America's long-drawn-out presidential contest, diplomats believe, has given Putin an opportunity he hasseized with alacrity.CNN, Putin seeks a role on world stage, ByRobin Oakley, Europeanpolitical editor, November 29, 2000

allege [ transitive verb ]

MEANING :1. to assert or declare without any proof2. to offer or cite as a reason or excuse3. (archaic) to quote or cite in confirmation as an authority

USAGE :Police did not allege a motive.abcNews, Australian Charged With Daughter's Death Plunge, By DENNIS PASSA Associated Press Writer,

January 29, 2009

comeuppance [ noun ]

MEANING :

a deserved punishment or penalty; just deserts

USAGE :Nixon, of course, got his comeuppance.CNN, Can politicians be trusted?, By CNN's Barry Neild, September 20, 2006
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