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Dear Aspirants,
Since many of you would have been already well acquainted with the wordlist and to
give your preparation boost, here we are rendering you “Vocab Mantras/Daily Wordlist” to help you
to attain your goal. Since several Banking Exams are in the streak in upcoming months, SBI PO &
Other Exams and vocabulary plays an immense role to score 4- 5 marks within a few seconds, if you
are memorizing words on the daily basis. Here, to take Vocab one more step ahead we pondered to
start a new drive “Read Editorial with Banking Mantras”, in this new drive we will give you 10 or
more words given in the passage mainly from The Hindu & Indian Express newspapers, with the
same meaning which should be used according to the passage. Also, the editorial or opinion will be,
which is relevant for your exam. We anticipate, all of you would like the new initiative of Banking
Mantras.
Meaning of difficult words & Phrases:
Repeal (V): – to officially make (a law) no longer valid, cancel officially
Synonyms: annul, countermand, lift, overturn, rescind, reverse, revoke, vacate
Antonyms: introduce, enact, ratify
Usage: The state legislature eventually repealed [=rescinded] the tax (law).
Repeal (N): the act of abrogating; an official or legal cancellation
Synonyms: abrogation, annulment
Usage: Most voters oppose the repeal of the law.
Meager (Adj): – very small or too small in amount, deficient in amount or quality or extent
Synonyms: meager, meagerly, scrimpy, stingy, sparse, scanty
Antonyms: ample, abundant (more than enough in size or scope or capacity)
Usage:
• Every morning he eats a meager breakfast of toast and coffee.
• Meager wages.
• They suffered through several meager years at the beginning of their marriage.
Explicit (Adj): – very clear and complete: leaving no doubt about the meaning
Synonyms: expressed
Antonym: vague
Usage:
• They were given explicit instructions.
• Changes to the property can’t be done without their explicit consent.
2. Showing or referring very openly to nudity, violence, or sexual activity
Antonyms: suggestive, implicit
Usage:
• Explicit photographs
• They’re concerned about exposing children to (sexually) explicit films.
• A song with explicit lyrics
Psychoses/Psychosis: a very serious mental illness that makes you behave strangely or believe
things that are not true
Usage: The patient suffers from some kind of psychosis.
Trigger (V): – put in motion or move to act
Synonyms: activate, actuate, set off, spark, spark off, touch off, trigger off, and trip
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Antonym: deactivate
Usage:
• Smoke triggered the fire alarm.
• His remarks triggered a public outcry.
• Certain foods trigger his headaches.
• The power outage was triggered by heavy rains.
Ailment (N): – a sickness or illness
Usage:
• She suffered from a chronic back ailment.
• A kidney/liver/lung/skin ailment
• The doctor treated him for a variety of ailments.
Asylum (N): – a hospital where people who are mentally ill are cared for especially for long periods
of time: a mental hospital
2. Protection given by a government to someone who has left another country in order to escape
being harmed
Synonyms: refuge, sanctuary
Usage:
• She asked for political asylum.
• She was granted asylum after it was made clear that she would be killed if she returned to her native
country.
• Asylum seekers.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure, done under general anesthesia, in which small
electric currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure. ECT seems to
cause changes in brain chemistry that can quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental illnesses.
Shady (Adj):– seeming to be dishonest
Synonyms: louche
Usage:
• A shady business deal
• I don’t trust him. He seems like a pretty shady character.
Narrative (N): a story that is told or written
Synonyms: narration, story, tale
Usage:
• He is writing a detailed narrative of his life on the island.
• People have questioned the accuracy of his narrative.
• Fictional narratives
Narrative (Adj): of or relating to the process of telling a story
Usage: her narrative style/technique [=the way she tells a story]
2. Having the form of a story
Usage: a narrative poem
Reiterate (V): – to repeat something you have already said in order to emphasize it; to say, state, or
perform again
Synonyms: ingeminate, iterate, repeat, restate, retell
Usage:
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• Reiterate a claim/view/point
• She avoided answering our questions directly, instead reiterating that the answers could be found in
her book.
• She kept reiterating her request
Exemption (N): – freedom from being required to do something that others are required to do,
immunity from an obligation or duty
Synonyms: granting immunity, immunity, freedom
Usage:
• They were granted exemption from military service [=they were not required to join the military]
because of their religious beliefs.
2. A source or amount of income that is not taxed
Usage: You can claim a tax exemption for each of your dependents.
More detail: When you get an exemption, you don’t have to do something. In the sixties, some people
got exemptions from military service during the Vietnam War.
Dispel (V): – force to go away, to make (something, such as a belief, feeling, or idea) go away or end
Synonyms: chase away, drive away, drive off, drive out, run off, and turn back
Usage:
• Dispel doubts
• This report should dispel any doubts you have about the plan.
• She made an official statement to dispel any rumors about her retirement.
• The experience dispelled some of our fears about the process.
Ambiguity (N): – something that does not have a single clear meaning: something that is
ambiguous
Synonyms: equivocalness
Antonyms: unambiguity, unequivocalness (clarity achieved by the avoidance of ambiguity
Usage:
• You should remove ambiguity [=vagueness] from your essay by adding more details.
• Moral ambiguity [=lack of certainty about whether something is right or wrong]
• The ambiguities in his answers
Interim (Adj): – used or accepted for a limited time: not permanent
Synonyms: impermanent, temporary
Antonym: permanent
Usage:
• An interim agreement
• An interim solution
• He served as the college’s interim [=temporary] president while the committee searched for a
permanent replacement.
Interim (N): – a period of time between events \: interval
Synonyms: lag, meantime, meanwhile
Usage: The regulations are scheduled to change next winter, and in the interim [=meanwhile], we’ll
be working hard to make all of the appropriate changes.
Collate (V): – to gather together information from different sources in order to study it carefully, to
assemble in proper sequence
Usage:
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• They are still collating the data.
• Collate the papers
Leeway (N): – a permissible difference; allowing some freedom to move within limits
Synonyms: allowance, margin, tolerance
Usage: They give/allow their students leeway to try new things.
• The new rules allow managers (to have) greater leeway in making decisions.
Make up (the) leeway – to get back into a good position or situation after you have fallen behind
Usage: They’re so far behind that they have little hope of making up the leeway on the leaders. [=of
catching up with the leaders]
Obstacle (N): – something that makes it difficult to do something
Synonyms: obstruction
Usage:
• He overcame the obstacles of poverty and neglect.
• Lack of experience is a major obstacle for her opponent.
2. An object that you have to go around or over: something that blocks your path
Usage: She swerved to avoid an obstacle in the road.
Ratify (V): – [+ object] – approve and express assent, to make (a treaty, agreement, etc.) official by
signing it or voting for it
Synonyms: sign
Usage:
• A number of countries have refused to ratify the treaty.
• All parties ratified the peace treaty
Overrun (N): – an amount of money that is spent and that is more than the expected or planned
amount
Usage: cost/budget overruns
Overrun (V): to spread over or throughout (something)
Usage:
• Weeds overran the garden. = The garden was overrun with/by weeds.
• Crime overran the neighborhood.
2. To run or go beyond or past (something)
Usage:
• The runner overran [=ran past] third base.
• The stream has overrun [=overflowed] its banks.
• His speech overran the time allowed.
3. To enter and be present in (a place) in large numbers
Usage:
• In the summer, the town is overrun with/by tourists. [=is filled with tourists]
• Rats overran the ship.
Precarious (Adj): – not safe, strong, or steady; not secure; beset ((of a problem or difficulty) trouble
or threaten persistently.) with difficulties
Synonyms: shaky
Usage:
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• He earned a precarious livelihood/living by gambling.
• She was in a state of precarious [=delicate] health.
• The government is in a precarious position. [=a dangerous position that must be dealt with
carefully]
• The strong wind almost knocked him off of his precarious perch on the edge of the cliff.
2. fraught with danger
Synonyms: parlous, perilous, and touch-and-go
Usage: the precarious life of an undersea diver
Bailout (N): – the act of saving or rescuing something (such as a business) from money problems
Usage: government bailouts of large corporations
Outweigh (V): – to be greater than (someone or something) in weight, value, or importance
Synonyms: outbalance, overbalance, and preponderate
Usage:
• She outweighs her sister by 10 pounds.
• The advantages far outweigh [=exceed] the disadvantages.
• This issue outweighs all others in importance.
Dim (Adj): not likely to be good or successful
Usage:
• Prospects for a quick settlement of the strike appear dim. [=unlikely]
• (US) The industry faces a dim [=grim] future.
Sobering (Adj): – making you feel serious and thoughtful
Synonyms: serious (concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities)
Usage:
• His death is a sobering reminder of the dangers of mountaineering.
• A sobering fact/thought
Unequivocal (Adj): – very strong and clear: not showing or allowing any doubt: not equivocal
(open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous)
Synonyms: unambiguous (having or exhibiting a single clearly defined meaning), univocal
Antonyms: ambiguous, equivocal (open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or
significance; or (often) intended to mislead)
Usage:
• Unequivocal evidence
• Her answer was an unequivocal yes/no.
• He told them in (clear and) unequivocal terms what was expected of them.
Missive (N): – a letter or other written message
Synonyms: letter
Usage: Ila Patnaik occasionally pens missives on finance for the Indian Express.
Harness (V): – to bring under control and put to use.
Synonyms: control
1. To put a harness on (an animal)
Usage: harness the horses
2. To use (something) for a particular purpose
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Usage:
• Engineers are finding new ways to harness the sun’s energy to heat homes.
• The company is harnessing technology to provide better service to its customers.
• They harnessed the power of the waterfall to create electricity.
• Harness anger to fight injustice
3. To connect or join (things) together
Usage: She harnessed several computers (together) to work as one large computer.
Substantial (Adj): – large in amount, size, or number
Synonyms: hearty, satisfying, solid, square, material, real
Usage:
• A mere dream, neither substantial nor practical
• A substantial number of people commute to work each day.
• This will save us a substantial [=considerable] amount of money/time.
2. Strongly made: sturdy
• A substantial house
• Only the buildings that were constructed of more substantial materials survived the earthquake.
3. of food: enough to satisfy hunger
• I was hoping that they would serve us something more substantial than wine and cheese.
• A substantial [=filling] meal
Flag (V): – to signal (someone or something that is moving past you) to stop especially by raising or
waving your hand
Type of: sign, signal, signalise, signalize
Usage:
• Flag a taxi
• I flagged the waiter for the check.
Burgeon (V): – to grow or develop quickly, grow and flourish
Usage: The market for collectibles has burgeoned in recent years.
Burgeoning (Adj): a burgeoning industry/field/population
Fester (V): – to become painful and infected
Synonyms: maturate, suppurate
Usage:
• Her wounds are festering
• A festering sore
2. To become worse as time passes
Usage:
• His feelings of resentment have festered for years.
• We should deal with these problems now instead of allowing them to fester.
Write-Down: A write-down is the reducing of the book value of an asset because it is overvalued
compared to the market value. A write-down typically occurs on a company’s financial statement,
when the carrying value of the asset can no longer be justified as fair value and the likelihood of
receiving the cost, or book value, is questionable at best.
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Vested (Adj): – fixed and absolute and without contingency
Synonyms: unconditional, unconditioned, absolute (not conditional)
Antonyms: conditional
Usage: a vested right
Vested interest (N): a personal or private reason for wanting something to be done or to happen
Usage: She has a vested interest in seeing the business sold, as she’ll make a profit from the sale.
Cloak (N): – a loose outer garment, anything that covers or conceals, a thing that hides or covers
someone or something
Synonyms: coverture, shroud
Usage:
• The soldiers began their attack under (the) cloak of darkness.
• Their plans were shrouded in a cloak of secrecy.
2. (V): hide under a false appearance, to hide or disguise (something) — usually used as (be) cloaked
Synonyms: dissemble, mask, camouflage, disguise (make unrecognizable)
Antonym: unmask
Usage: His caring personality was cloaked [=hidden, concealed] by shyness.
Take away (V): take from a person or place
2. Remove from a certain place, environment, or mental or emotional state; transport into a new
location or state
Synonyms: bear away, bear off, carry away, and carry off
Antonyms: bring, convey, fetch, get (go or come after and bring or take back)
3. Remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
Synonyms: remove, take, withdraw, and take out
Susceptible (Adj): – 1. (Often followed by `of’ or `to’) yielding readily to or capable of
Synonyms: unprotected (lacking protection or defense)
2. Easily affected, influenced, or harmed by something
Usage: The virus can infect susceptible individuals.
Often + to
• He is very susceptible to colds. [=he catches colds easily]
• A surface highly susceptible to scratches
• He is susceptible to flattery.
3. Capable of being affected by a specified action or
Process — + of => a contract that is susceptible of modification [=a contract that can be modified]
Stoic (Adj): – seeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive
Usage:
• She remained stoic [=she did not complain or become upset] even as he continued to insult her.
• He had a stoic expression on his face.
2. (N): someone who is seemingly indifferent to emotions
Synonyms: unemotional person
Antonyms: emotional person
Requisite (N): – anything indispensable
Synonyms: essential, necessary, necessity, requirement
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Antonyms: inessential, nonessential
Usage: Five years of previous experience is a requisite for this job.
2. (Adj): necessary for relief or supply
Synonyms: needed, needful, and required
Usage: She has the requisite [=necessary, required] skills/experience for the job.
Tandem (N): – working or happening together or at the same time
2. An arrangement of two or more objects or persons one behind another
Usage:
• They moved in tandem.
• The two products can be used alone or in tandem.
• They’re working in tandem with scientists from England to find a cure.
Dissipate (V): – move away from each other
Synonyms: disperse, scatter, and spread out
Usage:
[+ object]: The morning sun dissipated the fog.
[No object]: to separate into parts and disappear or go away
Usage:
• The fog should dissipate soon.
• By noon the crowd had dissipated. [= (more commonly) dispersed]
2. Spend frivolously and unwisely, to use all or a lot of (something, such as money or time) in a
foolish way
Usage: He had dissipated [=squandered] his family’s fortune in only a few years.
Trajectory (N):– the path followed by an object moving through space.
Usage: the trajectory of the missile
2. Often used figuratively to describe a process of change or development that leads toward a
particular result.
Usage:
• Her early education put her on a trajectory toward a distinguished career.
• His political trajectory from local activist to world leader
More detail: A trajectory is the path of an object through space, or the path of life that a person
chooses.
Persist (V): – be persistent, refuse to stop; to continue to do something or to try to do something
even though it is difficult or other people want you to stop
Synonyms: hang in, hang on, hold on, and persevere
Antonym: give up
Usage:
• The reporter persisted with his questioning.
• If you persist with this behavior, you will be punished.
2. To continue to occur or exist beyond the usual, expected, or normal time
Usage: If the pain persists, see a doctor.
Deprived (Adj):– not having the things that are needed for a good or healthy life
Synonyms: disadvantaged, underprivileged (lacking the rights and advantages of other members of
society)
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Antonym: privileged
Usage: emotionally deprived children
Eliminate (V): – to remove (something that is not wanted or needed): to get rid of (something),
terminate, end, or take out
Synonyms: do away with, extinguish, and get rid of
Usage:
• Eliminate my debts
• Doctors seek to eliminate the causes of the epidemic.
• The body naturally eliminates waste products.
• The company plans to eliminate more than 2,000 jobs in the coming year.
2. Kill in large numbers
Synonyms: annihilate, carry off, decimate, eradicate, extinguish, and wipe out
Decimate: kill one in every ten, as of mutineers in Roman armies
Outlay (N): – the act of spending or disbursing money; an amount of money that is spent
Usage:
• The initial outlay for the program will be 2.4 million dollars.
• An outlay of $2,000
• Synonyms: disbursal, disbursement, spending
Bolster (V): – to make (something) stronger or better: to give support to (something)
Synonyms: bolster up, strengthen, support, reinforce, boost, fortify
Antonym: undermine
Usage:
• She came with me to bolster my confidence.
• A convincing argument that was bolstered by the speaker’s reputation
• He received news that bolstered [=lifted] his spirits.
• She is thinking of ways to bolster her career/image.
Significant (Adj): – very important
Synonyms: important
Usage:
• A significant event in the history of our nation
• Fish is a significant part of their diet.
• It is significant that she never mentioned him.
Standpoint (N): – a mental position from which things are viewed, a way in which something is
thought about or considered
Synonyms: point of view, stand, viewpoint
Usage: From an economic standpoint, the policy is sound.
Disquieting (Adj): – causing mental discomfort
Synonyms: uncomfortable (conducive to or feeling mental discomfort)
Usage:
• The disquieting sounds of nearby gunfire
• We found the news disquieting.
• The letter gave disquieting news of the war.
Puzzling (Adj): – not clear to the understanding, lacking clarity of meaning; causing confusion or
perplexity
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Synonyms: enigmatic, enigmatical, confusing, perplexing
=> Incomprehensible, uncomprehensible (difficult to understand)
Usage:
• Puzzling questions
• A puzzling metaphor/statement/event
• The directions are somewhat puzzling.
Quasi-judicial – A quasi-judicial body is an entity such as an arbitrator or tribunal board, generally
of a public administrative agency, which has powers and procedures resembling those of a court of
law or , and which is obliged to objectively determine facts and draw conclusions from them so as to
provide the basis of an official action. Such actions are able to remedy a situation or impose legal
penalties, and may affect the legal rights, duties or privileges of specific parties.
Circumvent (V): – avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or
issues)
Synonyms: dodge, duck, elude, evade, fudge, hedge, parry, put off, sidestep, skirt
Usage:
• We circumvented the problem by using a different program.
• He found a way to circumvent the law.
Unintended (Adj): – not deliberate, not planned as a purpose or goal
Synonyms: accidental, inadvertent (happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally)
Antonym: intended, deliberate, advertent
Usage:
• An unintended pregnancy
• The proposed bill could have unintended consequences.
Spur (N): - something that makes you want to do something or that causes something to happen:
incentive, incite or stimulate — often + to
Usage:
The reward was offered as a spur to greater work/achievement.
A spur to the imagination
2. A verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
Synonyms: goad, goading, prod, prodding, spurring, urging
Antonym: discourage
Gauge (V): to make a judgment about (something), judge tentatively or form an estimate of
(quantities or time)
Synonyms: approximate, estimate, guess, judge
Usage:
Home sales provide a useful way of gauging the overall state of the economy.
He accurately gauged the mood of the voters.
I was gauging her reaction to the news.
2. To measure (something) exactly
Usage: instruments for gauging temperature and humidity
Cumbersome (Adj): - hard to handle or manage because of size or weight, complicated and hard to
do, long and difficult to read, say, etc.
Synonyms: cumbrous
Antonyms: manageable, convenient
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Usage:
A cumbersome package
The application process is cumbersome and time-consuming.
A cumbersome name
Her expanded job title is really cumbersome.
Obvious (Adj): - easy to see or notice, easy for the mind to understand or recognize
Synonyms: apparent, evident, manifest, patent, plain, unmistakable (clearly revealed to the mind or
the senses or judgment)
Antonyms: unobvious, imperceptible, inconspicuous, obscure
Usage:
Her doctor immediately noticed the obvious signs of the disease.
She saw only the most obvious differences.
It was obvious that things weren't working out.
Her reasons for leaving were obvious. = It's obvious why she left.
The answer seems obvious enough to me.
Extolment (Noun): expression of approval and commendation.
Synonyms: congratulations, kudos, praise
Antonyms: Condemn, criticize, lambaste
Usage: After scintillating performance spectators and legend cricketers showered extolment over
Virat Kohli.
Vindicate (Verb): To justify, prove, or reinforce an idea — or to absolve from guilt, show to be right
by providing justification or proof, clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting
proof.
Synonyms: Justify, Absolve, Acquit
Antonyms: Blame, incriminate, charge
Usage: After Gujrat riot many accusations were leveled against Modi but after trial and proofs
vindicated that Modi did not commit any crime and he walked free.
Trick: Vidicate, split it like vin(WIN) + di(the) + cate(case) so when you win a case IN a COURT, it
means you are freed from accusation and charges. You are freed from blame.
Evanescent (Adj): Something which lasts for very few time, tending to vanish like vapor.
Synonyms: impermanent, temporary, momentary, short lived, ephermal, transient, mean lasting or
staying only a short time.
Antonyms: Permanent, Long lasting.
Usage: Now I know for sure that the soul is an evanescent thing and the body is its temporary
container, because I saw it.
Trick: Split the word “Evanescent” into two words: when Ivan (Evan) used local Scent (escent) it lasts
for very few time.
Exculpate (Verb): Pronounce not guilty of criminal charges.
Synonyms: acquit, assoil, clear, discharge, exonerate
Antonyms: Accuse
Usage: The last trial was, in many ways, the most astonishing, because it came four years after new
DNA evidence had exculpated The (Bad Blue) Megamind.
Trick: Exculpate comes from two Latin words: ex-, meaning “from,” and culpa, meaning “blame.”
Exculpate is similar in meaning to exonerate. When you exonerate someone, you clear a person of an
accusation and any suspicion that goes along with it.
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Execrable (Adj): of very poor quality or condition, unequivocally detestable, worthy of being hated.
Synonyms: abominable, detestable, odious, deplorable, miserable, woeful, wretched.
Antonyms: Admirable, commendable
Usage: This does not take away from the fact that Rahul Gandhi has made some rather execrable
statements throughout his campaign.
Trick: Deeds of hate mongers like Aazam Khan and Owaisi make them execrable.
Effulgent (Adj): Radiating or as if radiating light.
Synonyms: beaming, beamy, radiant, refulgent
Antonyms: Dull
Usage: On a clear day the sun can be quite effulgent.
Trick: Effulgent comes from the Latin ex meaning “out” and fulgere meaning “to shine”. A light that
is effulgent, shines out or radiates.
Crescendo (Adj): Gradually increasing in volume, grow louder.
Synonyms: Increasing
Antonyms: Decreasing, decrescendo.
Usage: But the analysis is the first to document the rise, amid a crescendo of anti-Islamic statements
from politicians.
Trick: If you are whispering and gradually raise your voice and then end up shouting, that’s a
crescendo as well.
Transgress (Verb): act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises, commit a sin; violate a
law of God or a moral law, pass beyond (limits or boundaries).
Synonyms: Breach, break, go against, infract, offend, violate, overstep, trespass.
Antonyms: Keep, observe
Usage: The Sea transgresses along the West coast of the island
Trick: Transgress sounds like and means nearly the same thing as trespass. When you transgress a
rule, you’re breaking it.
Phlegmatic (Adj): showing little emotion, (of a person) having an unemotional and stolidly calm
disposition.
Synonyms: Phlegmatical, unemotional
Antonyms: Emotional
Usage: India’s politicians like Arvind Kejariwal, Lalu Yadav and Rahul Gandhi are more phlegmatic
– even cynical – about this latest drama.
Trick: Sounds like PRAGMATIC(practical) –> practical people think with logic and show little
emotion.
Traverse (Verb):
1. To pass or go over or back and forth over (something); cross
2. (tr) to go against; oppose; obstruct
3. to move or cause to move sideways or crosswise
4. (tr) to extend or reach across
5. To turn (an artillery gun) laterally on its pivot or mount or (of an artillery gun) to turn laterally
(Noun)
1. Something being or lying across, such as a transom
2. A gallery or loft inside a building that crosses it
3. Math another name for: transversal (sense 1)
4. An obstruction or hindrance
5. Fortifications a protective bank or other barrier across a trench or rampart
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Synonyms: course, cover, cross, cut (across), follow, go, navigate, pass (over), perambulate,
peregrinate, proceed (along), track, transit, travel.
Antonyms: stay, confirm, backup
Vicissitude (Noun): A variation in circumstances or fortune at different times in your life or in the
development of something.
Synonyms: fluctuation, variation
Usage: It all highlights how an entire country has been subject to the vicissitudes of luck and
litigation strategy.
Trick: Vicissitude sounds like …WISE ATTITUDE…… whenever there is variation in circumstances
or fortune at different times of life, only a WISE PERSON WHO POSSES WISE (good)ATTITUDE
CAN HANDLE THE SITUATION PROPERLY.
Vituperate (Verb): Spread negative information about, censure severely or angrily.
Synonyms: bawl out, berate, call down, call on the carpet, chew out, chew up, chide, dress down,
have words, jaw, lambast, lambaste, lecture, rag, rebuke, remonstrate, reprimand, reproof, scold, take
to task, trounce
Antonyms: Absolve, compliment, praise.
Usage: To vituperate is to speak or write in an extremely negative way about someone.
Trick: After facing debacle in the Lok Sabha election, Rahul Gandhi started vituperating about
Narendra Modi.
Winsome (Adj): Attractive or appealing in appearance or character, charming in a childlike or naive
way
Synonyms: Attractive
Antonyms: Ugly
Usage: If you are described as winsome, take it as a compliment. It means you are attractive or
charming in an open and delightful way.
Trick: You can win someone’s heart only if you are charming and attractive :)
Recalcitrant (Adj): Stubbornly resistant to authority or control, marked by stubborn resistance to
authority
Synonyms: fractious, refractory, defiant, noncompliant.
Antonyms: Obedient
Usage: If someone is so pig-headed that he won’t budge on an issue, call him recalcitrant.
Trick: Some persons are so recalcitrant that they won’t heed any word if you will try to make them
understand, making, recalcitrant people understand something would be like you are barking up the
wrong tree. In Hindi it will be like (Tumko Jo bhi karna hai kar lo Ham nahi sudharne wale)•
Rescind (Verb): Cancel officially.
Synonyms: Annul, countermand, lift, overturn, repeal, reverse, revoke, vacate, abolish
Antonyms: Ratify, uphold, approve
Usage: The Environmental Protection Agency should rescind certification of all Volkswagens for sale
in the United States until full disclosure is made.
Trick: Rescind sounds like “resign”, where resign is something like to cancel your appointment and
rescind is to cancel an agreement.
Words of the month:
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Indeterminate/Indeterminable
Understanding the nuances of this word pair, indeterminate and indeterminable,
hinges on understanding the words’ parts. The root word, determine, means to
establish something. The prefix in- in this case means not. Both –ate and –able
create adjectives, -ate meaning having the characteristics of and –able meaning to be
able.
Indeterminate, then, means not (in-) having the characteristics of (-ate) being fixed
(determine): not fixed. Indefinite. Not determined. Not able to be stated or described
in an exact way, as in:
For no discernibly (discernible – capable of being seen or noticed) good reason, I am
back on Twitter for an indeterminate period of time.
A man of indeterminate [=uncertain] age
An indeterminate number of people
An indeterminate color.
Indeterminable means not (in-) able to (-able) establish (determine): incapable of
being fixed or determined. Such as:
This equated to 1082 votes for and 102 against, with two ballots indeterminable.
However, there are those movies that fall into that rare category of indeterminable.
Remember: if something isn’t fixed, it’s indeterminate. If it can’t be fixed, it’s
indeterminable.
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Idiom of the Month:
To turn over a new leaf
Meaning: Make a fresh start, change one’s conduct or attitude for the better or
change your attitude about something.
Origin: Way back in the 16th century, pages in books were referred to as leaves. So
tuning over a new leaf meant that one was turning to a blank page. This idiom was
used to signify a major change in behavior, or a new stage in life.
Usage: Apparently he’s turned over a new leaf and he’s not drinking any more.
Usage: He promised the teacher he would turn over a new leaf and behave himself
in class.
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