Daily English Vocab
PDF 20th Nov 2016
Justice beyond borders
Russia’s move to quit the International Criminal Court (ICC) is the outcome of the political
undercurrents that have of late strained its relations with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO). More ominous (अनिष्टसच
ू क/अमंगल सच
ू क) could be the ramifications (असर) of the exit, the
fourth within the last two months, from the established world arbiter (मध्यस्थ). The collective vision
of that global pact was to bring the impunities (दण्ड मुनि/माफी) of political leaders to justice before
a transnational body when all domestic remedies (सध
ु ार/कष्ट निवारण) were exhausted. Russia’s
announcement was predictable as a reaction to the court’s report on Tuesday, stating that the 2014
annexation (समामेलि /राज्य-हरण/कब्जा करिा) of Crimea from Ukraine amounted to an occupation.
Moscow has denied any role by its military, maintaining that Crimea’s accession was authorized
in a popular referendum. NATO’s continued eastward expansion explains at least some of
President Vladimir Putin’s belligerent (लड़ाकू/यद्ध
ु रत) rhetoric. Not only has the western military
alliance extended into the countries of the former Eastern bloc, it has also brought some member
states of the erstwhile (भूतपूवव/पहला) Soviet Union within its fold. Moscow’s approach to the world
court is far from ideal. But the constraints of initiating punitive action against the U.S. and its allies
for the war crimes committed during the Iraq war would have further eroded Russia’s diminishing
faith in the liberal world order.
South Africa’s decision to walk out of the Hague court in October symbolizes its abdication
(अनधकार त्याग/पदत्याग ) of a regional leadership role. Africa still remains hostage to the machinations
of traditional tribal warlords, who systematically subvert (िष्ट कर देिा/ नवकृत करिा/उलट देिा) democratic
institutions and squander (गँवा देिा/ व्यथव व्यय करिा) the rich natural wealth in league with big
corporations. South Africa’s regressive step came at a time when politicians in neighbouring
countries, faced with legal proceedings for perpetrating heinous (अनतदुष्ट/ जघन्य) crimes, have
successfully projected the impression that the ICC was biased against the whole continent. The
current stance of Pretoria is a far cry from that over a decade ago when the country incorporated
crimes of genocide from the ICC statute into its domestic laws. When Washington refused at the
turn of the century to be bound by the jurisdiction of the Hague court, there were concerns that the
nascent body would be left sorely wanting in legitimacy and authority. Those anxieties have, if
anything, been amplified by the unprecedented war crimes being perpetrated in the Syrian conflict
and the humanitarian catastrophe (िष्ट होिा/नविाश/ तबाही) being witnessed there. To enforce justice
beyond the barriers imposed by domestic borders is a noble aim. But its realization is that much
harder when nationalism is resurgent (पुिस्र्तत्थािशील/नफर उठ खड़ा होिे वाला).
(Courtesy: The Hindu)
1. Ominous (adjective): Giving the worrying impression that something bad is going to happen;
threateningly inauspicious. (अनिष्टसच
ू क/अमंगल सच
ू क)
 Synonyms: Inauspicious, Jinx, Apocalyptic, Sinister, Predicting Unfortunate.
 Antonyms: Cheerful, Hopeful, Encouraging, Promising, Auspicious.
Example: Because of the ominous music, we knew something bad was about to happen in the
movie.
Related words:
Ominously (adverb) - अशभु ाशंसी रूप से
2. Ramifications (noun): A complex or unwelcome consequence of an action or event./ a change
that makes a situation more complicated. (असर)
 Synonyms: Consequence, Result, Outcome, Effect, Upshot, Complicate Development.
 Antonyms: Cause, Source, Origin, Genesis.
Example: When you started dating a married woman, did you not realize a ramification of your
actions would be her husband’s hatred?
3. Arbiter (noun): A person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter./ a person
whose views or actions have influence in a particular sphere. (मध्यस्थ)
 Synonyms: arbitrator, mediator, moderator, referee, adjudicator, middle-person.
Example: An arbiter will help the divorcing couple come to terms on a settlement.
Verb forms: Arbitrate, Arbitrated, Arbitrated.
Related words:
Arbitrate (verb) - मध्यस्थता करना
Arbitral (adjective) - मध्यस्थता-सबं ंधी
Arbitrament (noun) – मध्यस्थता
4. Impunity (noun): Exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences
of an action. (दण्ड मुनि/माफी)

Synonyms: Indemnity, Exemption From Punishment, Amnesty, Dispensation, Pardon,
Reprieve.
 Antonyms: Imprisonment, Punishment, Incarceration.
Example: In exchange for her testimony, the accomplice received impunity from prosecution.
Related words:
Punitive (adjective) – दंडात्मक
5. Remedy (noun): Something that corrects or counteracts. (सध
ु ार/कष्ट निवारण)
 Synonyms: Redressal, Treatment, Countermeasure, Solution, Correction, Restorative.
 Antonyms: Damage, Harm, Hurt, Injure, Worsen.
Example: The President's advisor suggested the remedy for the economic problems is a tax cut.
Related words:
Remedial (adjective) - उपचारात्मक
Remediation (verb) – सध
ु ार
6. Annexation (noun): The action of annexing something, especially territory. (समामेलि /राज्यहरण/कब्जा करिा)
 Synonyms: seizure, invasion, conquest, takeover, expropriation, arrogation, usurping.
 Antonyms: detachment, loss, subtraction.
Example: Because the people in the area enjoy their sense of self-governance, they are rejecting
the proposal for annexation.
Verb forms: Annex, Annexed, Annexed.
Related words:
Annex (verb) => कब्जा करना
Annexure (noun) - सल
ं ग्नक
7. Belligerent (noun): Hostile; ready to fight. (लड़ाकू/युद्धरत)

Synonyms: Hostile, Aggressive, Antagonistic, Bellicose, Truculent, Confrontational,
Combative.
 Antonyms: Agreeable, Calm, Friendly, Peaceful, Cooperative.
Example: While many professional wrestlers may appear belligerent, in reality, most of them are
really nice.
Related words:
Belligerency (noun) - यद्ध
ु ावस्था
Belligerence (noun) - यद्ध
ु स्स्थस्त
8. Abdication (noun): Failure to fulfill a responsibility or duty so relinquished. (अनधकार त्याग/पदत्याग)
 Synonyms: Resignation, Stepping Down, Relinquishment, Abjuration, Repudiation.
 Antonyms: Ascension, Take Over.
Example: Since the dictator of that country will not simply abdicate his position, we must go to
war to remove him from power.
Verb forms: Abdicate, Abdicated, Abdicated.
Related words:
Abdicate (verb) – त्याग करिा
9. Subvert (verb): Undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution). /
to attempt to undercut or overthrow a person or group’s authority. (िष्ट कर देिा/ नवकृत करिा/उलट देिा)
 Synonyms: Destabilize, Unsettle, Overthrow, Overturn.
 Antonyms: Encourage, Strengthen, Improve, Uphold.
Example: In the movie, the rebels sought to subvert the tribunal’s power and replace the body
with a democratic government.
Verb forms: Subvert, Subverted, Subverted.
Related words:
Subversion (noun) – उलटाव
Subversive (adjective) – उलट देने वाला
Subversively (adverb) – क्ांस्तकारी ढंग से / जबरदस्त तरीके से
10. Heinous (adjective): Very bad or evil. / deserving of hate or contempt. (अनतदुष्ट/ जघन्य)

Synonyms: Odious, Wicked, Evil, Atrocious, Monstrous, Disgraceful, Abominable,
Contemptible, Reprehensible, Despicable.
 Antonyms: Delightful, Friendly, Good, Kind, Likeable, Lovable, Pleasant.
Example: The criminal received the death penalty for his heinous crime.
Related words:
Heinously (adverb) – नृशंसता से
Heinousness (noun) – जघन्यता
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