Daily English Vocab
PDF 4th Dec 2016
Demonetization and its discontents
Demonetisation seems to have made friends of foes, and foes of friends in the political firmament
(आकाश/आसमान). If Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar differed from his allies while heaping praise
on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for embarking on (शुरुआत करना) demonetization, Shiv Sena chief
Uddhav Thackeray was critical of his party’s senior partner in government for “bringing tears in
the eyes of the people” who had voted it to power. In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee and her
Trinamool Congress showed a readiness to join hands with arch-rival Left Front to fight the
demonetization drive. While the withdrawal of high-denomination notes can hardly be expected
to trigger a political realignment anywhere, political parties seem to be rising above mundane
(साधारण/नीरस) political calculations while reacting to the demonetization. A cynical (दोषदषी) view
might be that Mr. Kumar is keeping his political options open by building bridges with the BJP,
and keeping his politically junior but numerically stronger ally (सहयोगी/सहायक), the Rashtriya Janata
Dal, in check. Arguably, he
could be trying to recover his assiduously (लगन से/पररश्रम से) cultivated anti-corruption image, which
took a beating following his electoral pact with Lalu Prasad of the RJD. But a simpler explanation
cannot be ruled out: that Mr. Kumar saw some merit in the demonetization drive, even as he
recognized the difficulties in implementation. Similarly, the Sena cannot afford to break with the
BJP at this juncture. Quite likely, Mr. Thackeray was prompted not by the possibilities of political
realignment (of which there is practically none), but by the realities on the ground, in distancing
himself and his party from the demonetization decision. In West Bengal, an alliance (गठबंधन)
between the Trinamool and the Left Front is inconceivable (समझ से बाहर/अचिन्त्य), but that did not
stop Ms. Banerjee from reaching out to the CPI(M) in her fight.
If political parties have thus reacted unpredictably, it could just be on account of the mixed results
seen on the ground. None can afford to be seen as directly opposing measures to clean up black
money and weed out counterfeits (नकली/जाली). However, stories of cashless banks and shuttered
ATMs seem to have given some life to opposition parties looking for an issue to pin the
government down on. Reports of the BJP having made huge cash deposits in banks in West Bengal,
and land deals in Bihar days before the demonetization, have provided some ammunition
(information that can be used to attack or defend a claim or argument or viewpoint) to
opposition parties that were initially reluctant (अचनच्छुक) to criticize the move for fear of being
labeled supporters of black money hoarders (जमाखोर) and counterfeiters. Demonetization might
not have changed political equations, but it has shaken up the political scene. What they cannot
oppose in principle, parties have opposed in practice.
(Courtesy: The Hindu)
1. Embark on (verb): To start a new project or activity, usually one that will be difficult and will
take time. (शुरुआत करना)
 Synonyms: Commence, Start, Open Up, Initiate, Begin.
 Antonyms: End, Finish, Closure, Terminate, Complete.
Example: My uncle says he's about to embark on a new business venture.
Verb Forms: Embark on, Embarked on, Embarked on.
2. Mundane (adjective): Lacking interest or excitement; dull. / found in the ordinary course of
events (साधारण/नीरस)

Synonyms: Humdrum, Dull, Boring, Tedious, Monotonous, Tiresome, Wearisome,
Prosaic, Unexciting, Uninteresting, Uneventful.
 Antonyms: Abnormal, Uncommon, Unusual, Exciting, Extraordinary, Wonderful.
Example: Though his friends were having a fun time at the bar, Kevin settled for a mundane
evening at home.
3. Cynical (adjective): Having a sneering disbelief /believing the worst of human nature and
motives (दोषदषी)


Synonyms: Skeptical, Sneering, Devious, Insidious.
Antonyms: Believing, Hopeful, Optimistic, Trusting, Undoubting.
Example: After being dumped by his girlfriend, Jack was cynical about dating other women.
Related words:
 Cynically (adverb) - व्यग्ं यपर्ू वक
4. Ally (noun): A friend; someone who is ready to help you. (सहयोगी/सहायक)
 Synonyms: Associate, Colleague, Friend, Partner, Helper.
 Antonyms: Antagonist, Detractor, Enemy, Foe, Opponent.
Example: When my friends were arguing, Carly was my ally and defended my actions.
Verb forms: Ally, Allied, Allied.
Related words:
 Ally (verb) - सहायता करना
5. Assiduously (adverb): Marked by careful unremitting attention or persistent application./ (लगन
से/पररश्रम से)

Synonyms: Ardently, Carefully, Diligently, Earnestly, Energetically, Enthusiastically,
Laboriously.
 Antonyms: Idly, Inactively, Quietly.
Example: That was very assiduous of you to finish those financial reports weeks ahead of
schedule.
Related words:
 Assiduous (adjective) - परिश्रमपर्ू व
6. Alliance (noun): A union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially between
countries or organizations. (गठबंधन)


Synonyms: Treaty, Pact, Compact, Entente, Accord, Communion, Concord, Affiliation.
Antonyms: Antagonism, Detachment, Disagreement, Disconnection, Discord, Disunity,
Division.
Example: An alliance between the two largest airlines could mean disaster for the smaller carriers.
7. Inconceivable (adjective): Not capable of being imagined or grasped mentally (समझ से
बाहर/अचिन्त्य)
 Synonyms: Incomprehensible, Improbable, Delphic.
 Antonyms: Believable, Common, Credible, Familiar, Likely, Normal.
Example: It is inconceivable that the young boy walked twenty miles without shoes in freezing
weather.
Verb Forms: Conceive, Conceived, Conceived.
Related words:
 Conceive (verb) - समझना

Conceivably (adverb) - संभावर्त रूप से
8. Counterfeit (noun): Made in exact imitation of something valuable with the intention to
deceive or defraud. (नक़लीजाली/)
 Synonyms: Fake, Forgery, Copy, Reproduction, Replica, Imitation, Dummy, Fraud, Sham.
 Antonyms: Actual, Genuine, Authentic, Real, Original.
Example: When the man tried to pay the mob boss with a counterfeit diamond, he was almost
beaten to death.
Verb forms: Counterfeit, Counterfeited, Counterfeited.
Related words:
 Counterfeit (verb) - जाली बनाना

Counterfeiter (adjective) - जालसाज़
9. Reluctant (adjective): Unwilling and hesitant; not wanting to take some action. (अचनच्छुक)
 Synonyms: Unwilling, Disinclined, Unenthusiastic, Loath, Tardy, Slack.
 Antonyms: Heedless, Anxious, Enthusiastic, Indiscreet.
Example: The woman seemed desirous, yet reluctant, to speak, and answered, in low, mysterious
tone.
Related words:
 Reluctantly (adverb) – अवनच्छापर्ू वक

Reluctance (noun) – वर्मख
ु ता
10. Hoard (verb): Stored up and often hid away, a supply or fund. (जमा करना/िुपके िुपके जोड़ना)
 Synonyms: Stasher, Squirrel, Compile, Cache.
 Antonyms: Debt, Lack, Scarcity.
Example: Uncle Jack loves to hoard stuff, filling his house with useless objects.
Verb Forms: Hoard, Hoarded, Hoarded.
Related words:
 Hoarder (noun) – जमाखोर
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