Shape Up your Vocabulary from Newspaper Wordlist: 06th August 2021

In keeping with the idea of learning and scoring better in English, we bring to you our series, ‘Shape up your Vocabulary from Newspaper Wordlist’. A daily dose of this article acquaints you with commonly (and not so commonly) used English words. The series tries to feature every such word, with its meaning, contextual usage, pronunciation, synonym, antonym, proper use in sentences, etc. That could save you from sitting with a dictionary while reading. Ultimately, it facilitates smooth reading and better intake of the newspaper article.

Given below is an important editorial from the newspaper ‘The Hindu'. Read it, understand the context and go through the meanings of words to boost up your learning.

Happy Reading!

Over the borderline: On Centre’s role in resolving Assam-Mizoram row

Important Words from the Article

1.

1. Word: Skirmish (झगड़ा / छोटे टुकड़ों में भिड़ना)

• Pronunciation: skur-mish / स्कर्मिश
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• Meaning:

        a. an episode of irregular or unplanned fighting, especially between small or outlying parts of armies or fleets. [Noun]

        b. to engage in a minor battle or dispute. [Verb]

• Synonyms: Clash, Fight, Scuffle, Brawl
• Antonyms: Peace, Accord
• Use in a Sentence: When the temper of both teams erupted, it resulted in minor skirmishes.

2. Word: Queer (बिगाड़ना / अजीब)

• Pronunciation: kweer / क्विर / क्वीर
• Part of Speech: Verb, Adjective
• Meaning: 

        a. spoil or ruin (an agreement, event, or situation). [Verb]

        b. strange or odd from a conventional viewpoint; unusually different; singular [Adjective]

• Synonyms: Damage, Disrupt, Threaten
• Antonyms: Normal, Repair, Mend
• Use in a Sentence: The new digital app has opened various political options for rural queers.

3. Word: Culminate (समाप्त होना)

• Pronunciation: kuhl-muh-neyt/ कल्मिनैट
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: reach a climax or point of highest development.
• Synonyms: peak, climax, conclude, end
• Antonyms: start, commence, begin, initiate, embark
• Usage in a sentence: A bitter feud culminated into months of tension.

4. Word: Stand-offs (क़ायम)

• Pronunciation: stand-awf, -of / स्टैन्ड ऑफ
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: a deadlock between two equally matched opponents in a dispute or conflict. / something that counterbalances.
  
• Synonyms: Standstill, Stalemate
• Antonyms: Conclusion, Decision
• Use in a Sentence: The standoff between friends ended peacefully the following day.

5. Word: Infuriate (क्रोधित करना)

• Pronunciation: इन फ्युरीएट / इन्फ्युरीऐट
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: make (someone) extremely angry and impatient.
• Synonyms: enraged, furious, annoyed
• Antonyms: agreeable, contended, soothed
• Use in a Sentence: After the quarrel, Her silence infuriated him even more.

6. Word: Fraught (व्याकुल)

• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Pronunciation: frawt/फ्रॉट
• Meaning: causing or affected by anxiety or stress.
  
• Synonyms: anxious, diligent
• Antonyms: devoid, calm
• Use in a Sentence: Their marriage has been fraught with difficulties.

7. Word: Diplomacy (कूटनीति)

• Pronunciation: dih-ploh-muh-see/ डिप्लोमसी
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: the art of dealing with people in a sensitive and tactful way.
• Synonyms: Tact, Skill, Adroitness
• Antonyms: Rudeness, Bluntness, Insolence
• Use in a Sentence: I thought he showed his tact diplomacy to persuade her not to resign.

8. Word: Exacerbate (उत्तेजित करना)

• Pronunciation: ig-zas-er-beyt/इग्ज़ैसर्बेट
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: 
  a. to increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of (disease, ill feeling, etc.)
  b. to embitter the feelings of (a person); irritate; exasperate
• Synonyms: aggravate,worsen,intensify,increase
• Antonyms: improve, soothe, alleviate, ease
• Usage in a sentence: This attack will exacerbate the already tense relations between the two communities.

9. Word: Even-handedly (उचित रूप से)

• Pronunciation: इवन - हेन- डेड - ली
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: impartial; equitable
  
• Synonyms: Justly, Fairly, Equitably
• Antonyms: Contrastingly, Unreasonably
• Use in a Sentence: Maira politely but even-handedly refused to comment on her colleague's project strategy.

Idioms & Phrases:

1. Phrase: All of a sudden (अचानक)

• Part of Speech: Phrase of all
• Meaning: suddenly
• Synonyms: unexpectedly, very quickly, unexpectedly
• Antonyms: expectedly, cautiously
• Use in a Sentence: All of a sudden the lights went out and he fell off the stairs.

2. Idiom: Put away the hatchet (Bury the hatchet) (झगड़ा ख़त्म करना)

• Part of Speech: Idiom
• Meaning: end a quarrel or conflict and become friendly.
• Synonyms: make a deal, go along with, come to terms
• Antonyms: fight
• Use in a Sentence: The neighboring countries have often been advised to bury the hatchet for their own progress.

'Writer's Corner'

Based on the description of the words, we have some practice questions for you. Answer these questions in the comments section. Our team will review them at the earliest!

Exercise 1. Make your own Sentences.

Here are some of the words from the above article. Try to frame sentences from them in your own words and share them with us in the comments section!

• Bury the hatchet
• Diplomacy
• Fraught
• Exacerbate
• Culminate

Exercise 2: Match the columns.

Share your answers in the comment section. 

More from us:

For practice, attempt the quiz based on this daily wordlist from the link below to enhance your exam preparation: Vocabulary Quiz, Click here to attempt!

You can also check the wordlist articles for the previous days from the link below: Shape Up your Vocabulary from Newspaper Wordlist

That was your Vocabulary dose for the day. 

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