Shape Up your Vocabulary from Newspaper Wordlist: 3rd May 2021

Vocabulary plays a very important role in enhancing your communication skills, be it written or spoken. As you glance through the newspaper every day, you come across a number of new words. Your reading exercise is impeded if you do not understand the meaning of a word, or its meaning in a given context. Such challenges could be overcome by inculcating a sound habit of reading. The habit lets you encounter something new every day in the form of words, the meaning of which you were unaware of.

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.

Long and tortuous: On West Bengal Assembly elections

Important Words from the Article

1. Word: Tortuous(पेचीदा)

• Pronunciation: tawr-choo-uhs/ टॉर्चूअस
• Part of Speech: Adjective 
• Meaning: 
  a. full of twists, turns, or bends; twisting, winding, or crooked:
  b. not direct or straightforward, as in procedure or speech; circuitous:
• Synonyms: twisting, convoluted, meandering
• Antonyms: direct, straight, easy
• Usage in a sentence: The tortuous path to the hilltop was filled with adventures.

2. Word: Agonize(बहुत ही चिंतित रहना)

• Pronunciation: ag-uh-nahyz/ ऐगनाइज़
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning:
  a. to suffer extreme pain or anguish; be in agony.
  b. to put forth great effort of any kind.
• Synonyms: Worry, fret, fuss
• Antonyms: comfort, calm, delight
• Usage in a sentence: All the aspirants were agonizing as the results approached.

 3. Word: Stagger(डगमगाना)

• Pronunciation: stag-er/ स्टैगर 
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: 
  a. to walk, move, or stand unsteadily.
  b. to falter or begin to give way, as in an argument or fight.
• Synonyms: stumble, totter, reel 
• Antonyms: steady, stable, balanced
• Usage in a sentence: The Joker was staggering on the rope but he still kept his balance.

4. Word: Allege (बिना सबूत के आरोप लगाना)

• Pronunciation: uh-lej/ अलेज
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Meaning:
  a. to assert without proof.
  b. to declare with positiveness; affirm; assert:
• Synonyms: claim, assert, declare
• Antonyms: dissent, deny, contradict
• Usage in a sentence: The convict was alleged to have taken part in multiple thefts.
  
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5. Word: Unprecedented(अद्वितीय)

• Pronunciation: uhn-pres-i-den-tid/अन्प्रेसिडेन्टिड
• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning:
  a. without previous instance; never before known or experienced; 
• Synonyms: unparalleled, novel, exceptional
• Antonyms: ordinary, typical, faimilar
• Usage in a sentence: Getting into an IIM with low grades is an unprecedented achievement.

6. Word: Seizure(गिरफ़्त)

• Pronunciation: see-zher /सीश़र
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning:
  a. a taking possession of an item, property, or person legally or by force.
  b. a sudden attack, as of epilepsy or some other disease.
• Synonyms: capture, confiscation, arrest
• Antonyms: release, liberation, discharge
• Usage in a sentence: There was seizure of illegal drugs at the crime scene. 

7. Word: Manipulate(चालाकी से काम निकालना)

• Pronunciation: muh-nip-yuh-leyt/ मनिप्यलेट 
• Part of Speech: Noun 
• Meaning:
  a. to manage or influence skillfully, especially in an unfair manner:
  b. to handle, manage, or use, especially with skill, in some process of treatment or performance:
• Synonyms: maneuver, exploit, manage
• Antonyms: dumbness, unintelligence, mindless
• Usage in a sentence: The magician manipulated the crowd into believing something that never existed. 

8. Word: Herald(संदेशवाहक)

• Pronunciation: her-uhld/ हेरल्ड
• Part of Speech: Noun/ Verb
• Meaning:
  a. (formerly) a royal or official messenger, especially one representing a monarch in an ambassadorial capacity during wartime.
  b. a person or thing that precedes or comes before; forerunner; harbinger:
  c. a person or thing that proclaims or announces:
  d. to give news or tidings of; announce; proclaim:
• Synonyms: harbinger, forerunner, precursor 
• Antonyms: conceal, hide, secret
• Usage in a sentence: A good newspaper should be a herald of truth.

9. Word: Spectacle(चमत्कार)

• Pronunciation: spek-tuh-kuhl/ स्पेक्टकल
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Meaning:
  a. anything presented to the sight or view, especially something of a striking or impressive kind:
  b. a public show or display, especially on a large scale:
• Synonyms: show, marvel, display
• Antonyms: ordinariness, normality, disguise 
• Usage in a sentence: The coronation was a lavish spectacle.

10. Word: Persistent(लगातार)

• Pronunciation: per-sis-tuhnt/पर्सिस्टन्ट
• Part of Speech: Adjective 
• Meaning:
  a. persisting, especially in spite of opposition, obstacles, discouragement, etc.; persevering:
  b. lasting or enduring tenaciously:
• Synonyms: constant, consistent, steady
• Antonyms: lazy, unyielding, irresolute
• Usage in a sentence: Persistent efforts will always bear fruits. 

'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.

• Tortuous
• Agonize
• Stagger
• Allege
• Unprecedented

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!

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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