Outlandish(out-lan-dish)(adjective) :Of or relating to another country; foreign
The author’s award-winning novels are noted for their lush, fantastical settings and outlandish characters.
Hie (hye) (verb) : To go quickly;hasten
Every autumn, we hie ourselves down to the county fair for a day of greasy food and entertainment.
Gossamer (gos-uh-mer) (noun)
1.a fine, filmy cobweb seen on grass or bushes or floating in the air in calm weather, esp. in autumn.
2.any thin, light fabric.
In the sunlight, her hair was like blond gossamer, fine and delicate.
Halcyon (hal-see-uhn) (adj)
1.calm; peaceful; tranquil: halcyon weather.
2.happy; joyful; carefree: halcyon days of youth.
3.of or pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher.
She claimed to have found the ideal cure for her stress-related ills: a quiet weekend in the halcyon atmosphere of a beautiful country town.
Trepidation (trep-i-dey-shuhn) (noun): fear or apprehension, tremor or a sudden, quivering motion
Scooby was trembling with trepidation at the sight of a ghost.
Serried (ser-eed) (adjective): compacted, crowded or packed closely together
People get used to travelling in serried local trains in Mumbai.
Couture (koo-toor):
1)[Noun] The occupation of a couturier; dressmaking and designing
The art of couture is undergoing a radical transformation thanks to the foreign exposure that the Indian designers have received of late.
2)[Adj] Created or produced by a fashion designer; being, having, or suggesting the style, quality, etc., of a fashion designer; very fashionable
We weren’t surprised to see the party goers wearing expensive couture clothes last weekend.
Ambivalence (am-biv-uh-luh ns) (Noun):
1)Uncertainty or fluctuation, esp. when caused by inability to make a choice or by a simultaneous desire to say or do two opposite or conflicting things.
Ambivalence in decision making can have a huge impact on our personal lives.
Muzzle (mu-zul):
1.Prevent from speaking out (Verb)
2.A leather or wire restraint that fits over an animal's snout (especially a dog's nose and jaws) and prevents it from eating or biting (Noun)
The Opposition Janata Dal and Congress dubbed Speaker K.G. Bopaiah's move, under provisions of the anti-defection law, as "a ploy to muzzle democracy".
Mutilate (myoot-leyt) (Verb):
1. Destroy or injure severely
2. Alter so as to make unrecognizable
In terrorism it is all human victims who die or are mutilated horribly for no good cause.
Fete (feyt):
1. (Noun) A day of Celebration; Festive Celebration or Entertainment
Deepavali is a great fete for Hindus
2. (Verb) To entertain or honor with a fete
He decided to throw a party to fete the visiting clients.
Proliferate (pruh-lif-uh-reyt) (Verb) :
To grow or produce by multiplication of parts, as in budding or cell division
Arrest of the tumor cells that proliferate is the ultimate objective of anticancer therapy
Evanescent (ev-uh-nes-uhnt) (adj)
1. Vanishing; fading away.
2. Tending to become imperceptible; scarcely perceptible.
The fashions during these days are so evanescent that you can't hold on to a wardrobe for long.
Pyrrhic (pir-ik) (adj)
1. Successful with heavy losses
2. A victory that is offset by staggering losses
It will be termed as a pyrrhic victory wherein the considerable losses outweigh the gains.
Travesty (trav-uh-stee) (noun):
A parody or grotesque imitation of a work of art that is serious in nature, a crude or ridiculous representation of something serious
The travesty of the classic play was banned.
Skirmish (skur-mish) (noun):
A fight between troops, any brisk dispute or encounter
The police had to intervene as the skirmish among the fans was getting out of hand.
Eponymous (uh-pon-uh-muh s) (Adj):
Indicating the giving of one’s name to a tribe, place, thing etc.
Orkut Buyukkokten, the eponymous founder of the social networking site ‘Orkut’ is known to be one of the youngest millionaires in the world.
Dorsal (dawr-suhl) (Adj):
Of, pertaining to, or situated at the back or dorsum
The dorsal fin of the shark serves as a danger sign that can’t be missed by swimmers!
Garner (gahr-ner) (verb):
a) To gather into storage, accumulate, collect
b) To acquire by effort : earn
Through hard work and a determination to see her students succeed, Ms. Taylor has garnered considerable respect from parents and her fellow teachers.
Minuscule (min-uh-skyool) (adjective) :
very small, (of letters or writing) small; not capital.
As the director of a tiny nonprofit organization, Julie is adept at managing expenses while working within the restraints of a minuscule budget.
Demesne (dih-meyn): noun
1. possession of land as one's own: land held in demesne
2. the dominion or territory of a sovereign or state; domain
With the advent of the Early modern period, demesne lands came to be
cultivated by paid labourers.
Denouement (dey-noo-mahn):–noun
1. the final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as of a drama or novel.
2. the outcome or resolution of a doubtful series of occurrences.
In Shakespeare's tragedies, the denouement is usually the death of one or more characters.
Quack(kwak)(noun):An untrained person who pretends to be a doctor
The patient was surprised to know that his family doctor was actually a quack.
Bucolic(byoo-kol-ik)(adjective):relating to or suggestive of typical rural life
Highly stressed urban executives in cities are increasingly looking at bucolic idylls to spend their holidays.
Desuetude (des-wi-tood) (Noun): The condition of not being in use or practice; disuse
The car had started accumulating rust due to desuetude.
Rumpus (ruhm-puh s) (Noun):
1)A noisy or violent disturbance;commotion;uproar
There was a terrible rumpus going on underneath the large banyan tree after the accident.
2)A heated controversy
The Daily Tribune reported a rumpus over the issue of a financial bond that had affected the company’s shares.
Besot(bi-sot)(Verb):Make dull or muddle with drunkenness or infatuation
The destruction of a peaceful future is the only solace for those besot with jealousy.
Begrudge(bi-gruj)(Verb):
1.To regard with displeasure or disapproval
2.Wish ill or allow unwillingly
In an interview with Bloomberg News, President Obama likened bonuses for Wall Street CEOs to outrageous salaries for athletes, but he said he does not begrudge the bank chiefs for pulling in such hefty sums.
Blithe(blahyth)(Adj):
1.Joyous,Merry,Gay;Glad;Cheerful
2.Without thought or regard; Carefree
Sangeetha always maintains blithe and bubbly attitude.
Discombobulate(dis-kuh-m-bob-yuh-leyt)(Adj):Confusing or perplexing to; Cause to be unable to think clearly; Cause to be confused emotionally;
The speaker was completely discombobulated by the questions from the audience.
Tranquility [trang-kwil-i-tee] (noun):
Quality or state of being tranquil; calmness; peacefulness; quiet; serenity.
It’s an appeal to everybody to help maintain peace, order, harmony and tranquility on and after the Ayodhya verdict day and show the world our true strength.
Ripple [rip-uhl] (noun):
1.a small wave or undulation, as on water.
2.a sound, as of water flowing in ripples: a ripple of laughter.
People usually make ripples on the pond to direct the food toward the ducks.
Brobdingnagian (brob-ding-nag-ee-uhn) (adjective): Of extraordinary size, gigantic, enormous
The dinosaurs shown in the movie Jurassic park were of brobdingnagian proportions.
Sang-froid (sahn-frwa) (noun): calmness, composure or equanimity
The sang-froid displayed by the athlete in the face of imminent defeat at the U.S.Open was commendable.
Maroon (mu-roon)
1.(Verb) Leave stranded or isolated with little hope of rescue
2.(Adjective) Of dark brownish to purplish red
The marooned villagers are reluctant to leave their flooded homes fearing robbers may strike.
Paunchy(ponchee)(Adjective):Having a large belly
Despite dieting and wearing loose clothing, it's difficult for him to hide the fact that he is paunchy.
Orb (awrb) (Noun) : Sphere or Globe; a circle or something circular
The Christmas tree was decorated with brightly colored orbs
Spoof(spoof) (Noun) : A mocking imitation of someone or something, usually light and good-humored
The blockbuster movie was a spoof of politics and politicians.
Entourage (ahn-too-rahzh) –noun :
1. A group of attendants or associates, as of a person of rank or importance:
The opera singer traveled with an entourage of 20 people.
2. Surroundings; environment:
A house with a charming entourage of trees and flowers.
Marshmallow (mahrsh-mel-oh) –noun:
A confection, usually soft and spongy, made from gum arabic or gelatin, sugar, corn syrup, and flavoring.
It was so cold but we made a fire in the barbecue and toasted marshmallows.
Knoll (nohl) (noun): a small, round hill; a hillock
From the knoll, one could see the entire town bathed in brilliant sunshine.
Sacerdotal (sas-er-doht-l) (adjective): priestly or of priesthood, suggestive of or pertaining to sacerdotalism
The sacerdotal emphasis on the authority of priests was unchallenged.
Metaphor (met-uh-fawr) (Noun):
1) A figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance
“A mighty fortress is our God!” is an example of a metaphor.
2) Something used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; symbol
The movie ‘Inception’ is a metaphor for the way in which Christopher Nolan works as a director.
Metronome (me-truh-nohm) (Noun): A mechanical or electrical instrument that makes repeated clicking sounds at an adjustable pace, used for marking rhythm, esp. in practicing music
The metronome used during the annual school function had an interval of 2 seconds.
Twee (twee) (adjective): Affectedly or excessively dainty, delicate, cute, or quaint
I stood in the greeting card section of the store reading through the selections, looking for one that would express my affection and appreciation without being intolerably twee.
Regale (ri-geyl) (verb) : To entertain sumptuously; to feast with delicacies
Mr. Bean regaled the children with his amusing act
Mettle (met-l) (Noun): Courage, Spirit and fortitude; disposition or temperament.
Initial days of the war tested the mettle of both the armies
Scuffle (skuhf-uhl) (Verb) : To struggle or fight in a rough, confused manner, to go or move in hurried confusion.
Students scuffled in to their classroom on hearing the footsteps of the Principal
Fracas (frey-kuhs) (noun): a brawl; noisy argument
The fracas between the players and the referee led to the match being called off.
Profusion (pruh-fyoo-zh-uhn) (noun): abundance or lavish supply, extravagance, lavishness or unrestrained expenses
The Mexican drug lords, who were caught by the police, were found to have money in profusion.
Expiate (ek-spee-eyt) (Verb): To atone for; make amends or reparation for
The Son of Man sacrificed himself to expiate our sins.
Innuendo (in-yoo-en-doh) (Noun): An indirect intimation about a person or thing, esp. of a disparaging or a derogatory nature
The fireman despised the innuendo that they had not responded promptly to the urgent calls made by the residents of the neighbourhood where the fire broke out.
Armageddon (ahr-muh-ged-n) (Noun) : A decisive, catastrophic conflict.
The nuclear armageddon between US and Japan completely devastated the latter.
Brainiac (bray-nee-ak) (Noun) : A very intelligent person
The company employs an army of geeky brainiacs who are devoted to providing the best in computer game graphics and technology.
Plummet (pluhm-it) :
1. (verb) Decline suddenly and deeply; To fall straight down
2. (noun) Something that weighs down or depresses
By the time the accident victim was taken to the hospital , his pulse rate plummeted.
Furbish (fur-bish) (Verb) : To restore to freshness of appearance or good condition; To renovate; To polish
Their ancestral house was furbished and converted into a holiday resort.
Imbue (im-byoo) (verb):
1. To inspire, as with feelings, opinions, etc.
The coach hoped that his pep talk would imbue the team with a sense of confidence before the final game.
2. To saturate with moisture, color, etc.
The new political leader was imbued with the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
Languor (lang-ger) (noun):
1. Lack of energy; sluggishness.
2. Lack of spirit or interest; listlessness; stagnation.
The pace may be a little languid at times, but the film never lost my interest and is fairly suspenseful throughout..
Shenanigan (shuh-nan-i-guhn) (noun): mischief, prankishness, remarks intended to deceive
For his latest shenanigan, he had been suspended for three days from school.
Repartee (rep-er-tee) (noun): a witty and quick or swift reply, a conversation involving witty and quick replies, skill or expertise in repartee
The parrot's repartee was followed by a burst of laughter from the crowd.
Candor (kan-der) (Noun):
1) The state or quality of being frank, open, and sincere in speech or expression; candidness
The candor of the speech impressed the audience.
2) Freedom from bias; fairness; impartiality
The supreme court seems to have considered the issue of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy with candor and this is evident in reopening of the case.
Vitiate (vish-ee-eyt) (Verb):
1) To impair the quality of; make faulty; spoil; debase; corrupt
Adding water is one of the easiest techniques employed by milk vendors to vitiate milk with an intention of increasing their sales.
2) To impair or weaken the effectiveness of; to invalidate (esp. legally)
The young lawyer’s sound defense vitiated the claim of the accuser.
Mire (mir) (Verb):
1. Entrap
2. Be unable to move further
Cricket was mired in a betting scandal once again on Sunday after a British tabloid carried out a sting that allegedly showed two of Pakistan's finest bowlers deliberately bowling no-balls against English batsmen in return for cash.
Mitigate (miti-ge-yt) (Verb):
1. Lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
2. Make less severe or harsh
Microsoft has released software that can be used to mitigate a critical vulnerability in Internet Explorer.
Fret (fret) (Verb): To feel or express Annoyance or worry; to move in agitation or commotion;
Most people fret about every small thing happening in life and fail to enjoy the beauty of life.
Calumniate (kuh-luhm-nee-eyt) (Verb) : Charge falsely or with malicious intent; Slander
The leading newspaper calumniated his reputation.
Denigrate (den-i-greyt) (Verb):
1) To make black; blacken
Rain clouds denigrated the skies last Sunday, here in Bangalore.
2) To speak damagingly of; criticize in a derogatory manner; sully; defame; belittle; disparage; malign, besmirch, traduce
Her boss denigrated her contributions to the project in front of her colleagues.
Discomfit (dis-kuhm-fit) (Verb):
1) To confuse and deject; disconcert; discompose
The speaker was discomfited by the questions of the reporters at the public meeting.
2) To defeat utterly; rout
Almost all the fighters who faced Muhammad Ali at the tournament were discomfited by the legend.
Squeaker (skweeku(r)) (Noun):
1. Something achieved (or escaped) by a narrow margin
2. Any artifact that makes a squeaking sound when used
Arjun Atwal, the first Indian to win on the PGA tour, won by a squeaker, defeating David Toms by just one stroke.
Squelch (skwelch) :
1. (Verb) Suppress or crush completely
2. (Noun) A crushing remark
The overnight rain lies in puddles on the road; the earth squelches softly underfoot.
Vivacious (vi-vey-shuhs) (Adj): lively; full of high spirits and animation;
She was quite popular among her colleagues for her vivacious nature.
Strife (strahyf) (Noun) : Vigorous or bitter conflict; discord; disagreement;
Huge strife rose between the members of parliament when they met to discuss the issues on inflation.
Gambol (gam-buhl) :
1. (verb) To skip about, as in dancing or playing; frolic.
2. (noun) A skipping or frisking about; frolic.
The little boy's mother told him not to gambol in the house.
Riparian (ri-pair-ee-uhn):
1. (adj) Situated or dwelling on the bank of a river or other body of water: riparian villas.
2. (noun) A person who owns land on the bank of a natural watercourse or body of water.
Occasional windows at the southern end permit small patches of riparian vegetation, mostly Common Reed.
Hieroglyphic (hahy-er-uh-glif-ik) (noun, adjective):
1)a script comprising pictures and symbols instead of alphabets(n)
2)pertaining to a pictorial script, inscribed with hieroglyphic symbols(adj.)
He was taken on the team of pyramid explorers because of his knowledge of hieroglyphics.
Paleontologist (pal-ee-uhn-tol-uh-jist) (noun): an expert who has studied the fossil remains of prehistoric plants, animals, and other organisms
The character of Ross Geller in the famed comedy, "Friends", was a paleontologist.
Bestial (bes-chuh l) (Adj):
1) Of, pertaining to, or having the form of a beast
Many of the native American tribes firmly uphold the belief that a person could assume bestial form after death.
2) Without reason or intelligence; brutal; inhuman; savage
The new warden of the Lompoc penitentiary was appalled to see the bestial treatment being given to the prisoners there.
Pogrom (puh-gruhm) (Noun):
A massacre or persecution instigated by the government or by the ruling class against a minority group, particularly Jews
The pogroms that started in Russia during the reign of the czars claimed the life of thousands of innocent Jews.
Wane (weyn) (noun) : A gradual decrease or decline in strength, intensity, power, etc.
The exhausted firefighters take a break as their aerial support dumps a ton of water on the waning wild fire.
Absolution (ab-suh-loo-shuhn) (noun) : Act of absolving; a freeing from blame or guilt; release from consequences, obligations, or penalties.
The man went to church seeking absolution for his everyday offenses.
Suave (swahv) (Adj): Sophistication in manner or attitude; Polite; Smoothly agreeable.
She moved around the party hall in suave manner and thus received lots of admiring looks.
Haughty (haw-tee) (Adj) : Disdainfully proud; Snobbish.
He is a rough and haughty man who treats his employees with disregard.
Parlance (PAHR-luhns) (noun):
1. A way or manner of speaking; vernacular; idiom: legal parlance.
2. Speech, esp. a formal discussion or debate.
In cricketing parlance ' bowling ' is the delivery of the ball to the batsman.
Appurtenance (uh-PUR-tn-uhns) (noun):A possession or piece of property that is considered to be a typical feature of a particular way of living
Books and CDs are among the appurtenances of student life.
Penurious (puh-noor-ee-uhs) (adjective):destitute, indigent or impoverished
The shelter provided food for the penurious urchins.
Perfidy (per-fi-dee) (noun): intentional breach of trust, an act of treachery, infidelity
The cabinet of ministers agreed unanimously that the no perfidy must go unpunished.
Gilded (gil-did) (Adj):
1) Covered or highlighted with gold or something of a golden color
The gilded bricks that were stolen from the Italian bank had a lot of demand in the underground market.
2) Having a pleasing appearance that conceals something of little worth
Gold plated ornaments can literally be called little more than gilded trinkets.
Vulpine (vuhl-pahyn) (Adj):
1) Of or resembling a fox
Wolves, coyotes and jackals are generally not considered to be a part of the vulpine family of ‘true foxes’.
2) Cunning or crafty
The New Zealand batsmen fell for the vulpine strategies of their Australian rivals.
Futile (fyoot-ul) (Adjective):
1. Producing no result or effect
2. Unproductive of success
It would be a futile attempt to estimate our final gains at the present time.
Endeavor (en'devu(r)) (Verb):Attempt by employing effort; To strive to achieve or reach
After the NY marathon, Lance Armstrong, 7 time Tour De France winner, humbly admitted that the race was his hardest physical endeavor.
Edify (ed-uh-fahy) (verb): To instruct, esp. morally or spiritually; Enlighten.
A preacher's responsibility is to edify his pupil.
Squib (skwib) (noun) : Short and witty or sarcastic saying or writing.
Edgar Wilson Nye, a noted American journalist, was popular for his humorous squibs.
Petrichor [pet-ri-kuhr] (noun): The pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell
Rain brings out the child in me and petrichor brings back the memories.
Redolent [red-l-uhnt ] (adjective)
1. Odorous or smelling (usually fol. by of): redolent of garlic.
2. Suggestive; reminiscent (usually fol. by of): verse redolent of Shakespeare.
All gorse flowers have a rich perfume redolent of the coconut chips sweets of our childhood.
Extirpate (ek-ster-peyt) (Verb):
1) To remove or destroy totally; do away with; exterminate
In the movie ‘Terminator’, Arnold plays the role of an unstoppable and almost indestructible cyborg who is sent back from the future to extirpate the leader of the human resistance.
2) To pull up by or as if by the roots; root up
While treating a flesh wound, doctors generally extirpate all the hair follicles on the skin.
Proclivity (proh-kliv-i-tee) (Noun):
1) Natural or habitual inclination or tendency; propensity; predisposition; bent; leaning
Vin had a proclivity to extreme sports since a very early age.
Orchestrate (orku-streyt) (Verb):
1. Plan and direct (a complex undertaking)
2. Write an orchestra score for
To a question on the current cycle of violence in the valley, Abdullah said no particular group was in a position to orchestrate the violence.
Oust (awst) (Verb):
1. Remove from a position or office
2. Remove and replace
The chairman was ousted after he misappropriated funds.
Fulsome (fuhl-suhm) (adj) : Excessively flattering; Insincere;
Her appreciation was embarrassingly fulsome.
Inept (in-ept) (adj) : Lacking sense, reason or aptitude; Generally Incompetent.
The new Chairman’s inept leadership led to the downfall of the organization.
Busticate [BUHS-ti-keyt] (verb): To break into pieces
A security contest is being held by Google to try and busticate their native client code.
Absquatulate [ab-skwoch-uh-leyt] (verb): To flee, abscond
The old prospector absquatulated with our picks and shovel.
Indoctrinate (in-dok-truh-neyt) (verb): to instruct in a principle or ideology, to teach or impress upon, to influence with an ideological point of view
The professor indoctrinated the students with his principles.
Colossal (kuh-los-uhl) (adjective): of enormous size
Egypt is well known for its colossal pyramids.
Surly (sur-lee) (Adj): Churlishly rude or bad-tempered; hostile; menacingly irritable; irascible; gruff
The old landlady was in a surly mood and when the kids asked if they could have their football back, she stuck out her tongue at them and told them to forget it.
Avant garde (uh-vahnt-gahrd):
1) (Noun) The advanced group in any field, esp. in the visual, literary, or musical arts, whose works are characterized chiefly by unorthodox and experimental methods
The Tripoli theater house is truly avant garde in the usage of mime.
2) (Adj) Of or pertaining to the experimental treatment of artistic, musical, or literary material
Avant garde cinema sometimes almost touches the boundaries of surrealism.
Asperity (uh-spair-uh-tee) (noun) : Harshness or sharpness of tone, temper, or manner; severity;
When asked to make a contribution, Roger glared and said with asperity, "I gave at the office."
Conn (kahn) (verb) : To conduct or direct the steering of (as a ship).
The captain successfully conned his ship through the ice-packed waters.
Metamorphosis (met-uh-mawr-fuh-sis) (noun):
1. A complete change of form, structure, or substance.
2. (Biology) A profound change in form from one stage to the next in the life history of an organism.
Due to the large change from larval to adult form, the insects are said to undergo complete or complex metamorphosis.
Tranche (trä n sh) (noun):
1. A portion of something (especially money).
2. (Economics/Finance) A portion or installment, esp. of a loan or share issue.
The project was organized to deliver the first tranche of object records by April.
Impedimenta (im-ped-uh-men-tuh) (noun): Baggage or other things that retard one's progress.
The terrorists were stripped off their impedimenta at the airport.
Acedia (uh-see-dee-uh) (noun): Sloth, Laziness or indifference in religious matters.
Five thousand people yawning in their cars intimidated by the cops and bored to acedia by the chant of the politicians.
Caprice (kuh-prees) (Noun):
1)A sudden, unpredictable action, change, or series of actions or changes
A hailstorm in July is a caprice of nature.
2) A tendency to change one's mind without apparent or adequate motive; whimsicality; vagary; fancy
With the caprice of a despotic king, he alternated between kindness and cruelty.
Pristine (pris-teen) (Adj):
1) Having its original purity; uncorrupted or unsullied; undefiled; untouched; free from dirt or decay
The tourists were enchanted by the pristine beauty of lake Moraigne.
2) Of, relating to, or typical of the earliest time or condition; primitive or original
The giant sequoia trees found in some parts of America possess some of the most pristine microscopic life forms in the world.
Inception (in-sep-shun) (Noun):
1. An event that is a beginning; a first part or stage of subsequent events.
Since the program's inception, over 2,40,000 students have participated.
Stupefied (s(y)-toopu-fI-d) (Adjective):
1. As if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise.
2. In a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock.
Pavan was stupefied with astonishment after seeing his cubicle decorations on his birthday.
Cohere (koh-heer) (verb): To stick together; be united; hold fast.
"I learned to slip back and forth between my black and white worlds, understanding that each possessed its own language and customs and structures of meaning, convinced that with a bit of translation on my part the two worlds would eventually cohere." – Barack Obama
Ebullient (ih-buhl-yuh nt) (Adj): Overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited.
The award winner was in an ebullient mood at the dinner in her honor.
Cranky (KRANG-kee) (adj):
1. Ill-tempered; grouchy; cross
I'm always cranky when I don't get enough sleep.
2. Strange and unusual
She's a member of a group that promotes cranky ideas about food and exercise.
Comeuppance (kuhm-UHP-uhns) (adj):
A punishment or retribution that one deserves.
He finally got his comeuppance for his misbehavior.
Transpire (tran-spahyr) (verb): to occur, take place, to emit or give off (waste matter, watery vapor, an odor, etc.)
He made a note of everything that transpired in the courtroom.
Tourniquet (tur-ni-kit) (noun): A device, typically a tightly encircling bandage, used to check bleeding by temporarily stopping the flow of blood through a large artery in a limb.
The aim of applying a tourniquet is to block the flow of blood in the veins going back to the heart.
Dipsomaniac (dip-suh-mey-nee-ak) (Noun):
1) A person with an irresistible craving for alcoholic drink; drunkard
Dipsomaniacs often find themselves in rather embarrassing situations after indulging themselves excessively.
Concomitant (kon-kom-i-tuh nt):
1) (Adj) Existing or occurring with something else, often in a lesser way; accompanying; concurrent
The accident and the concomitant circumstances in which it occurred were investigated thoroughly by the police.
2) (Noun) A concomitant quality, circumstance, or thing
The musical instruments played during the synchronized swimming event acted as the concomitants for the other events too.
Factotum (fak-toh-tuhm) (noun) : A person, as a handyman or servant, employed to do all kinds of work around the house.
William, our factotum, is a thoughtful and kind boy.
Parol (puh-rohl) (noun) :by word of mouth; orally.
The court considered the parol evidence by the witness in a corruption case.
Gizmo (giz-moh) (noun): A mechanical device or part whose name is forgotten or unknown; a gadget.
The new search facility has a neat little slider gizmo that lets you filter further still.
Vivify (viv-uh-fahy) (verb):
1. To make alive; to animate.
2. To make more lively or intense.
His remarks always vivify an otherwise dull story.
Lucid (LOO-sid) (adj): Clearly expressed and easy to understand or (of a person) thinking or speaking clearly
She gave a clear and lucid account of her plans for the company's future.
Squalid (SKWOL-id) (adj):
1. Foul and repulsive, as from lack of care or cleanliness; neglected and filthy.
2. Wretched; miserable; degraded; sordid.
People living in squalid places is a common sight in Indian cities.
Spangle (spang-guhl) (noun): a small circular piece of glittering metal or other material, any small, bright drop, spot
The room looked bright due to the sparkle and spangle of her evening gown.
Extradition (ek-struh-dish-uhn) (noun): the surrender of an alleged fugitive from justice by one state, nation, or authority to another
India is determined to seek the extradition of the Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley from United States.
Velodrome (vee-luh-drohm) (Noun): A sports arena equipped with a banked track for cycling
The next Olympics will feature state of art velodromes where some of the top cyclists of the world will battle it out for glory.
Legion (lee-juhn):
1) [Noun] The major unit of the Roman army consisting of 3,000 to 6,000 infantry troops and 100 to 200 cavalry troops; an army
The Roman legion had lain waste to many a great city of the world during its prime.
2) [Adj] Any great number of persons or things; multitude
The holy man's faithful followers were legion.
Nescient (NESH-uhnt) (adjective): Lacking knowledge or awareness.
I am not nescient to the ills of Indian society and India's history.
Esurient (i-SOOR-ee-uhnt) (adjective) : Hungry; greedy.
Rising land values have drawn droves of esurient developers
Manacle (MAN-uh-kuhl) (adj):
1. (noun) A shackle for the hand; handcuff.
2. (verb) To hamper; restrain
The poor performance in World Cup clearly showed that the English football team was manacled by the pressure created by the expectations of their fans.
Lurid (LOOR-id) (adj):
1. Causing shock or horror; gruesome. Marked by sensationalism.
2. Lighted or shining with an unnatural, fiery glow. Too brightly colored
That's a very lurid shade of lipstick she's wearing.
Whelp (welp) (noun): the young of any mammal, a despised youth or an impudent young person
The lioness watched over her whelps as they playfully tumbled in the grass.
Interregnum (in-ter-reg-nuhm) (noun): an interval of time between the close of a sovereign's reign and the accession of a legitimate successor
After the king’s death, there was an interregnum of a month before the prince was officially crowned.
Stultify (stuhl-tuh-fahy) (Verb):
1) To make, or cause to appear, foolish or ridiculous.
The bank robber’s clever escape left the cops stultified in front of the crowd that had gathered at the scene.
2) To render absurdly or wholly futile or ineffectual, esp. by frustrating means; cripple, impede, frustrate, hinder, thwart
Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were finally able to reach the summit of Mount Everest after facing several stultifying problems offered by the sheer incline of the north face of the mountain.
Dunce (duhns) (Noun):
1) A dull-witted, stupid, or ignorant person; dolt, dullard, numbskull, blockhead, ignoramus, nincompoop, ninny
Being a dunce at school, he often had to suffer punishments given to him by the teachers.
Resilient (ri-zilyunt) (Adjective):
1. Recovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like
2. Elastic; rebounds readily
He is likely to keep faith with Torres alongside Villa in a two pronged attack as the Spanish seek to become the first team to score against the resilient Portuguese at this world cup.
Retort (ri-tort) :
1. (Verb)Answer back
2. (Noun) A quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one).
Indeed some of the retorts made by government officials whenever this topic is brokered appear to be purely a tactic of obfuscation.
Jocular (JOK-yuh-ler) (adj):
1. Funny or intended to make someone laugh.
We passed the night making jocular comments about opera stars.
2. Describes someone who is happy and likes to make jokes.
Michael was in a very jocular mood at the party.
Inveigle (in-VEY-guhl) (verb): To persuade someone to do something in a clever and dishonest way, when they do not want to do it.
Her son tried to inveigle her into giving him the money for a car.
Troth (trawth) (noun): faithfulness, fidelity or a pledge of fidelity, truth or verity, a person's promise, to pledge or betroth
It was his troth to marry her on his return from the crusade.
Benediction (ben-i-dik-shuhn) (noun): a blessing or an expression good wishes, the invocation of divine blessing or the blessing pronounced by an officiating minister
The old man’s benediction was misinterpreted by the ignorant villagers as a curse because he spoke with a lisp.
Crony (kroh-nee) (Noun):
1) A close friend or companion; chum; buddy
Over the years, the dog has proved to be man’s best crony.
Ricochet (rik-uh-shey):
1) [Noun] The motion of an object or a projectile in rebounding or deflecting one or more times from the surface over which it is passing or against which it hits a glancing blow
The ricochet of the tennis ball took a lot of time to die down after being bounced on one of the walls of a small room with a lot of speed.
2) [Verb] To move in this way, as a projectile; rebound; deflect; glance
The ball ricocheted off the wall towards us.
Congeries (kon-jeer-eez) (noun): A collection of items or parts in one mass; assemblage; aggregation; heap
From the airplane the town resembled a congeries of tiny boxes.
Shambles (sham-buh l) (noun): A state of great disorder; A scene of carnage; A slaughterhouse.
The Tax Credit system has become a complete shambles.
Fathom (fath -uh m) (verb):
1. To penetrate to the truth of; comprehend; understand
2. To measure the depth of; sound
We simply could not fathom the reasons why the rule was axed.
Indemnity (in-dem-ni-tee) (noun):
1. Protection or security against damage or loss.
2. Compensation for damage or loss sustained.
The government paid the family an indemnity for the missing pictures.
Somnambulate (som-nam-byuh-leyt) (Verb):
1) To walk during sleep; sleepwalk
His habit of somnambulating at night once made him fall into a muddy ditch!
Eidetic (ahy-det-ik) (Adj):
1) Of, pertaining to, or constituting visual imagery vividly experienced and readily reproducible with great accuracy and in great detail.
People with eidetic memories are capable of astounding feats of recalling information.
Immaculate (i-ma-kyu-lut) (Adjective):
1. Perfectly clean; without a spot or stain; unsoiled
2. Perfectly correct; without a flaw, fault, or error
The Park has beautiful landscaped gardens and facilities which can only be described as immaculate.
Somniferous (som-ni-furus) (Adjective):
1. Sleep inducing
2. Soporific
The prescribed medication had a somniferous effect.
Cusp (kuhsp) (Noun):
1) The zodiacal degree that marks the beginning of a house or a sign
Being born in a cusp is generally considered to be lucky.
2) A point that marks the beginning of a change
Mankind now, is standing on the cusp of a new era – one that is moulded by alternative energy resources.
Talisman (tal-is-muhn) (Noun):
1) A stone, ring, or other object, engraved with figures or characters supposed to possess occult powers and worn as an amulet or charm
The talisman kept the sorcerer safe during his voyage into hostile lands.
2) Anything whose presence exercises a remarkable or powerful influence on human feelings or actions
Even though their talismanic striker Didier Drogba is injured, Ivory Coast still has plenty of firepower to overcome or at least draw with the Brazilians.
Ebullition(eb-uh-lish-uh n) (Noun):
1. Seething or overflowing, as of passion or feeling; (sudden and violent) outburst; effusion; blowup
A cupful of superheated water might appear calm when stationary but even the slightest of disturbances can cause an ebullition so powerful that it becomes a danger to any person in a vicinity of three feet.
2. The state of being ebullient i.e. overflowing with fervour, enthusiasm or excitement; being high-spirited; ecstatic
Sid’s ebullition knew no bounds when he came to realize that his home made particle accelerator was actually capable of generating dark matter.
Spiel(speel) (Noun): A usually high-flown or extravagant talk or speech, esp. for the purpose of luring people to a movie, a sale, etc.; pitch
Even after the theater was filled, the lobbyists kept up with their spiel hoping to gather customers for the next show.
Rubric (roo-brik) (noun): a title, heading or note in a manuscript printed in red to distinguish it from the rest of the text, protocol or an established procedure or mode of conduct
The manuscript was completed but the author wanted to coin a catchy rubric for the novel.
Illimitable (ih-lim-i-tuh-buhl) (adjective): limitless or having no limit, infinite not able to be contained within a limit
Earth, stars, and the vastness of space present an illimitable universe, which never ceases to amaze us.
Scrumptious(skrump-shus) (Adjective): Extremely pleasing to the sense of taste
If you are craving for some scrumptious juicy mangoes this summer, then Lalbagh is where you should head to.
Bedlam (bed-luhm) (noun): A scene of wild uproar and confusion
The puzzle boxes are easy, compared to the bedlam retro cube which is still puzzling us.
Doula (doo-luh) (noun): A woman experienced in childbirth who provides advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth.
A postpartum doula typically begins providing care in the home after the birth.
Baksheesh (bak-sheesh) (noun): Payment (as a tip or bribe) to expedite service.
Baksheesh is a term used to describe tipping, charitable giving, and certain forms of political corruption and bribery in the Middle East and South Asia.
Stupefy (stoo-puh-fahy) (Verb):
1) To put into a state of little or no sensibility; benumb the faculties of; put into a stupor
Abhilash was stupefied by the excess anesthesia that was used during the surgery.
2) To overwhelm with amazement; astound; astonish; stun; besot; bewilder
George Bush was stupefied by an Iraqi reporter who threw shoes at him during a press conference.
Revenant (rev-uh-nuh nt) (Noun):
A person who returns as a spirit after death; ghost
In the ‘Warcraft’ storyline, undead revenants terrorize the civilian population in the lands of Lordaeron.
Locum (noun) (LOH-kuhm): A person filling in for another, especially for a doctor or clergyman.
Health authority says they're now able to offer higher rates for locums at rural hospitals to fill vacant shifts..
McKenzie (noun) (muh-KEN-zee): Someone who attends a court trial as an adviser to one of the parties. This person works not as a legal representative, but as an informal adviser. Also known as a "McKenzie friend".
A measure, of benefit to women especially, would be to permit the litigant to have a McKenzie friend in the course of the case.
Renegade (ren-i-geyd) (noun): A person who abandons a party, movement, etc. and goes over to the other side; traitor; turncoat.
China considers Taiwan a renegade province that must be united with the mainland by force if necessary.
Epoch (ep-uh k) (noun):
1. The beginning of a distinctive period in the history of anything.
2. A particular period of time marked by distinctive features or events.
His paper, published in 1847, marked an epoch in the history of natural science.
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