VOCABULARY-BUILDER: VA 1.

1
Chapter 1: The Dawn
(Student’s Working Copy)
VOCABULARY

1. strident: adj. core sense 1: (of a sound) loud, harsh, or shrill; grating: his voice had become increasingly strident
core sense 2: presenting a point of view, esp. a controversial one, in an excessively forceful manner; pushy,
assertive, or insistent in manner: public pronouncements on the crisis became less strident
2. quietude: noun [U] (literary) a state of stillness, calmness, and quiet in a person or place
3. relentless: adj. core sense: unceasingly intense, persistent; unyielding, unfaltering: their relentless pursuit of quality
sub sense: harsh or inflexible: a relentless enemy
4. jibe: noun an insulting or mocking remark; a taunt: a jibe at his old rivals
verb [no obj.] make insulting or mocking remarks; jeer: some cynics in the media might jibe
5. discord: noun [U] core sense: disagreement between people: a prosperous family who showed no signs of discord
sub sense: lack of agreement or harmony between things: the discord between indigenous and
Western cultures
verb [no obj.] be different (of things): the party’s views were apt to discord with those of the leading members of
the government

6. exasperated
7. rhetorical question (see Figures of Speech)
8. impiety
9. cacophony
10. prop
11. cantankerously
12. undaunted
13. blatant
14. wry
15. parry
16. parsimonious
17. savoir faire (see Foreign Expressions)
18. felicitations
19. apprise (see Confusibles)
20. flabbergasted
21. delusional
22. exultation
23. barge
24. din
25. barb
26. exhilaration
27. loath
28. jaunt
29. sardonically
30. exude
1
31. exotic
32. abashed
33. prowess
34. elation
35. surfeit
36. boisterous
37. absolve
38. procrastination
39. incompetence
40. excursion
41. crestfallen
42. assuage
43. mundane (see Multiple Usage)
44. odyssey (see Interesting Word Origins)
45. paraphernalia
46. contain
47. reverie
48. swashbuckling (see Interesting Word Origins)
49. debonair
50. aka: abbreviation for ‘also known as’: Sharukh Khan aka the king of Bollywood
51. reclusive
52. magnum opus (see Foreign Expressions)
53. patriarchal
54. rendezvous (see Foreign Expressions)
55. incense (see Multiple Usage)
56. respite
57. indolence
58. lackadaisical
59. bedazzling
60. feign
61. nonchalance
62. mammoth
63. milling
64. prodigious
65. promenade
66. brusquely
67. nonplussed
68. motley

2
 69. cynical (see Interesting Word Origins)
70. chide
71. expletive
72. decimate (see Interesting Word Origins)
73. scathing
74. remonstration
75. diffident
76. unwittingly
77. grandeur
78. quixotic (see Interesting Word Origins)
79. aberration
80. lackey
81. au revoir (see Foreign Expressions)
82. entourage
83. appeasement
84. flourish (see Multiple Usage)
85. mollify
86. intriguing
87. enigma
88. curt
89. pensive
90. valise
91. manifest (see Multiple Usage)
92. banter
93. astound
94. robust
95. archetype
96. demeanor
97. beam
98. laconically (see Interesting Word Origins)
99. utopia
100.exigency

IDIOMS/IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
1. what tidings do you have
2. quick on the uptake
3. to dance a little jig
4. to hit the jackpot
5. to have the time of my life
6. to be beside oneself with joy

3
 7. a dark horse
8. to prove his mettle
9. the order of the day
10. ‘D’ day
11. to be in seventh heaven
12. to be no pushover
13. to do the disappearing act
14. to shrug one’s shoulders
15. to have seen better days
16. to make several heads turn
17. stiff upper lip

PHRASAL VERBS
1. blurt out
2. drink in
3. sink in
4. hover around

SYNONYM-ANTONYM MATRICES: Exploring Variety of Synonyms for Simple Ideas & Common Feelings

The Idea of PRAISING versus The Idea of CRITICISING

PRAISE PRAISE CRITICISE CRITICISE
Approve Panegyric Malign Reprove
Credit Homage Rebuke Deplore
Endorse Tribute Disapprove Opprobrious
Applause Accolades Reprehensible Excoriate
Respect Exalt Belittle Vituperate
Award Extol Censure Obloquy
Acclaim Adulation Condemn Chide
Eulogise Kudos Discredit Castigate
Extol Rhapsodise Impute Chastise
Laud Emblazon Animadvert Revile
Approbation Proclaim Asperse Fulminate Against
Commendation Paean Deprecate Derogate
Sanction Depreciate Flay
Accredit Detract Pillory
Plaudit Disparage Scarify
Honour Slander Execrate
Regard Libel Receive Flax
Reverence Vilify Pass

4
Veneration Harangue Strictures
Deference Tirade Hatchet Job
Consideration Diatribe Reprobate
Esteem Philippic Denounce
Encomium Reproach Brickbat

HOME ASSIGNMENT: Prepare Synonym-Antonym Matrices for the following pairs of opposing ideas or feelings:
1. HAPPY—SAD
2. LAZY—HARDWORKING
3. POLITE—RUDE
4. MEAN—GENEROUS
5. HATE—LIKE

SYNONYM TREES: Learning to Narrow Down to the Precise Word

The Idea of SHYNESS

SHY: core sense 1 SHY: core sense 2 SHY: core sense 3
Hanging back from full participation An absence of assertiveness, a lack of A lack of ease in the society of others,
or full assent vanity or presumption or fearfulness in facing new
experiences
Balk Modest Timid
Demur Humble Bashful
Recoil Unassuming Coy
Scruple Meek Diffident
Shirk Retiring Faint-hearted
Shrink Unpretentious Submissive
Reserved Timorous
Self-effacing Abashed
Reticent Embarrassed
Tremulous

SYNONYM SPECTRUM: Ordering Synonyms According to their Tone or Intensity

From mild, favourable, or sympathetic—through neutral—to extreme, unfavourable, or hostile

Thinness Poverty Stupidity Carefulness Meanness Modesty Friendliness Politeness
Slim Poorly off Slow Careful Penny-wise Modest Friendly Polite
Slender Hard up Unintelligent Thoughtful Thrifty Demure Affable Courteous
Svelte A bit Unperceptiv Thorough Economical Retiring Amiable Mannerly
pressed e
Sylph-like Strapped Dull Attentive Prudent Reserved Congenial Respectful
Thin Short Vacant Heedful Canny Undemonstrativ Convivial Civil

5
 e
Lean Out of Gormless Conscientiou Frugal Unassuming Genial Well-bred
pocket s
Sight Skint Stupid Mindful Sparing Humble Agreeable Gallant
Spare Broke Dense Vigilant Parsimoniou Unobtrusive Chummy Genteel
s
Skinny Needy Obtuse Cautious Mean Self-effacing Hail-fellow- Decorous
well-met
Meager Insolvent Thick Chary Scrimping Bashful Doting Gracious
Spindly Impecuniou Bovine Prudent Penny- Coy Complaisant Refined
s pinching
Scrawny Pauperized Dim-witted Painstaking Cheese- Shrinking Overwhelmin Courtly
paring g
Wizened Destitute Imbecilic Methodical Tight-fisted Embarrassed Smothering Suave
Gaunt Penurious Hare- Scrupulous Miserly Timorous Stifling Acquiescent
brained
Pinched Indigent Moronic Finicky Stingy Sheepish Ingratiating Complaisan
t
Emaciated Beggared Cretinous Fussy Niggardly Shamefaced Saccharin Toadyish
Anorexic Witless Fastidious Tremulous Unctuous ingratiating
Cadaverou Brainless Punctilious Fawning Fawning
s
Skeletal Meticulous Sycophantic Sycophantic

CHOOSE THE RIGHT WORD: Understanding Contextual Usage

1. relentless, remorseless, ruthless, pitiless
These words all apply to people or processes that are not affected by anyone’s wishes or entreaties. They differ chiefly in the
extent to which they emphasize continuing activity or the attitude with which it is carried out.
 A relentless action or process cannot be stopped (the relentless march of rainforest destruction) and is unvaryingly
intense or severe (the ships are subjected to relentless air attack). When applied to a person, it means ‘inflexible or
uncompromising’ but does not necessarily imply a lack of pity or humanity (a patient but relentless taskmaster).
 Remorseless is used of a process that will not be stopped or deflected however great the suffering or distress it causes
(the company continued the remorseless retrenchment drive). When used of a person, the word marks them out as having
no regret or guilt about the distress they have caused (a remorseless killer).
 A ruthless person has no pity or compassion for others (ruthless terrorists murdered a child yesterday) and is usually
determined to continue regardless (Mayawati is an astute and ruthless political operator).
 Whereas a ruthless person is without pity for anyone in pursuit of some goal, the emphasis of pitiless, a rarer word, is on
a more intrinsic absence of pity itself (his cold pitiless voice).
2. sarcastic, caustic, sardonic, ironic
3. flourish, thrive, prosper
4. lazy, idle, indolent
5. brusque, abrupt, curt, terse
6. assuage, alleviate, allay

MULTIPLE USAGE: Understanding Unfamiliar Usage of Simple Words

1. mundane: adj. core sense 1: (often disapproving) lacking interest or excitement; dull: his mundane humdrum existence
6
 core sense 2: of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one: Jung’s own sacrifice of mundane
goals was the abandonment of his academic career
2. flourish: verb core sense: (no obj.) grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way; develop rapidly or successfully: wild plants
flourish on the banks of the lake; the organisation has continued to flourish
noun core sense: a bold and extravagant gesture or action, made especially to attract attention; with a flourish, she
ushered them inside
3. manifest: adj. clear or obvious to the eye or mind: her manifest charm and proven ability
verb (with obj.) core sense: show a quality or feeling by one’s acts or appearance: she manifested signs of severe
depression
sub sense: be evidence of; prove: bad industrial relations are often manifested in strikes
4. incense: noun [U] a gum, spice, or other substance that is burned for the sweet smell it produces: the aromatic smell of
burning incense wafted from the temple
verb [with obj.] make very angry : locals are incensed by the suggestion of an SEZ adjoining their villages

CONFUSIBLES: Avoiding Confusion Between Lookalikes, Soundalikes, False Friends, Etc.

1. apprise, appraise: Take care not to confuse these two verbs. To appraise means ‘to evaluate, estimate the worth of: The
valuer appraised the painting; It was difficult to appraise their contribution. To apprise is a formal word meaning little more
than ‘to tell, to notify’. It often occurs in the passive and is almost always followed by the preposition of: We were apprised of
the facts behind the dispute.
2. allusion, delusion, illusion
3. blatant, flagrant
4. elate, exalt, exult
5. exotic, exquisite

INTERESTING WORD ORIGINS: Helping to Fix the Meaning of the Word in Your Mind
1. laconic: adj. (of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words, concise, terse: his laconic reply suggested a lack
of interest in the topic
ORIGIN: derived from the name of a place Laconia, Sparta whose inhabitants (the Spartans) were men of action
and few words.
2. odyssey: noun (pl. odysseys) a long and eventful journey or experience: his odyssey from military man to politician
ORIGIN: From Iliad and Odyssey, both Greek epic poems, traditionally ascribed to Homer. Iliad describes how
Achilles killed Hector at the climax of the Trojan War. Odyssey describes the travels of Odysseus during years
of wandering after the Trojan War. He eventually returned home to Ithaca and killed the suitors who had plagued
his wife Penelope during his absence.
3. quixotic: adj. extremely idealistic; unrealistic and impractical: a vast and perhaps quixotic project
ORIGIN: From Don Quixote the hero of a romance (1605-15) by Cervantes, a satirical account of chivalric
beliefs and conduct. The character of Don Quixote is typified by a romantic vision and naïve, unworldly
idealism.
4. decimate: verb [with obj.] core sense: kill, destroy, or remove a large proportion of (something): the inhabitants of that
country have been decimated
sub sense: drastically reduce the strength or effectiveness of (something): public transport has
been decimated
ORIGIN: Historically, the meaning of the word decimate is ‘kill one in every ten of (a group of people,
originally a mutinous Roman legion) as punishment for the whole group. This sense has been more or less totally
superseded by the more general sense given above.
5. cynical: adj. believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity; marked by
an attitude of pessimistic disillusionment, especially about people’s hidden ulterior motives: he was brutally
cynical and hardened to every sob story under the sun
ORIGIN: From an early Greek school of philosophy Cynicism founded by Antisthenes, a disciple of Socrates.
The name is related to the Greek kyon for dog. The early Cynics advocated a simple and austere life and that

7
 nothing natural was shameful; and declared kinship with all living creatures. They lived on the streets and in the
open sharing food and abode with street dogs. Hence its derivation from the Greek word for dog.
6. swashbuckling: adj. engaging in daring and romantic adventures with bravado or flamboyance: the pirates of the Caribbean
are a crew of swashbuckling buccaneers
ORIGIN: From swash (in the sense ‘make a noise like swords clashing or beating on shields’) + buckler (a small
round shield held by a handle or worn on the forearm).
FIGURES OF SPEECH: Bringing Brightness and Buoyancy to Language
1. rhetorical question: a question asked for effect or to convey information rather than to elicit an answer. It is used primarily
for stylistic effect, and is a very common device in public speaking— especially when the speaker is trying to work up the
emotional temperature.
1. (a politician at the hustings): Are we going to tolerate this intrusion upon our freedom? Are we going to accept these
restrictions? Are we to be intimidated by self-serving bureaucrats? Are we to be suppressed by sycophantic and supine
jackals waiting for dead men’s shoes?
2. (Friends meeting in the street) Isn’t it a lovely day? [ = It is a lovely day.]
3. (Teacher angrily to students who have failed in his exam) Who is an idiot? [ = You are all idiots.]

FOREIGN EXPRESSIONS: Adding an Exotic Flavour to Language

1. savoir faire: noun [U] (approving) the ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations
ORIGIN: From French, literally, ‘knowing how to do’.
2. au revoir: exclamation goodbye until we meet again
ORIGIN: From French, literally, ‘to the seeing again’.
3. magnum opus: noun (pl. magnum opuses) a work of art, music, or literature that is regarded as the most important work that
an artist, composer, or writer has produced.
ORIGIN: From Latin, literally, ‘great work’.
4. rendezvous: noun (pl. same) a meeting at an agreed time and place: Harsh turned up late for his rendezvous
ORIGIN: From French, literally, ‘present yourselves!’

COMMON ROOTS, PREFIXES & SUFFIXES; Multiplying Your Vocabulary

1. ROOT: cord (Latin): heart, mind—discord, accord, cordial, record
2. ROOT: man, mani, manu (Latin): hand—manual, manicure, manifest, manuscript
3. ROOT: ten, tin, tent, tain (Latin): hold, keep—tenacious, contain, contents, continent
4. PREFIX: deci- (Latin): a tenth—decibel, decimal, decimate
5. PREFIX: non- (Latin): not—nonchalance, nonconformist, nonentity
6. PREFIX: dis-, dif-, di- (Latin): not, down, less, away (expressing negation, reversal)—disable, discount, disarm, dishonest,
dissuade, discordant, digress, different
7. SUFFIX: -tude (Latin): indicates a condition or state of being—quietude, exactitude, rectitude
8. SUFFIX: -al, -ial and Related Suffixes:-ar, -ary, -ic, -id, -ile, -ine, -ish are adjective suffixes meaning:
1. of, pertaining to, of the nature of, like; and 2. having, related to, or serving for:
--equal, filial, delusional, popular, honorary, pecuniary, academic, despotic, gravid, juvenile, bovine, boyish

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8
9