The meaning and usage examples have been compiled using various resources including different websites.
First edition 2010 MRP. Rs. 50/-
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2010 - 2011 .. A Year has passed since we launched the first edition of SPELLRIGHT, the SPELLING GUIDE BOOK.
It is with great pleasure that we see that most copies of the first edition have been lapped up by the students. The students and school authorities have like the booklet and this has encouraged us to launch the 2nd edition of the same.
This edition has an additional 200 new words along with updated information about the SPELLINC winners in 2010. The digital version would also be available on the SPELLINC WEBSITE – www.spellinc.in
An analysis of the spelling mistakes made each year have thrown up very interesting facts. Students make similar mistakes all across the various schools in various cities. “SPELL RIGHT” – the Spelling Guide Book is a compilation of the most commonly misspelled words. It has the words alongwith the meaning and usage. Students are using it as a useful resource and as a reference to improve their spelling skills. It is in a user friendly format which encourages students to use if regularly.
The SPELLINC website which was launched last year is functional now and many students do visit it regularly and use its various features which has many word related games, past SPELLINC winners and much more.
SPELLINC 2011 also sees it expanding to more cities across India. In addition to Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Jaipur, Kanpur and Lucknow, this year it will also reach out to the schools in the cities of Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Kochi. The number of schools to be covered by SPELLINC is also increasing greatly. This year, the SPELLINC competition will be reaching out to more than 1375 schools and about 1,75,000 students.
SPELLINC is a project of Linc Pen & Plastics Limited, who being committed to such educational events and initiatives, have not only continued with it for the last 12 years but is increasing it significantly in its scope and coverage each year
“To become successful in life, education is of paramount importance and ‘words’ form the basic of education. Spelling the words correctly thus becomes a necessity for success. Even to look up for things on a search engine, you need to know the correct spellings! With chatting on the internet and SMS becoming the way of regular communication, it seems that correct spelling is losing its importance. SPELLINC is our initiative designed to develop interest among the students in improving their spelling skills and nurturing word power. It is really heartening to see thousands of students across various cities and schools compete to spell correctly on a platform that is competitive as well as educative like SPELLINC” - says Mr. Deepak Jalan, Managing Director, Linc Pen & Plastics Ltd.
The enthusiastic response from all students, school authorities and parents is the source of strength that is propelling the event which is growing with each year and every new city covered. We solicit any inputs and suggestions about all aspects of SPELLINC from all and would welcome your views and opinion.
Looking forward to a very interactive and enjoyable SPELLINC 2011. Let’s keep WORD CRACKING.
Ajay Agarwal
SPELLINC Coordination cell
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St. Lawrence St. Xavier’s 1999 Kolkata Loreto House High School Collegiate School Carmel South Point 2000 Kolkata Apeejay School High School High School Calcutta Boys’ Don Bosco 2001 Kolkata School Park Circus Apeejay School M. B. Girls’ H. S. Ballygunge M. P. Birla 2002 Kolkata School Shiksha Sadan Foundation St. Xavier’s Ashok Hall Collegiate H. S. School M. P. Birla 2003 Kolkata School For Girls Foundation Ashok Hall H. S. School Calcutta Boys’ Jewish Girls’ 2004 Kolkata For Girls School School Modern St. Xavier’s High School Collegiate M. P. Birla 2005 Kolkata For Girls School Foundation Innisfree School Poorna Prajna A. S. C. Public 2005 Bangalore Of Excellence High School School Modern High Dolna Day M. B. Girls’ 2006 Kolkata School For Girls School H. S. School National Gems Modern High Calcutta Boys’ Higher Secondary 2007 Kolkata School For Girls School School Modern High Bhartiya Vidya M. B. Girls H. S. School Bhavan Gungbux 2008 Kolkata School For Girls K. Vidya Mandir Bel Deva Matha Mount Carmel 2008 Bangalore Vidyalaya Central School High School B.A.F Petit Girls’ St. Francis M. K. E. S. 2008 Mumbai School High School High School Our Lady Of Fatima Amity Convent Sec. International 2008 Delhi School School Faith Academy Padma Seshadri Bhavans Rajaji St. Bede’s Anglo 2008 Chennai Bala Bhavan Vidyashram Indian H. S School Modern High Calcutta Boys’ St. James’ 2009 Kolkata School For Girls School School Presidency National Public Bishop Cotton School Bangalore 2009 Bangalore School ( Rnr ) Boys’ School South B.A.F Convent Of Petit Girls’ Jesus And 2009 Mumbai School Mary, Fort Nanavati School J. M Paramount International International Lovely Public 2009 Delhi School School Sr. Sec. School D. A. V. Matriculate Higher Chettinad Secondary Hari Shree D. A. V. Boys’ 2009 Chennai School Vidyalayam Sr. Sec. School
Year City 1st 2nd 3rd
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Innisfree Rushati Mukherjee Canaan Ayesha Begum Hymamshu K Priyanka Vardhini
House Nandita Raghunath Christ Kubra Amreen Jyothi Rohit P. R.
2010 Bangalore School Neeraja Kulkarni Public School Zaiba Farheen Kala Peetha Vignesh V
Delhi Public Prayash Panda, U. P. Kirana Huma Khan, Dr. Virendra Aditi Pandey,
School, Madhurima Chandra, Seva Samiti Subham Pathak, Swarup Education Ritwik Bera,
2010 Kanpur Kalyanpur Rohan Mehrotra Vidyalaya Pulkit Kapoor Centre, Tanisha Awasthi
DAV Matriculation DAV Boys Senior Holy Angels’
Higher Secondary S. Maanasa Secondary Abhinav Vaidyanathan Anglo Indian Fahiza Afreen,
School, M. Niveditha, School Shravan R. Koushik Higher Riddhi Rohit,
2010 Chennai Gill Nagar R. Sujana Gopalapuram V. Vignesh Rajendran Secondary School Akarshika V.
Aayushi Liana Shah Gurkiran Singh, Akash Verma
Ahlcon Public . V. Rajagopal Salwan Public N Vaishnavi Akanksha, Mount Abu Public Piyush Mishra,
2010 Delhi School Sukanya Grover School Ridhi Jain School Ansh Malhotra
Mary Immaculate
Girls’ Ansari Eram Khalil, B A F Petit Tarini Luniya, Sanskriti Y. Merchant,
High Maroof Juvairiya Girls’ High Priyanjali Maitra, Convent of Jesus Rashida Jawadwala,
2010 Mumbai School Bashir Shaikh Safia School Swaha Sinha and Mary Rabiya Shingati
Modern High Shivani Agarwal, Birla High Nitya Binani Our Lady Queen of Reeti Sarkar,
School Spriha Dhanuka, School - Girls’ Prerna Jain the Missions - Park Afreen Haque,
2010 W.B for Girls Ipshita Bhuwania Section Urvi Khaitan Circus Richa Saha
Saurabh Sharma, Brightways Sona Dangayach Harsh Sharma,
Cambridge Court Shelly Agarwal Public Dimple Gupta, Children’s Abhivav Nirwan,
2010 Jaipur High School Vaishnavi Suresh School Ritika Sharma Academy Sonia P. Lalwani
Year City 1st 2nd 3rd
MODERN HIGH SCHOOL - WEST BENGAL 2010 WINNER
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ABATTOIR : Building where animals are butchered : At the end of the day the battlefield at Hastings looked like an abattoir
ABBEy : A large church together with a group of buildings in which monks or nuns live or lived in the past : More than 500 nuns live at the Westminster Abbey
ABBREVIATE : To make a word, phrase or name shorter by leaving out letters or using only the first letter of each word : Abbreviate ‘New York’ and write ‘NY’
ABDICATE : Give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations : He abdicated in favour of his son
ABERRATION : A state or condition markedly different from the normal or usual : Sita’s outburst at the meeting was a shocking behavior aberration, for her manner is usually so reserved
ABHORRENCE : A feeling of extreme loathing or aversion : His feelings towards mathematics were that of abhorrence
ABSCESS : Symptom consisting of a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue : a painful abscess on the gum
ABSCOND : Run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along : She absconded from every children’s home they placed her in
ABSENCE : the fact of somebody being away from a place where they are usually expected to be; the occasion or period of time when somebody is away : The decision was made in my absence.
ABSURD : Completely ridiculous; not logical and sensible : His excuse that the dog ate his homework was absurd
ABySMAL : Extremely bad or of a very low standard : It was an abysmal performance
ACCELERATE : Add to the speed of or quicken the motion of : To qualify for the finals, the jogger had to accelerate his pace
ACCENTUATE : To emphasize something or make it more noticeable : Her short hair accentuated her large eyes
ACCEpTABLE : Worthy of acceptance or satisfactory : Children must learn socially acceptable behaviour
ACCESSIBLE : Capable of being reached or easily approached : The remote desert area is accessible only by helicopter
ACCESSORy : An extra piece of equipment that is useful but not essential or that can be added to something else as a decoration : A range of furnishings and accessories for the home
ACCIDENTALLy : Happening by chance; not planned : She hit him accidentally
ACCLAIM : to praise or welcome somebody / something publicly : The film received acclaim from all quarters.
ACCOLADE : A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction : Gopal received one accolade after another at the awards ceremony
ACCOMMODATE : To provide somebody with a room or place to sleep, live or sit : The hotel can accommodate up to 500 guests
2000 WINNER ApEEjAy SCHOOL
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ACCOMpANy : to travel or go somewhere with somebody : I would like you to accompany me to hospital.
ACCOMpLICE : a person who helps another to commit a crime or to do something wrong : The robber was waiting for his accomplice in the corner.
ACCUMULATE : Collect in one place, especially growing to a large number or quantity : I seem to have accumulated a lot of books
ACHIEVE : To succeed in reaching a particular goal, status or standard, especially by making an effort : He has finally achieved success
ACkNOWLEDGMENT : The state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged : This report is an acknowledgement of the size of the problem
ACOUSTICS : The study of the physical properties of sound : As a result of the renovation, the acoustics of the concert hall have improved dramatically
ACQUAINT : to make somebody/oneself familiar with or aware of something : Please acquaint me with the facts of the case
ACQUIESCE : To agree or express agreement : The Maestro acquiesced to the request for an encore
ACQUIRE : to gain something by your own efforts, ability or behaviour : She has to acquire a good knowledge of English in order to get that job
ACQUITTAL : An official decision in court that a person is not guilty of a crime : The case resulted in an acquittal
ACRyLIC : made of a substance produced by chemical processes from a type of acid : The craftwork required acrylic paints
ADEQUATE : Enough in quantity, or good
enough in quality, for a particular purpose or need : The room was small but adequate
ADIEU : A farewell remark : I bid you adieu
ADjACENT : Next to or near something : The cars were parked in adjacent lots
ADjECTIVE : a word that describes a person or thing : Reliable is not an adjective that could be applied to the driver
ADjOURN : To stop a meeting or an official process, especially a trial, for a period of time : The lawyer requested the judge to adjourn the hearing for a day
ADMISSION : The act of accepting somebody into an institution, organization, etc. : The teenagers tried to get into the club but were refused admission
ADOLESCENCE : The time period between the beginning of puberty and adulthood : Adolescence brings about major changes in a young person’s body
ADROIT : Quick or skilful or adept in action or thought : An exceptionally adroit pianist
ADVANTAGEOUS : In a manner that is favorable, profitable, beneficial : A free trade agreement would be advantageous to both countries
ADVERSARy : Someone who offers opposition : His old political adversary
AEROBICS : physical exercises intended to make the heart and lungs stronger often done with music : Ram used to do aerobics every day
AESTHETIC : Concerned with beauty and art and the understanding of beautiful things : An aesthetic appreciation of the landscape
AffIDAVIT : a written statement that you swear is true, and that can be used as evidence in court : An affidavit is required for changing ones address
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AffLUENT : Having a lot of money and a good standard of living : This is a very affluent neighbourhood
AfICIONADO : A person who likes a particular sport, activity or subject very much and knows a lot about it : An aficionado of ballet
AGGRAVATE : To make an illness or a bad or unpleasant situation worse: An adamant attitude will only aggravate the conflict even further
AIRBORNE : In the air : The plane will be airborne soon
AISLE : A passage between rows of seats in a church, theatre, train, etc., or between rows of shelves in a supermarket : He asked for an aisle seat
ALBEIT : Although : He finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to help us
ALIMONy : The money that a court orders somebody to pay regularly to their former wife or husband when the marriage is ended : The actor had to pay a large alimony to his wife
ALLEVIATE : Provide relief, moderation as from pain : This pill will alleviate your headaches
ALLIGATOR : a large reptile similar to a crocodile, with a long tail, hard skin and very big jaws, that lives in rivers and lakes,
mostly in North and South America
and China : The tourists were warned to look
out for the alligator in the river
ALLITERATION : Use of the same consonant / sound in two or more neighbouring words or syllables as in sing a song of sixpence : Poor writers rely on alliterations when lacking ideas
ALLOTTED : To give time, money, tasks, etc. to somebody/something as a share of what is available : I completed the test within the time allotted
AMATEUR : a person who takes part in a sport or other activity for enjoyment, not as a profession : The tournament is open only for amateurs
AMBASSADOR : An official who lives in a foreign country as the senior representative there of his or her own country : The British Ambassador to Italy
AMBIDExTROUS : Equally skilful with each hand, left and right : An ambidextrous surgeon
AMICABLE : Done or achieved in a polite or friendly way and without arguing : The partners parted on amicable terms
AMpOULE : A small container, usually made of glass, containing a drug for injection by needle : The drugs stolen include an ampoule of adrenalin which could kill if injected
AMUSEMENT : The feeling that you have when something is funny or entertaining : The children could not hide their amusement at the way the monkey was dancing
ANARCHy : A situation in a country, an organization etc. in which there is no
government, order or control : The overthrow of the military regime was followed by a period of anarchy
ANCESTOR : Person in your family who lived a long time ago, from whom one has descended : Their ancestors had
2010 WINNERS:ALCHON pUBLIC SCHOOL - DELHI
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come to India from China
ANCHOR : a heavy metal object that is attached to a rope or chain and dropped over the side of a ship or boat to keep it in one place : The captain ordered that the anchor be dropped
ANECDOTE : a short, interesting or amusing story about a real person or event : The anecdotes in his speech made it interesting
ANNIHILATION : Total destruction : The annihilation of the whole human race
ANNIVERSARy : The annual recurrence of a date marking an event or occurrence of notable importance : We remembered the 50th anniversary of the liberation of our nation
ANONyMOUS : Someone whose name is not known or made public : The largest contribution came from an anonymous donor
ANORExIA : An emotional disorder, especially affecting young women, in which there is an abnormal fear of being fat and refusal to eat, leading to dangerous weight loss : She had become so thin that her parents were worried she had anorexia
ApARTHEID : A social policy or racial segregation involving political, economic and legal discrimination against people who are not Whites; the former official policy in South Africa : The end of apartheid in South Africa was one of the great world events of the century
ApARTMENT : a set of rooms for living in, usually on one floor of a building : The palace also had some private apartments for the present residents
ApOSTROpHE : The mark (‘) used to indicate the omission of one or more letters or numbers - As in she’s for she is and ‘63 for 1963 : The apostrophe was missing in the final print
AppOINTMENT : a formal arrangement to meet or visit somebody at a particular time, especially for a reason connected with their work : He has an appointment with the Mayor at 5 o’clock
AppROpRIATE : Suitable for a particular person, place or condition etc. : Now that the problem has been identified, appropriate action can be taken
AQUATIC : Connected with water : He was very interested in aquatic sports
ARBITRARy : Not seeming to be based on a reason, system or plan and sometimes seeming unfair : The decision of the Principal seemed completely arbitrary
ARCHAIC : So extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period : The system is archaic and unfair and needs changing
ARGUMENT : a conversation or discussion in which two or more people disagree, often angrily : The two speakers were involved in a heated argument
ARISTOCRACy : A privileged class holding hereditary titles; people born in the highest social class : Members of the aristocracy were present in the party
ARROGANT : Behaving in a proud, unpleasant way, showing little thought for other people : The prince was very arrogant
ASpHyxIATE : Deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing resulting in unconsciousness or death : He was asphyxiated by the smoke
ASSASSIN : A person who murders somebody important or famous, for money or for political reasons : His assassins were hunted down like animals
ASSISTANT : a person who helps or supports somebody, usually in their job : The assistant has been with the magician in all his shows
ASyLUM : Protection that a government
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gives to people who have left their own country, usually because they were in danger for political reasons : There was a nationwide debate on whether the asylum laws should be changed
ATHLETIC : Having a sturdy and well proportioned body : An athletic build
ATROCIOUS : Exceptionally bad or displeasing : Mrs. Ghosh vowed to do something about her grandson’s atrocious table manners
ATTACHE : A specialist assigned to the staff of a diplomatic mission : Mr. John was appointed the cultural attache
AUDACIOUS : willing to take risks or to do something shocking : Everyone was surprised at his audacious decision to challenge the champion
AUSpICIOUS : Signs auguring favourable circumstances and good luck : An auspicious start to the new school year
AUSTERE : Simple and plain; without any decorations : We went to see the austere bedroom of the freedom fighter
AUxILIARy : Giving help or support to the main group of workers : Rohit volunteers as an auxiliary guide for the local Bengal Mountaineers Club
AVALANCHE : a mass of snow, ice and rock that falls down the side of a mountain : The
entire team was killed in an avalanche while skiing
BACHELOR : a man who has never been married : He was considered the most eligible bachelor in the country
BALLOON : a small bag made of very thin rubber that becomes larger and rounder when you fill it with air or gas : A thousand balloons were released in the air
BALUSTRADE : A railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling or used as a decoration : Juliet leaned on the balustrade and gazed down at Romeo with adoring eyes
BANkRUpTCy : The state of being bankrupt ( without enough money to pay what one owes ) : The company filed for bankruptcy
BANQUET : A ceremonial or formal meal for a large number of people usually for a special occasion : A state banquet in honour of the visiting President
BARBECUE : An event or meal at which food is cooked outdoors over an open grill ( which is also called a barbecue ), or fire : I put another steak on the barbecue
BEGINNING : The time when something starts; the first part of an event, a story, etc. : They are going to Agra at the beginning of August
BELIEf : A strong feeling that something/somebody exists or is true; confidence that something/somebody is good or right : I admire his passionate belief in what he is doing
BELIEVE : To accept that something is true or that somebody is telling you the truth : I believe that you are not lying
BENEfICIARy : The recipient of funds or other benefits : The consumer will be the main beneficiary of the policy changes
2001 WINNER : CALCUTTA BOYS’ SCHOOL
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BENEfIT : an advantage that something gives you; a helpful and useful effect that something has : He has had the benefit of a good education
BEQUEATHED : Left or given by will after one’s death : He bequeathed his entire estate to his daughter
BISCUIT : a small flat dry cake, usually sweet, and baked until crisp : He bought a packet of chocolate biscuits
BIzARRE : Very strange or unusual : The behaviour of the lion was bizarre
BLASpHEMy : Behaviour or language that insults or shows a lack of respect for God or religion : His behaviour was nothing short of blasphemy
BOISTEROUS : Noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline ; full of life and energy : A boisterous crowd thronged the mall
BOULEVARD : A wide city street or thoroughfare, often with trees on either side : On a warm sunny day many strollers can be found on the boulevard
BOUQUET : An arrangement of flowers that is usually given as a gift : The little girl presented the princess with a large bouquet of flowers
BOURGEOIS : Conforming to the standards and conventions of the middle class, belonging to the middle class : He belonged to a traditional bourgeois family
BRAILLE : A system of writing in which patterns of raised dots represent letters and numerals used by the blind to read by touching them : All the exhibits are labelled in Braille
BRANDISH : To hold or wave something, especially a weapon, in an aggressive or excited way : To brandish a sword
BRIGADIER : an officer of high rank in the
army : The Brigadier was a very strict man
BRITTLE : Hard but easily broken : The glass was very brittle
BROCHURE : A small pamphlet or booklet containing pictures and information about something or advertising something : A travel brochure was given to the visitor
BUOyANCy : The ability to float in a liquid or to rise in a fluid : Boats must be made of a material that will enable them to have buoyancy in water
BUREAU : An administrative office or organization concerned with a particular subject : An employment bureau
BUREAUCRACy : The combined organizational structure, procedures, protocols and set of regulations in place to manage activity, usually in large organizations : We need to reduce paperwork and bureaucracy in the company
BURLESQUE : A performance or piece of writing which tries to make something look ridiculous by representing it in a humorous way : A burlesque of literary life
BUSINESS : The activity of making, buying, selling or supplying goods or services for money : Inflation was affecting his business a lot
CACOpHONy : A mixture of loud unpleasant sounds : We were greeted by a cacophony of sound as we entered the road
CAfETERIA : a restaurant where you choose and pay for your meal at a counter and carry it to a table, generally in an institution like a school, college or factory etc. : Many students had gathered at the cafeteria
CAffEINE : A bitter alkaloid found in coffee and tea that is responsible for their stimulating effects : It is good to avoid too much caffeine, sugar or processed food
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CAjOLE : To make somebody do something by talking to them and being very nice to them : The fans managed to cajole the actor to give his autograph
CALAMITy : an event that causes great damage to people’s lives, property, etc. : Bangladesh has suffered a major natural calamity
CALENDAR : A tabular array showing the days, weeks and months of ( usually ) a particular year : A calendar for 2010
CALISTHENICS : Physical exercises designed to promote general fitness : Calisthenics are recommended for general good health
CALLIGRApHy : The art of handwriting done with a special pen or brush : A poem written in neat italic calligraphy
CAMARADERIE : A feeling of friendship and trust among people who work or spend a lot of time together : There was a spirit of camaraderie among team members
CAMOUfLAGE : The disguising of troops, ships, guns, etc. to conceal them from the enemy, as by the use of paint, nets or leaves in patterns merging with the background : A camouflage jacket
CAMpAIGN : A series of planned activities that are intended to achieve a particular social, commercial or political aim : To conduct an anti-smoking campaign
CANTILEVER : a long piece of metal or wood that sticks out from a wall to support the end of a bridge or other structure : Howrah Bridge is the most well known cantilever bridges in India
CApILLARy : any of the smallest tubes in the body that carry blood : A capillary in his foot was torn in the accident
CARDIAC : Of or relating to the heart : To suffer cardiac arrest
CARNIVOROUS : Any animal that eats meat / flesh : Lions are carnivorous
CASSETTE : a small flat plastic case containing tape for playing or recording music or sound : He brought out his old cassette player
CATACLySM : Any great upheaval, as an earthquake or a war, that causes sudden and violent changes, great destruction, etc. : They show that a cataclysm caused by natural processes almost brought life on earth to an end
CATASTROpHE : Any great and sudden calamity, disaster or misfortune : This will spell further catastrophe for many hard working families
CELESTIAL : Related to the sky or of heaven : The moon is a celestial body
CELSIUS : A scale of measurement of temperature in which water freezes at 0° and boils at 100° : Normal human body temperature is 37 degrees celsius
CERAMIC : Inorganic, non-metallic solid objects of hard brittle material from baked clay, as pottery, earthenware, etc. : The kitchen will have chrome electrical sockets and ceramic tiling
CEREBELLUM : The part of the brain behind and below the cerebrum, functions as the coordinating center for muscular movement : Sita’s vertigo results from damage to her cerebellum
CEREMONy : a public or religious occasion that includes a series of formal or traditional actions / rituals : The wedding ceremony was very elaborate
CHAMELEON : A small lizard that can change colour according to its surroundings : The chameleon’s tongue whips out and seizes its prey
CHANCELLOR : The person who is head
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of state (in several countries); the honorary or titular head of a university : Hitler was appointed chancellor on January 30th, 1933
CHANDELIER : Branched lighting fixture, often ornate, which hangs from the ceiling : The hotel had a luxurious suite with a crystal chandelier and thick oriental rugs
CHAOS : A state of complete confusion and lack of order : Heavy snow has caused total chaos on the roads
CHARADE : A readily perceived pretense; a travesty, a situation in which people pretend that something is true when it clearly is not : Their whole marriage had been a charade—they had never loved each other
CHARISMA : The powerful personal quality that some people have to attract and impress other people : His charisma ensured his victory in the election
CHAUffEUR: A person hired to drive a private automobile for someone else : He arrived in a chauffeur - driven car
CHIffON : a type of fine transparent cloth made from silk or nylon, used especially for making clothes : She was wearing a beautiful chiffon sari
CHIMNEy : a structure through which smoke or steam is carried up away from a fire, etc. usually through the roof of a building : The thief entered the house through the chimney
CHINOISERIE : An ornate style of decoration of furniture, textiles, ceramics, etc., especially in 18th century Europe, based on Chinese motifs : The pattern is similar to chinoiserie designs found on blue and white pottery of the same period
CHIVALROUS : Polite, kind and behaving with honour, especially towards women : The boys were at their chivalrous best at the party
CHLOROfORM : a clear liquid used
in the past in medicine, etc. to make people unconscious, for example before an operation : Sometimes robbers use chloroform to make their victims unconscious
CHOCOLATE : a hard brown sweet food made from cocoa beans, used in cooking to add flavour to cakes, etc. or eaten as a sweet/candy : Girls really like chocolates
CHOREOGRApHy : The art of designing and arranging the steps and movements in dances, especially in ballet; the steps and movements in a particular ballet or show : The choreography in this film is very contemporary
CHRONICLE : a written record of events in the order in which they happened : The novel is a chronicle of his life in prison
CHRONOLOGICAL : arranged in the order in which they happened : The judge asked the lawyer to relate the events in chronological order
CINEMATIC : Connected with films/movies and how they are made : The award was for cinematic excellence
CIRCUIT : The complete path of wires and equipment along which an electric current flows : There was a problem in the electrical circuit
CISTERN : a container in which water is stored in a building, especially one in the roof or connected to a t o i l e t : The cistern was repaired by the plumber
2008 WINNERS :
BAf pETIT GIRLS’ SCHOOL
- MUMBAI
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CLAIRVOyANCE : The alleged power of perceiving things beyond the natural range of the senses : She believed she had the power of clairvoyance
CLAUSTROpHOBIA : Abnormal dread of being in closed or narrow spaces : Mohan’s claustrophobia keeps him from using lifts
CLIENTELE : all the customers or clients of a shop/store, restaurant, organization, etc. : His clientele included many children
COALESCE : To unite or merge into a single body, group, or mass : The puddles had coalesced into a small stream
COERCION : The action of making somebody do something that they do not want to do, using force or threatening to use force : He claimed he had only acted under coercion
COINCIDENCE : The fact of two things happening at the same time by chance, in a surprising way : All sorts of theories have been invented to explain this remarkable coincidence
COLLABORATION : The act of working together with another person or group of people towards a common target : The project was in collaboration with another research group
COLLEAGUE : a person that you work with, especially in a profession or a business
: They have
colleagues for more than 10 years
COLLOQUIAL : Characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation : Colloquial words should be avoided in an English examination
COLONEL : An officer of high rank in the army, the marines, or the air force : The Colonel ordered his troops into battle
COLOSSUS : A person or thing that is extremely important or large in size : The warrior stood among the soldiers like a colossus
COMMERCIAL : Of or connected with commerce or trade : The commercial heart of the city
COMMISSION : A fee for services rendered based on a percentage of an amount received, collected or agreed upon to be paid : He works on a commission basis
COMMITTEE : A special group delegated to consider some matter : A committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours
COMMUNICATION : The activity or process of expressing ideas and feelings or of giving people information : Speech is the fastest method of communication between people
COMpATIBILITy : Capability of existing or performing in harmonious or congenial combination : The compatibility of brothers and sisters depends on their personalities
COMpULSORy : That which must be done because of a law or a rule : English is a compulsory subject at this level
CONCEITED : Having too much pride in yourself and what you do : Ram is a very conceited person
CONCEIVE : To form an idea, a plan, etc. in your mind; to imagine something : He conceived the idea of transforming the old power station into an old - age home
2002 WINNER : M.B. GIRLS’ HIGHER SECONDARy SCHOOL
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CONCOCTION : Any foodstuff made by combining different ingredients usually a strange or unusual mixture of things : He volunteered to taste her latest concoction
CONCUSSION : Injury to the brain caused by a blow; usually resulting in loss of consciousness : I was carried home with cuts, bruises and a slight concussion
CONDESCENDED : To do something that one thinks is below one’s social or professional position or dignity to do : We had to wait almost an hour before he condescended to see us
CONfIDENTIAL : Meant to be kept secret and not told to or shared with other people: This arrangement must be kept confidential
CONGRUENCE : The state or quality of being in agreement, harmony or correspondence : The panel believes it has succeeded in showing that there is considerable congruence between the three subject areas
CONNOISSEUR : A person who has expert knowledge and keen judgement of beauty, quality or skill in some field like art, food or music : A connoisseur of Indian music
CONQUER : To take control or possession by force, as after an invasion : The Indian army conquered the city
CONSCIENCE : The sense of right or wrong within the individual, to do with moral and ethical principals : His conscience did not allow him to steal
CONSCIOUSNESS : The state of being able to use your senses and mental powers to understand what is happening : I can’t remember any more — I must have lost consciousness
CONSORTIUM : A group of people, countries, companies, etc. who are working
together on a particular project : Several organisations formed a consortium to collect funds for flood affected areas
CONSpICUOUS : Easy to see or perceive; obvious : Her bright red dress made her very conspicuous
CONSpIRACy : A group of people planning and acting together secretly, especially for an unlawful or harmful purpose, such as murder or treason : A conspiracy to overthrow the government
CONTINUALLy : Recurring regularly or frequently : He was continually disturbing the class
CONTINUANCE : The act or process of continuing or lasting : We can no longer support the President’s continuance in office
CONTOUR : The outline of a figure, mass, land, etc. : The road follows the natural contours of the coastline
CONTROVERSIAL : Causing a lot of debate and disagreement, stirring up controversy: The issue of the death penalty is highly controversial
CONUNDRUM : A confusing, insoluble, or difficult problem; a dilemma : The use of protective clothing for farmers presents a conundrum
CONVALESCENCE : The period of gradual healing (through rest) after sickness, injury or a medical operation : He will need a long period of convalescence to get back to full health
COROLLARy : A practical consequence that follows naturally as a result of something : In rural areas, the corollary of increased car ownership has been a rapid decline in the provision of public transport
CORONARy : Surrounding like a crown, usually used for the blood vessels
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surrounding the heart : A blockage in a coronary artery caused Shyam’s heart attack
CORpUSCLE : Either of two types of cells (erythrocytes and leukocytes) and sometimes including platelets found in blood : The organ produced white corpuscles in huge quantities in defense against the snake’s venom
CORRELATE : To put or bring into causal, complementary, parallel, or reciprocal relation : The figures do not seem to correlate
CORRESpOND : To be the same as or match something : Your account of events does not correspond with hers
CORRIDOR : A long narrow passage in a building, with doors that open into rooms on either side : His room is along the corridor
CORROBORATE : To provide evidence or information that supports a statement, theory, etc. : The evidence was corroborated by two independent witnesses
COSMETIC : Improving only the outside appearance of something and not its basic character : These reforms are merely cosmetic and will not be really effective
COTERIE : A small group of people who have the same interests and do things together but do not like to include others: Her little coterie of friends and advisers
COUCHETTE : A narrow bed on a train, that
folds down from the wall : At night the p a s s e n g e r
slept on the couchette
COUNCIL : a group of people who are elected to govern an area such as a city or county : The people turned out in large numbers to elect a new city council
COUNSEL : Advice, especially given by older people or experts; a piece of advice: Listen to the counsel of your elders
COUNSELOR : A person who has been trained to advise people with problems, especially personal problems : A marriage guidance counselor
COUNTERfEIT : Not genuine, fake, made to look exactly like something in order to trick people into thinking that they are getting the real thing : Are you aware these notes are counterfeit?
COURTEOUS : Polite, especially in a way that shows respect : A courteous young man
COURTESy : Polite behaviour that shows respect for other people : I was treated with the utmost courtesy by the staff
CREDENTIAL : A document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts : We take great care to verify the credentials of prospective clients
CRESCENDO : A gradual increase usually in loudness of a piece of music being played or sung : The opera ended in a dramatic crescendo
CRITERIA : A basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated and a judgement made : There were many criteria for selection of the candidate
CRITICISM : Disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings : The plan has attracted criticism from consumer groups
CROCODILE : a large reptile with a long
2009 WIN-NERS : BAf pETIT GIRLS’ SCHOOL MUM-BAI
15
tail, hard skin and very big jaws : Crocodiles are a real threat in rivers and lakes in hot countries
CRypTOGRApHy : The art of writing or deciphering messages in code : An expert on cryptography was called to study the note found with the spy
CRySTAL : Glass of very high quality : The crystal chandelier in the banquet hall was very beautiful
CUDGEL : A club that is used as a weapon : I had with me a short stout cudgel and a long knife
CUISINE : The practice or manner of preparing food or the food so prepared : He really likes Indian cuisine
CULOTTES : Women’s wide short trousers/pants that are made to look like a skirt : The school uniform includes a pair of culottes
CURRENCy : The system of money that a country uses : Deepak was a speacialist in currency trading
CURRICULUM : All of the courses, collectively, offered in a school, college, etc., or in a particular subject : The school curriculum includes general knowledge
CUSTOMARy : In accordance with convention or custom : It customary to tip waiters in that resort
CyANIDE : A highly poisonous chemical, salt of hydro cyanide : A cigarette butt contains up to 4,000 chemicals, including hydrogen cyanide and arsenic
CyMBAL : A percussion instrument consisting of a concave brass disk; makes a loud crashing sound when hit with a drumstick or when two are struck together : The percussionist grimaced after he struck the cymbal at the wrong time
DEARTH : A lack of something; the fact
of there not being enough of something : There was a dearth of reliable information on the subject
DEBACLE : An event or a situation that is a complete failure and causes embarrassment : The team’s debacle at the World Cup was the talking point
DEBRIS : Pieces of wood, metal, brick, etc. that are left after something has been destroyed : Emergency teams are still clearing the debris from the plane crash
DECEIVE : Be false to; be dishonest with : His accountant had been deceiving him for years
DECIBEL : A unit for measuring how loud a sound is : Noise from the disco reached 110 decibels
DECIDUOUS : Plants / trees that lose the leaves every year : Do not site your pond too near overhanging trees especially deciduous trees
DECIpHERED : Translated (a message in cipher or code) into ordinary, understandable language; decoded : He ensures that the work cannot be deciphered exactly
DECISIVE : Determining or closely affecting the outcome or what comes next; critically important; crucial : A decisive moment in his career
DECORUM : Polite behaviour that is appropriate in a social situation : We should maintain decorum at school
DEITy : A god or goddess : Krishna is a deity in the Hindu religion
DELIBERATE : Carefully thought out and formed, or done on purpose; premeditated : A deliberate act of vandalism
DEMOCRACy : A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them :
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India is the largest democracy in the world
DENOUEMENT : The events following the climax of a drama or novel in which a final resolution or clarification takes place : There are many twists and turns and a dramatic denouement at the end
DERELICT : Usually property deserted by the owner; abandoned; forsaken : The farm had a derelict barn
DERMATOLOGIST : A specialist doctor who studies and treats skin diseases : Her skin disease was referred to a dermatologist
DEROGATORy : Expressive of low estimation or reproach, disdainful : One should not use derogatory terms even in jest
DESCENDANT : A person, animal, or plant whose descent can be traced to a particular individual or group : He was a direct descendant of the last King of Orissa
DESCRIBE : To give an account or representation of in words : Please describe the animal you saw
DESICCATE : Dry up or cause to dry up thoroughly : One has to desiccate the roots before they can be ground into powder
DESIGN : The general arrangement of the different parts of something that is made, such as a building, book, machine, etc. : The basic design of the car is very similar to that of earlier models
DESpICABLE
: Deserving to be despised; contemptible : His actions were despicable
DETECTIVE : a person employed by somebody to find out information about somebody/something; a person, especially a police officer, whose job is to examine crimes and catch criminals : The detective followed him for two days
DETERIORATE : To become worse : Her health deteriorated rapidly, and she died shortly afterwards
DETRIMENTAL : Causing harm or damage : There is little doubt that smoking is detrimental to one’s health
DEVASTATE : Cause extensive destruction or ruin : The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city
DEVELOpMENT : The gradual growth of something so that it becomes more advanced, stronger, better etc. : Development can be achieved by regular practice
DExTERITy : Skill in using your hands, body or your mind : One needs dexterity to master the video game
DIApHRAGM : The layer of muscle between the lungs and the stomach, used especially to control breathing : The tortoise also lacks a muscular diaphragm
DICHOTOMy : The separation that exists between two groups or things that are completely opposite to and different from each other : Resolution of this dichotomy of view is urgent
DIffERENCE : The quality or condition of being unlike or dissimilar : There is no significant difference between the two systems
DILEMMA : A situation that requires a choice between options that are or seem
2003 WINNER : ST. xAVIER’S COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
17
equally important or : Everyone faces the same dilemmas on the road to the right decision
DINGHy : A small open boat carried as a tender, lifeboat, or pleasure craft on a larger boat : They lowered the dinghy into the water DIpHTHERIA : An acute infectious disease of the throat causing difficulty in breathing, high fever, and weakness : Her fever was due to diphtheria
DISAppEARANCE : Removal from sight ; vanishing : With the disappearance of the snow, the sleds and skates were replaced with bicycles
DISAppOINTED : Upset because something you hoped for has not happened or been as good, successful, etc. as you expected: They were bitterly disappointed at the result of the game
DISCERNED : To know, recognize or understand something, especially something that is not obvious : It is possible to discern a number of different techniques in her work.
DISCIpLE : Pupil or follower of any teacher or school of religion, learning, art, etc. : He was a disciple of the great artist
DISCIpLINARIAN : A person who believes in or enforces strict discipline and conformity to rules : She is a very strict disciplinarian
DISCIpLINE : The practice of training people to obey rules and orders and punishing them if they do not; the controlled behaviour or situation that results from this training : The school has a reputation for high standards of discipline
DISCOTHEQUE : A public dance hall for dancing to recorded popular music : The tourists thronged the new discotheque
DISCRETION : The freedom or power to decide and judge on one’s own : I’ll leave it
up to you to use your discretion
DISEMBARk : Go ashore out of a ship or boat, leave a ship : Please hold the railing as you disembark
DISGUISE : To modify or change the appearance in order to conceal the wearer’s identity : The hijackers were heavily disguised
DISHEVEL : Disarrange or rumple ( hair or clothing etc.) : A disheveled young man walked in
DISpERSAL : The process of sending somebody/something in different directions; the process of spreading something over a wide area: Police are trained in crowd dispersal
DISSATISfACTION : The feeling of being displeased and discontent : Many people have expressed their dissatisfaction with the arrangement
DISSEMINATE : To spread information, knowledge, etc. so that it reaches many people : Their findings have been widely disseminated
DISSIpATED : Preoccupied with the pursuit of pleasure and activities that are often harmful such as drinking and gambling etc.: He plays a dissipated American writer living in Europe
DISTINGUISH : Perceive as being different or distinct : It was hard to distinguish one twin from the other
DOCUMENTARy : A film, radio or TV program presenting the facts about something : The documentary is being produced by environmentalists who protest the destruction of forests
DROUGHT : A long period of time when there is little or no rain: The country faced two years of severe drought
DUMBBELL : An exercise device that
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consists of round weights joined by a bar : With great effort, Tony hoisted the dumbbell above his shoulder
DUNGEON : A dark underground room used as a prison, especially in a castle: Throw him into the dungeons!
DUpLICATE : An exact copy or reproduction; replica; facsimile : It was difficult to distinguish the duplicate from the original
DWINDLE : To become gradually less or smaller, diminished in size, amount, or quality : The theatres are having dwindling audiences
DySfUNCTION : Abnormal or impaired functioning, especially of a bodily system or social group : We know that he is suffering intermittent mental dysfunction
EAVESDROp : Listen without the speaker’s or others knowledge : We caught him eavesdropping outside the window
ECCENTRIC : One that deviates markedly from an established norm, especially a person of odd or unconventional behavior : His behaviour was very eccentric
ECHELON : A level of responsibility or authority in a hierarchy; a rank : He got a job in the company’s lower echelon
ECLECTIC : Not following one style or set of ideas but selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources,
systems, or styles : She has very
eclectic tastes in literature
ECLIpSE : The partial or total obscuring of one celestial body by another, especially of the sun when the moon comes between it and the earth (called solar eclipse), or of the moon when the earth’s shadow is cast upon it (called lunar eclipse) : They all gathered to see the total solar eclipse
ECONOMICS : The branch of social science that deals with the production and distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management : He studied politics and economics at Calcutta University
ECSTASy : A feeling of overpowering joy; great delight; rapture : Listening to sweet music was pure ecstasy
EDIBLE : Fit or suitable to be eaten; not poisonous : The food at the hotel was barely edible
EDIfICE : A large impressive building : The royal palace was an imposing edifice
EERIE : Mysterious, uncanny or weird, especially in such a way as to frighten or disturb : I found the silence underwater really eerie
EffEMINATE : Having qualities or characteristics more often associated with women than men : Raj did look very effeminate in his colourful dress
EffERVESCENCE : The bubbling of a solution due to the escape of gas; also the quality of being bubbly, excited, enthusiastic and full of energy : His effervescence generates a feeling of optimism among all
EffICACIOUS : Capable of or successful in producing an intended result; effective as a means, remedy, etc : They hope the new drug will prove especially efficacious in the relief of pain
EffICIENCy : The quality of doing something well with no waste of effort, time or money : She handled the problem with
BANGALORE 2010 WIN-
NER : INNIS-fREE HOUSE SCHOOL
19
great efficiency
ELECTION : The process of choosing a person or a group of people for a position, especially a political position, by voting : The election results are expected today
ELEMENTARy : Relating to or constituting the basic, essential, or fundamental part : An elementary English course
ELICIT : To draw forth; evoke: To elicit an angry reply
ELIxIR : A magic liquid that is believed to cure illnesses or to make people live for ever : Many people have lost their lives in the quest for the elixir of life
ELOQUENCE : Speech or writing that is vivid, forceful, fluent, graceful, and persuasive : His eloquence as a speaker is well known
EMBARGO : A government order imposing a trade barrier : An embargo on arms sales to certain countries
EMBARRASS : To make somebody feel self conscious, shy, awkward or ashamed, especially in a social situation : My questions about her private life may embarrass her
EMBELLISH : To decorate or improve by adding detail; ornament; adorn : The huge carved door was embellished with brass door knockers
EMBEzzLE : To take (money, for example) for one’s own use in violation of a trust : He was found guilty of embezzling Rs.1,50,000 of public funds
EMBROIDERy : The art or work of ornamenting fabric with needlework using various threads : Her dress had beautiful embroidery done on it
EMISSARy : Someone sent on a mission to represent the interests of someone else, especially from one country to another : He
was sent as the King’s special emissary
EMpHASIS : Special importance that is given to something; stress or prominence given to something : There has been a shift of emphasis from manufacturing to service industries
ENAMEL : A coloured glassy compound (opaque or partially opaque) that is fused to the surface of metal or glass or pottery for decoration or protection : A chipped enamel bowl
ENCOMpASS : To contain; include or cover : The job encompasses a wide range of responsibilities
ENCOUNTER : Come upon, as if by accident; meet with : We encountered a number of difficulties in the first week
ENCOURAGEMENT : The act of giving hope or support to someone : He lent a few words of encouragement
ENGAGEMENT : A mutual promise of marriage; betrothal : They announced their engagement to the guests
ENNUI : Listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest; boredom : They tried to overcome their ennui by playing some games
ENORMOUS : Extraordinarily large in size, extent, amount, power or degree : The problems facing the President are enormous
ENSCONCE : To place or settle comfortably, snugly, or securely : To ensconce oneself in an armchair
ENSEMBLE : A small group of musicians, dancers or actors who perform together : The principals in the play were ably supported by the ensemble
ENSUE : To happen after or as a result of another event : An argument ensued
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ENTHUSIASTIC : Feeling or showing a lot of excitement and interest about somebody/something : He was an enthusiastic supporter of the team
ENTOURAGE : A group of people who travel with and attend an important person: The President and members of his immediate entourage
ENTREpRENEUR : A person who starts a business and venture taking financial risks : The entrepreneur generated a lot of job opportunities in the area
ENVIRONMENT : All of the conditions, circumstances, etc. that surround and influence life on earth, including atmospheric conditions, food chains, and the water cycle : Indiscriminate felling of trees is bad for the environment EpHEMERAL : Lasting a very short time : The ephemeral joys of childhood
EpILEpSy : A disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions : He fell down with a fit of epilepsy
EpILOGUE : A short poem or speech spoken directly to the audience following the conclusion of a play : Fortinbras speaks the epilogue in Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ EpISODE : An event, a situation, or a period of time in somebody’s life, a novel, etc. that
is important or interesting in some way : I’d
like to try and forget the whole episode
EpITApH : An inscription on a tombstone or monument in memory of the person buried there : His epitaph read: ‘A just and noble countryman’
EpITOME : A representative or perfect example of a class or type : He is the epitome of a modern young man
EpOCH : A period of time in history, especially one during which important events or changes happen : The death of the emperor marked the end of an epoch in the country’s history
EQUATOR : An imaginary line around the Earth forming the great circle that is equidistant from the north and south poles : The island is twenty degrees south of the equator
EQUILIBRIUM : A state of balance / stability, especially between opposing forces or influences : When equilibrium occurred, the gas in the flask stopped becoming browner
EQUINOx : Either of two times of the year when the sun crosses the plane of the earth’s equator and day and night are of equal length : The spring / autumn equinox
EQUIpMENT : The instruments / things that are needed for a particular purpose or activity : A useful piece of equipment for the kitchen
EQUIVOCAL : That can have more than one interpretation; having two or more meanings; purposely vague, misleading, or ambiguous : She gave an equivocal answer, typical of a politician
ERGONOMICS : The study of working conditions, especially the design of equipment and furniture, in order to help people work more efficiently : There is a need for formal ergonomics in any design where the designer himself is not an
2004 WINNER : ASHOk HALL HIGHER SEC-ONDARy SCHOOL fOR GIRLS
21
experienced user
ERRATIC : Liable to sudden unpredictable change : The electricity supply here is quite erratic
ERROR : A mistake, especially one that causes problems or affects the result of something : No payments were made last week because of a computer error
ESCApADE : An exciting adventure (often one that people think is dangerous or stupid) : Mary’s latest romantic escapade was the latest talking point
ESpECIALLy : To a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common : An especially cautious approach to the danger
ESpIONAGE : The systematic use of spies to get military, political or business secrets : He was charged with industrial espionage
ESSENCE : The most important quality or feature of something, that makes it what it is : His writings capture the essence of romance
ESSENTIAL : Absolutely necessary; vital : An essential element of marketing is having the correct leads
ESTABLISH : To setup or found; to start or create an organization, a system, etc. : The police have managed to establish a successful relationship with the local community
ETIQUETTE : Rules governing socially or professionally acceptable behaviour : He gave the new recruits advice on etiquette
EUpHEMISM : An indirect word or phrase that people often use to refer to something embarrassing or unpleasant, sometimes to make it seem more acceptable than it really is : ‘Pass away’ is a euphemism for ‘die’
EUpHORIA : An extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement, elation : I was in a state of euphoria all day
EUTHANASIA : Painless killing of a person who is suffering from an incurable disease : There is a lot of debate about whether euthanasia should be allowed
EVACUATE : To move people from a place of danger to a safer place : The people in the area were asked to evacuate due to the warnings of earthquake
EVIDENCE : The facts, signs or objects that make you believe that something is true : One needs sufficient evidence for a conviction
ExACERBATE : To make something worse, especially a disease or problem : His aggressive reaction only exacerbated the situation
ExAGGERATE : To make something seem larger, better, worse or more important than it really is : He tends to exaggerate the difficulties
ExAMINE : Consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning : We need to examine the terms before signing
ExASpERATE : Make very annoyed or frustrated : Her moods exasperated him
ExCAVATION : The activity of digging or unearthing : They all gathered at the excavation site
ExCELLENT : Very good; of the highest quality : An excellent movie
ExCEpTIONAL : Far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree : At the age of five he showed exceptional talent as a musician
ExCERpT : A short piece of writing, music, film, etc. taken from a longer whole : Read the following excerpt from one of Milton’s poems
ExCHANGE : A giving or taking of one thing for another; trade; barter : The exchange of prisoners took place this morning
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EXCHEQUER : The government department that controls public money; the public or national supply of money : The controversial decisions resulted in a considerable loss to the exchequer
ExCITEMENT : The state of being emotionally aroused and worked up, excited : The news caused great excitement among her friends
ExCLUSIVE : Only to be used by one particular person or group; not shared with others : The hotel has exclusive access to the beach
ExECUTION : Putting a condemned person to death as punishment : He faced execution by hanging for murder
ExECUTIVE : Any person whose function is to administer or manage affairs, as of a corporation, school etc. : He started work as a sales executive
ExEMpT : Freed from or not subject to an obligation or liability (like taxes) to which others or other things are subject : The movie is exempt from tax
ExERCISE : Physical or mental activity that you do to stay healthy or become stronger : Swimming is good exercise.
ExHIBITION : A collection of things, for example works of art, that are shown to the public : Have you seen the Picasso exhibition
ExHILARATE : To cause to
feel happily r e f r e s h e d
and energetic; elate : Speed had always exhilarated him
ExILE : The state of being sent to live in another country that is not your own, especially for political reasons or as a punishment : He returned after 40 years of exile
ExISTENCE : The state or fact of being real or living or of being present : I was unaware of his existence until today
ExODUS : A situation in which many people leave a place at the same time : The mass exodus from Paris to the country in the summer
ExONERATE : To officially clear from accusation or blame : The police report exonerated him from all charges of corruption
ExpEDITION : An organized journey with a particular purpose : He was a member of the team going on an expedition to the North Pole
ExpENSE : Financial cost; fee; charge incurred for something : The garden was transformed at great expense
ExpERIENCE : Active participation in events or activities, leading to the accumulation of knowledge or skill : He has a vast teaching experience
ExpERTISE : Expert knowledge or skill in a particular subject, activity or job : They have considerable expertise in dealing with oil spills
ExpLICIT : Clear and easy to understand : He gave me very explicit directions on how to get there
ExpLOIT : To treat a person or situation as an opportunity to gain an advantage for yourself : He exploited his father’s name to get himself a job
ExQUISITE : Extremely beautiful or carefully
2008 WIN-NERS: BEL VIDyALAyA - BANGALORE
23
made : Exquisite craftsmanship
ExTINCT : No longer in existence: An extinct species
ExTINGUISH : To cause a fire to stop burning or a light to stop shining : Firefighters tried to extinguish the flames
ExTRADITE : To officially send back somebody, who has been accused or found guilty of a crime, to the country where the crime was committed : The British government attempted to extradite the suspects from Belgium
ExTRATERRESTRIAL : Originating or existing outside Earth or its atmosphere : The shiny rock appeared to be extraterrestrial
ExTRAVAGANT : Given to lavish or imprudent expenditure : I felt very extravagant spending Rs.1000 on a tie
ExTRAVAGANzA : A large, expensive and impressive show or event : A musical extravaganza
ExTREME : Very great in degree : We are working under extreme pressure at the moment
ExUBERANT : Full of energy, excitement and happiness : She gave an exuberant performance
fABRIC : Material made by weaving wool, cotton, silk, etc., used for making clothes, curtains, etc. and for covering furniture : The fabric used for the uniform was very light
fACADE : The front of a building : A classical facade
fACETIOUS : Trying to appear amusing and intelligent at a time when other people do not think it is appropriate, and when it would be better to be serious : Stop being facetious; this is serious
fACSIMILE : An exact copy or reproduction
of something : We bought a facsimile edition of the book
fAHRENHEIT : Of or using a scale of temperature in which water freezes at 32° and boils at 212° : Temperatures tomorrow will rise to around seventy degrees Fahrenheit
fALLACy : A false or mistaken idea, opinion, etc : It is a fallacy to say that the camera never lies
fANTASTIC : Wonderful or superb; remarkable : A fantastic trip to Europe
fANTASy : Imagination unrestricted by reality : He had a childhood fantasy of becoming a bird
fARCICAL : Relating to a farce; ridiculous and not worth taking seriously : It was a farcical trial
fASCINATE : To attract or interest somebody very much : China has always fascinated me
fASCINATION : The state of being very attracted to and interested in somebody/something : The girls listened in fascination as the singer performed
fASCIST : A person who supports fascism (an extreme right-wing political system or attitude which is in favour of strong central government and which does not allow any opposition) : The fascist members were forced to retreat
fATIGUE : A feeling of being extremely tired, usually because of hard work or exercise : I was dropping with fatigue and could not keep my eyes open
fAVOURITE : Liked the most among the others of the same kind : It’s one of my favourite movies
fEASIBLE : Capable of being done with means at hand and circumstances as they are : It’s just not feasible to manage the business on a part-time basis
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fEIGN : to make believe with the intent to deceive : He survived the massacre by feigning death
fEROCIOUS : Marked by extreme and violent energy : It was a ferocious tiger
fIANCÉ : The man that a woman is engaged to : Debolina and her fiance were present
fICTITIOUS : Formed or conceived by the imagination : All the places and characters in my novel are fictitious
fIDGETy : Unable to remain still or quiet, usually because of being bored or nervous : The child was very fidgety during the class
fIEND : A very cruel or unpleasant person : He was a fiend unfit for befriending
fIERy : Like or suggestive of fire : He had fiery red hair
fIGURINE : A small statue of a person or an animal used as a decorative object : The desk had a beautiful figurine on it
fINESSE : Great skill in dealing with people or situations, especially in a delicate way : He handled the crowd with great finesse
fLAMBOyANT : Different, confident and exciting in a way that attracts attention : He was flamboyant and temperamental on and off the stage
fLAMINGO : A large pink bird with long thin legs and a long neck, with webbed feet
that lives near
water : He chose the flamingo as his symbol
fLIMSy : Badly made and not strong enough for the purpose for which it is used : A flimsy table
fLOURISH : To grow and develop quickly and be successful : Few businesses are flourishing in the present economic climate
fLUORESCENT : Producing bright light by using some forms of radiation; brilliantly coloured and apparently giving off light : A fluorescent lamp
fOLIAGE : The leaves of a tree or plant; leaves and branches together : Dense green foliage
fOREHEAD : The part of the face above the eyes and below the hair : He had a large forehead
fOREIGN : Situated outside one’s own country, province, locality, etc : A foreign accent / language / student
fOREIGNER : A person who comes from a different country : The fact that I was a foreigner was a big disadvantage
fORENSIC : Relating to the use of science or technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law : The dead body was sent to a forensic laboratory
fORfEIT : To lose or lose the right to by some error, fault, offense or crime : If you cancel your flight, you will forfeit your deposit
fORMERLy : In earlier times : I learnt that the house had formerly been an inn
fORMIDABLE : Tending to inspire awe or wonder usually by reason of notable size, quantity, superiority, or excellence : In debate he was a formidable opponent
fORTIfy : To make stronger, more able to resist attack : They fortified the area against
2005 WINNER : MODERN HIGH SCHOOL fOR GIRLS
25
attack
fORTUITOUS : Happening by chance, especially a lucky chance that brings a good result : His success depended on a fortuitous combination of circumstances
fRACAS : A noisy argument or fight, usually involving several people : A fracas between the supporters of the two teams
fRANCHISE : A business established or operated under an authorization to sell or distribute a company’s goods or services in a particular area : The company established a large network of franchises
fRANkENSTEIN : The title character in a novel, who creates a monster that destroys him : The organization has now become a Frankenstein monster beyond the control of the people who created it
fRANTIC : Characterized by rapid and disordered or nervous activity : They made a frantic last-minute search for the lost key
fRAUDULENT : Intended to cheat somebody, usually in order to make money illegally : The company was accused of fraudulent advertising
fREIGHTER : Large ship or plane that carries goods : The freighter was hijacked on the high seas
fREQUENCy : The rate at which something happens or is repeated : Fatal road accidents have decreased in frequency over recent years
fRIVOLOUS : Not serious in content, attitude or behaviour : His frivolous suggestions were simply ignored
fRONTIER : An international boundary or the area (often fortified) immediately inside the boundary : The frontier between the land of the Saxons and that of the Danes
fULfILL : To do or achieve what was hoped
for or expected : To fulfill your dream / ambition / potential
fUMIGATE : To use special chemicals, smoke or gas to destroy the harmful insects or bacteria in a place : To fumigate a room
fUNDAMENTAL : Of or forming a foundation or basis; basic; essential : The fundamental rules of art
fUNGI : The taxonomic kingdom including yeast, moulds, smuts, mushrooms, and toadstools; distinct from the green plants : Mushrooms and mildew are both fungi
fURIOUS : Very angry : She was absolutely furious at having been deceived
fUSELAGE : The central body portion of an airplane designed to accommodate the crew and the passengers or cargo : The fuselage was fully damaged in the crash
fUTILE : That which could not succeed; useless; vain : Their efforts to revive him were futile
GAIETy : The state of festivity; merrymaking : The colourful flags added to the gaiety of the occasion
GALAxy : A large, independent system of stars, typically containing millions to hundreds of billions of stars in outer space : The Earth is a part of the Milky Way Galaxy
GALLEON : A large Spanish sailing ship, used between the 15th and the 17th centuries for warfare and cargo : The Spanish Galleon was surrounded by the pirate ships
GALLERy : A place or establishment for exhibiting or dealing in works of Art : They all visited the new art gallery
GARRULOUS : Talking a lot, especially about unimportant, trivial things : He became positively garrulous after a few glasses of wine
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GASTRONOME : A connoisseur of good food and drink; a gourmet : The gastronome wrote a critical review about the new eating place
GAUCHE : Lacking in social graces or ease, tact, and familiarity with polite usage : A gauche schoolgirl
GAzELLE : Small swift graceful antelope of Africa and Asia having lustrous eyes : The gazelle in full flight was a beautiful sight
GAzETTE : An official publication or journal containing announcements and bulletins : The gazette was very sought after by all medical students
GENEALOGy : The science or study of family descent and ancestry : Many people are now interested in genealogy
GENTEEL : Refined in manner; well-bred and polite : Her genteel accent was very conspicuous
GENUINE : Real or original; exactly what it appears to be; not artificial : Fake designer watches are sold at a fraction of the price of the genuine article
GEOCENTRIC : Relating to, measured from, or with respect to the center of the earth : Ptolemy was famous for his geocentric theory of the Solar System
GEORGETTE : A sheer, strong silk or silk like clothing fabric with a dull, creped
surface : Georgette is generally used for
making clothing
for women
GERIATRICS : The branch of medical science that deals with diseases and problems specific to old people : His expertise in geriatrics made him suitable for managing the old age home
GEySER : A natural spring that sometimes discharges hot water or steam : Many people visit the geyser for a bath
GHETTO : Any section of a city in which many members of some minority group live, or to which they are restricted as by economic pressure or social discrimination : A poor kid growing up in the ghetto
GLACIER : A large mass of ice, formed by snow on mountains, that moves very slowly down a valley : The glacier at Pindari attracts many tourists
GLAMOUR : Alluring beauty or charm, often because of wealth or status : Hopeful young actors and actresses are dazzled by the glamour of Mumbai
GLOSSARy : A list of technical or special words, especially those in a particular text, explaining their meanings : A glossary of financial terms
GLUTTONOUS : Given to excess in consumption of especially food or drink : He had a gluttonous appetite
GOATEE : A small chin beard trimmed to a point; named for its resemblance to a goat’s beard : He looked smart with his goatee
GONDOLIER : A person whose job is to move and steer a gondola in Venice : The gondolier sang while ferrying tourists
GORGEOUS : Dazzlingly beautiful or magnificent : She wore a gorgeous Victorian gown
GOURMET : A person who likes and is an excellent judge of fine foods and drinks :
2010 WINNERS :CAMBRIDGE COURT HIGH SCHOOL - jAIpUR
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The gourmet was asked to visit and review the snack bar
GOVERNMENT : An established system of political administration by which a nation, state, district, etc. is governed : We need an honest government
GOVERNOR : A person who is the official head of a country or region that is governed by another country : The former governor of the colony
GRACIOUS : Characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit : She was gracious enough to accept our invitation
GRADUATE : A person who has a university/ college degree : A graduate in history
GRAffITI : Drawings or writing on a wall, etc. in a public place : Someone had scrawled graffiti all over the school walls
GRAMMAR : The study of how words and their component parts combine to form sentences : The basic rules of grammar
GRANDEUR : The quality or condition of being grand; magnificence : The grandeur and simplicity of Roman architecture
GRANDIOSE : Impressive because of uncommon largeness, scope, effect, grandeur, or majesty : The team had some grandiose plans for the party
GRATUITOUS : Done without any good reason or purpose and often having harmful effects; costing nothing : Gratuitous violence on television
GRIEVANCE : A resentment strong enough to justify retaliation : He had been nursing a grievance against his boss for months
GROTESQUE : Characterized by distortions or striking incongruities in appearance, shape, or manner; fantastic; bizarre : The alien in the movie was very grotesque
GUARANTEE : Give surety or assume responsibility : He gave me a guarantee that it would never happen again
GUERRILLA : A member of an irregular, usually indigenous military or paramilitary unit operating in small bands in occupied territory to harass and undermine the enemy, as by surprise raids. : They specialised in guerilla warfare
GUffAW : To laugh noisily : They all guffawed at his jokes
GUILE : Shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception : She deceived him with her guile
GUILLOTINE : A machine, originally from France, for cutting people’s heads off. It has a heavy blade that slides down a wooden frame : He was sent to the guillotine in January 1793
GUILTy : Responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act : He was found guilty of murder
GUTTURAL : Having a harsh grating quality, as certain sounds produced in the back of the mouth : His guttural voice was hardly audible
GyMNASIUM : Athletic facility equipped for sports or physical training : The team visited the gymnasium every morning
HACIENDA : A large estate or plantation in Spanish-speaking countries and the main house on it : They visited the hacienda in the countryside
HAGGARD : Looking very tired because of illness, worry or lack of sleep : He looked pale and haggard
HALLUCINATION : Perceive what is not there; have illusions : He was really scared by the hallucination he had
HAMMOCk : A hanging bed of canvas or
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rope netting (usually suspended between two trees or posts); swings easily : He was reading a book while lying on the hammock
HANDICRAfT : A craft or occupation requiring skilled use of the hands, to make things, generally artistic : She conducts handicraft classes in her free time
HANDkERCHIEf : A square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes, nose or as a costume accessory : He always carried his handkerchief in his pocket
HARANGUE : A long pompous speech, especially one delivered before a gathering : He walked to the front of the stage and began his harangue
HARASS : To irritate or torment persistently. : He has complained of being harassed by the police
HARASSMENT : Unjustifiable conduct, typically persistent and repetitive, aimed at an individual or group, that causes distress or discomfort : He has been suffering the harassment for 2 years
HARMONIUM : A musical instrument like a small organ in which air is forced through metal pipes to produce the sound and the different notes are played on the keyboard : He sang the song while playing the harmonium
HAzARD : a thing that can be dangerous or cause damage : Pollution is the greatest
environmental hazard
HEADACHE : a continuous pain in the head : She was having a terrible headache during the show
HEADQUARTERS : The main office or center of control in any organization : He was summoned to the headquarters
HEIGHT : The measurement of how tall a person or thing is : She is the same height as her sister
HEIGHTEN : become stronger or increase : We need to heighten awareness about the new career options among the students
HEINOUS : Extremely wicked, deeply criminal: A heinous crime
HEIRLOOM : a valuable object that has belonged to the same family for many years or generations : The watch was a family heirloom
HETEROGENEOUS : Consisting of many different kinds of people or things: The heterogeneous population of the United States
HIATUS : Any gap or interruption, as in continuity or time : After a five-month hiatus, the talks resumed
HIERARCHICAL : Classified according to various criteria into successive levels or layers : The organisation was very hierarchical
HIERARCHy : A system, especially in a society or an organization, in which people are organized into different levels of importance from highest to lowest : The organisation had its hierarchy clearly defined
HILARIOUS : Extremely funny : A hilarious joke / story
HIppOpOTAMUS : Massive thick-skinned herbivorous animal living in or around rivers of tropical Africa : The hippopotamus was hardly visible above water
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HOLOCAUST : A situation in which many things are destroyed and many people killed, especially because of a war or a fire : A nuclear holocaust
HOMOGENEOUS : All of the same or similar kind or nature : A homogeneous group / mixture / population
HONORARy : Given as an honour, without the person having to have the usual qualifications : An honorary doctorate / degree
HORIzONTAL : Flat and level; parallel to the plane of the horizon; not vertical : The shirt had horizontal lines
HOROSCOpE : The position of the planets and stars with relation to one another at a given time, especially at the time of a person’s birth, regarded in astrology as determining one’s destiny : His horoscope showed a very favourable future
HORRENDOUS : Hideous; dreadful : The police officer said the attack was the most horrendous he had ever seen
HOSIERy : A collective word for knitted / woven underwear, stockings and socks : The hosiery department
HUMOROUS : Funny and entertaining; showing a sense of humour : He gave a humorous account of their trip to Spain
HyDRAULIC : Moved or operated or effected by liquid (water or oil) : Hydraulic power can be used very effectively
HyENA : A wild animal like a dog, that eats the meat of animals that are already dead and has a cry like a human laugh: Hyenas live in Africa and Asia.
HyGIENE : The practice of keeping yourself and your living and working areas clean in order to prevent illness and disease : Focus on Hygiene is of prime importance
HyMN : Song in praise or honour of God or Gods : The nuns were singing the hymns beautifully
HypHEN : A punctuation mark (-) used between parts of a compound word or between the syllables of a word when the word is divided at the end of a line of text : The inter-school competition had begun
HypNOSIS : an unconscious state in which somebody can still see and hear and can be influenced to follow commands or answer questions : The magician used hypnosis in many of his performances
HypOCRISy : Behaviour in which somebody pretends to have moral standards or opinions that they do not actually have : He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another
HypOCRITE : a person who pretends to have moral standards or opinions that they do not actually have : The politician proved himself to be a hypocrite
HypOTHESIS : An unproved theory, proposition, supposition, etc. tentatively accepted to explain certain facts or to provide a basis for further investigation, argument, etc : The hypothesis had to be tested before acceptance
HySTERIA : Behavior exhibiting excessive or uncontrollable emotion, such as fear or panic : A note of hysteria crept into her voice.
ICICLE : A tapering, pointed, hanging piece of ice, formed by the freezing of dripping or falling water : The caves had numerous icicles
ICONOCLAST : One opposed to the religious use of images or advocating the destruction of such images : Shyam has always considered himself the iconoclast of the family
IDEOLOGy : A set of ideas that an economic
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or political system is based on : He was a firm believer of the Marxist ideology
IDIOSyNCRASy : A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group : Wearing a raincoat, even on a hot day, is one of her idiosyncrasies
IDyLLIC : Pleasing and simple; pastoral or picturesque : A house set in idyllic surroundings
IGNOMINy : Public shame and loss of honour : They suffered the ignominy of defeat
ILLEGITIMATE : Contrary to or forbidden by law : An illegitimate seizure of power
ILLITERACy : Lack of knowledge of how to read or write : Illiteracy is the main reason for poverty
ILLUSION : a false idea or belief, especially about somebody or about a situation : The people were under the illusion that their leader would support their cause
ILLUSTRATE : To make the meaning of something clearer by using examples, pictures, etc : The speaker used simple diagrams to illustrate his point
IMBECILE : A person whose mental acumen is well below par : They behaved like imbeciles
IMBROGLIO : A complicated situation that causes confusion or
embar rassment ,
especially one that is political : It is very important that the imbroglio is sorted as soon as possible
IMMACULATE : Extremely clean and tidy : She always looks immaculate
IMMEDIATELy : Without delay : She answered almost immediately
IMMIGRATION : Migration to another place (especially migration to a country of which one is not a native in order to settle there) : The immigration laws of Australia are very strict
IMMORTAL : That lives or lasts for ever : No one is immortal however wealthy he may be
IMpECCABLE : Without mistakes or faults : Her written English is impeccable
IMpETUOUS : acting or doing quickly and without thinking carefully about the results : The impetuous youngster challenged the champion
IMpETUS : A driving or impelling force : The Prime Minister’s support will give (an) added impetus to the campaign against crime
IMpLEMENT : To carry into effect; fulfill; accomplish : A new work programme for young people will be implemented
IMpLICIT : Suggested without being directly expressed : Implicit in his speech was the assumption that they were guilty
IMpOVERISH : To make somebody poor : These changes are likely to impoverish single-parent families even further
IMpRESARIO : The organizer, manager, or director of an opera or ballet company, concert series, etc. : The impresario arranged for the show to be held in many cities
IMpRESSION : an idea, a feeling or an opinion that you get about somebody/something, or that somebody/something
CHENNAI 2010 WIN-NER - DAV MATRICULA-TION HIGHER SECONDARy
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gives you : He gave the impression of being very well connected with the local politicians
IMpROMpTU : Done without preparation or planning : They often held impromptu meetings in their house
IMpUGN : To attack by argument or criticism; oppose or challenge as false or questionable : There were no real grounds for impugning the decision
INACCESSIBLE : Difficult or impossible to reach or to get : They live in a remote area, inaccessible except by car
INAUGURAL : Initial; first : The inaugural issue of a magazine
INAUGURATE : To make a formal beginning of; start : To inaugurate a new store
INCANDESCENCE : The property / phenomenon of a body giving out light when heated : Incandescent lamps
INCENSE : A substance that produces a pleasant smell when you burn it, used particularly in religious ceremonies : Incense sticks are a must in most Hindu ceremonies
INCESSANTLy : Without interruption : The world is incessantly changing
INCIDENTALLy : As a new but related point; by the way, used to introduce a new topic : Incidentally, have you heard the news about Rajesh
INCINERATE : To burn to ashes; burn up; cremate : Most of the waste is incinerated
INCISIVE : Penetrating, clear, and sharp, as in operation or expression : An incisive mind
INCLEMENT : Rough; severe; stormy : Inclement weather
INCOGNITO : In a way that prevents other people from finding out who you are : Movie stars often prefer to travel incognito
INCOMMENSURABLE : Impossible to measure or compare : Incommensurable differences
INCOMMUNICADO : Without the means or right of communicating with others : The prisoner has been held incommunicado for more than a week
INCOMpATIBLE : The quality of being unable to exist or work in congenial combination : These two objectives are mutually incompatible
INCOMpETENCE : The lack of skill or ability to do your job or a task as it should be done : Professional incompetence
INCORRIGIBLE : Incapable of being corrected or reformed : An incorrigible criminal
INCREDIBLE : Impossible or very difficult to believe : An incredible story
INCREMENT : Amount of increase : An annual increment of Rs.5000 in salary was announced
INCULCATE : To cause somebody to learn and remember ideas, moral principles, etc., especially by repeating them often : To inculcate a sense of responsibility in somebody
INDEBTED : Morally, socially, or legally obligated to another; beholden : I am deeply indebted to my family for all their help
INDEMNITy : Protection or insurance against loss, damage etc. : An indemnity clause
INDICT : To officially charge somebody with a crime : The senator was indicted for murder
INDIGENOUS : Originating and living or occurring naturally in an area or environment : The kangaroo is indigenous to Australia
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INDIGNITy : Humiliating, degrading, or abusive treatment : The chairman suffered the indignity of being refused admission to the meeting
INDISCRIMINATE : Not based on careful selection or a discerning taste; confused, random : Indiscriminate attacks on motorists by youths throwing stones
INDISpENSABLE : Too important to be done without. Absolutely necessary : A good dictionary is indispensable for learning a foreign language
INDISpUTABLE : That which is true and beyond argument; Unquestionable : It is indisputable that the crime rate has been rising
INDIVIDUAL : Existing as a single, separate thing or being : We interviewed each individual member of the community
INDULGE : To give way to one’s own desires : They went into town to indulge in some serious shopping
INEVITABLE : Incapable of being avoided or prevented : It was inevitable that there would be job losses
INfALLIBLE : Never wrong; never making mistakes : Doctors are not infallible
INfIDEL : Person who does not believe in a particular religion : God is on the side of the crusaders and not with the infidel enemy
I N f L A M M A B L E : Easily ignited
and capable of burning
rapidly; flammable : Petrol and other fuels are very highly inflammable
INfLICT : To make somebody/something suffer something unpleasant : The sharp knife can inflict a lot of damage
INfLUENTIAL : Having or exerting great influence; powerful; effective : A highly influential book
INfRASTRUCTURE : The basic facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of a community or society, such as transportation and communications systems, water and power lines : Good infrastructure is vital to a nation’s growth
INfURIATE : To make somebody extremely angry : Her silence infuriated him even more
INGENIOUS : Clever, resourceful, original, and inventive : Ingenious ways of saving energy
INGREDIENT : Any of the things that a mixture is made of : Coconut is a basic ingredient for many curries
INHERITANCE : That which is inherited; a title, property or estate that passes by law to the heir on the death of the owner : She spent all her inheritance in a year
INNOCENCE : A state or condition of being innocent of a specific crime or offence : This new evidence will prove their innocence
INNUENDO : An indirect or subtle, usually derogatory remark; an insinuation : Innuendoes about her private life
INOCULATE : To inject a serum, vaccine in order to create immunity in a living body : Parents should inoculate their children on time
INQUEST : A judicial inquiry, as a coroner’s investigation of a death : An inquest was held to discover the cause of death
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INQUISITION : The act of inquiring into a matter; an investgation, especially political or religious : The department was asked to conduct an inquisition into the leakage of secret documents
INSATIABLE : Always wanting more of something; impossible to satisfy : There seems to be an insatiable demand for more powerful computers
INSEpARABLE : Not able to be separated: Our economic fortunes are inseparable from those of Europe
INSINUATE : To insert or introduce subtly or gradually or artfully : She resented the insinuation that she was too old for the job
INSISTENCE : An act of demanding or saying something firmly and refusing to accept any opposition or excuses : Their insistence on strict standards of behaviour
INSOMNIA : The condition of being unable to sleep : To suffer from insomnia
INSTANTANEOUS : Happening immediately : Death was almost instantaneous
INSTINCT : Inborn tendency to behave in a way characteristic of a species; natural, unlearned, response to stimuli : He relied on his instincts when playing
INTELLECTUAL : Of or associated with intelligence or requiring the use of the mind : An intellectual novel
INTELLIGIBLE : That which can be easily understood : His lecture was readily intelligible to all the students
INTERCEDE : To plead or make a request on behalf of another or others : To intercede with the authorities for the prisoner
INTERROGATE : To examine by questioning formally or officially : He was interrogated by the police for over 12 hours
INTOxICATE : Under the influence of alcohol or drugs : He was arrested for driving while intoxicated
INTRIGUE : To excite the interest or curiosity of; fascinate : The puzzle intrigued her
INTRINSIC : Belonging to a thing by its very nature : The intrinsic value of education
INTUITIVE : Obtained by using your feelings rather than by considering the facts : He had an intuitive sense of what the reader wanted
INVINCIBLE : Too strong to be defeated or overcome : The team seemed invincible
IRRESISTIBLE : So strong that it cannot be stopped or resisted : I felt an irresistible urge to laugh
ISOSCELES : A triangle with two of its three sides of the same length : The dancers formed an isosceles triangle
ISTHMUS : A narrow strip of land, with water on each side, that joins two larger pieces of land : The country of Panama is an isthmus connecting North and South America
ITALIC : A style of writing with the letters leaning to the right : The example sentences in this dictionary are printed in italic type
ITINERARy : A plan of a journey, including the route and the places that one is to visit : A detailed itinerary
jAMBOREE : A large party or celebration : The movie industry’s annual jamboree at Cannes
jAUNDICE : A medical condition in which the skin and the white parts of the eyes become yellow as a result of increased amounts of bile pigments in the blood : This tumor also usually causes jaundice at an early stage
jEOpARDIzE : To expose to loss or injury; imperil : He would never do anything to
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jeopardize his career
jEOpARDy : In a dangerous position or situation and likely to be lost or harmed : The civil war has put thousands of lives in jeopardy
jETTISON : A throwing overboard of goods to lighten a ship, airplane, etc. in an emergency : The airplane’s malfunctioning engine prompted the crew to jettison all unnecessary cargo
jEWELLERy : Adornments made of precious metals and set with gems such as rings and necklaces that people wear as decoration : She has some lovely pieces of jewellery
jOURNALIST : A person whose job is to collect and write news stories for newspapers, magazines, radio or television : He always wanted to be a successful journalist
jUDICIAL : Connected with a court, a judge or legal judgement : Judicial powers
jUDICIARy : The judges of a country or a state, when they are considered as a group : An independent judiciary
jUDICIOUS : Careful and sensible; showing good judgement : The judicious use of his resources ensured a win for his team
jUGULAR : Relating to or located in the region of the neck or throat : One can check the pulse in the jugular region
jUNCTURE : A particular point or stage in an activity or a series of events : The battle had reached a crucial juncture
jURASSIC : Of or belonging to the geologic time, rock series, or sedimentary deposits of the second period of the Mesozoic Era, in which dinosaurs continued to be the dominant land fauna and the earliest birds appeared : Some fossils of the Jurassic period were discovered
jURISDICTION : The limits or territory within which any particular power may be exercised by an official organization : The departments jurisdiction extended to the districts as well
jUVENILE : Connected with young people who are not yet adults : Juvenile crime is on the rise
JUXTAPOSE : Place side by side : In the exhibition, abstract paintings are juxtaposed with shocking photographs
kALEIDOSCOpE : An optical toy in a tube; produces symmetrical patterns as bits of coloured glass are reflected by mirrors : The children were taught how to make a kaleidoscope
kINDERGARTEN : A preschool for children aged 4 to 6 to prepare them for primary school : They admitted their child in the neighbourhood kindergarten
kIOSk : a small shop/store, open at the front, where newspapers, drinks, etc. are sold. : There were number of kiosks selling snacks at the exhibition venue
kLEpTOMANIA : A mental illness in which somebody has a irresistible urge, which they cannot control, to steal things : The thief suffers from kleptomania
kNOWLEDGE : The information, understanding and skills that you gain through education or experience : He has a
2009 WINNERS : DAV MATRICU-LATE HIGHER SECONDARy SCHOOL CHENNAI
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wide knowledge of painting and music
KNUCKLE : any of the joints in the fingers, especially those connecting the fingers to the rest of the hand : He knocked on the door with his knuckles
LABORATORy : a room or building used for scientific research, experiments, testing, etc. : The school had a very large laboratory
LAByRINTH : A complicated series of paths, which it is difficult to find your way through : We lost our way in the labyrinth of streets
LACERATE : To tear jaggedly; mangle : His hand had been badly lacerated
LACkADAISICAL : Showing lack of interest or spirit or enthusiasm : He has a lackadaisical approach to finding a job
LACQUER : A black resinous substance obtained from certain trees and used as a natural varnish to give a hard shiny surface : The furniture had good lacquer work on it
LACROSSE : A game played on a field by two teams of ten players who use sticks with curved nets on them to catch, carry, and throw the ball : A game of lacrosse was in progress in the lawn
LANGUISH : To exist or continue in miserable or disheartening conditions for a long time : The soldiers have been left to languish in a foreign prison
LARCENy : The crime of stealing something from somebody; an occasion when this takes place : The couple were charged with grand larceny
LARyNx : A cartilaginous structure at the top of the trachea; contains elastic vocal cords that are the source of the vocal tone in speech : After taking a cold, rawness of the larynx and trachea come on
LAUREATE : Worthy of the greatest honor or distinction; crowned or decked with laurel
as a mark of honor : A Nobel laureate
LEAGUE : A group of teams organized to compete against one another : United were league champions last season
LEGITIMATE : For which there is a fair and acceptable reason; authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law : It seemed a perfectly legitimate claim
LEISURE : Time that is spent doing what one enjoys when one is not working or studying : His work did not leave him enough time for leisure
LENIENCy : Mercifulness as a consequence of being lenient or tolerant : She appealed to the judge for leniency
LEOpARD : A large animal of the cat family, that has yellowish-brown fur with black spots: Leopards live in Africa and southern Asia
LEpROSy : A progressive infectious disease that attacks the skin, flesh, nerves, etc.; it is characterized by nodules, ulcers, white scaly scabs, deformities, and the eventual loss of sensation : He was afraid that he was suffering from leprosy
LEVITATE : To rise and float in the air with no physical support, especially by means of magic or by using special mental powers; to make something rise in this way : I never understood how he could levitate
LExICON : All the words and phrases used in a particular language or subject, by a particular person or group of people : The lexicon of finance and economics
LIAISON : A channel for communication between groups or organisations : Our role is to ensure liaison between schools and parents
LICENSE : To give somebody official permission to do, own, or use something: It
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is illegal to drive without a valid license
LIEUTENANT : An officer of middle rank in the army, navy, or air force : He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
LIkELIHOOD : The chance of something happening; how likely something is to happen : The likelihood of it raining is very low
LIMOUSINE : A large, expensive comfortable car : He arrived in a black limousine
LIQUEfy : To become liquid; to make something liquid : The ice liquefied into water as the temperature increased
LIQUIDATE : To convery into cash; to sell something in order to get money : The Bank decided to liquidate his assets to recover their money
LITERACy : The ability to read and write : A campaign to promote adult literacy
LOATHE : To dislike somebody/something very much : They loathe each other
LOGARITHM : The exponent expressing the power to which a fixed number (the base) must be raised in order to produce a given number : Logarithms make calculations much easier
LOzENGE : A small aromatic or medicated candy : He was promised a lozenge if he completed his work
LUDICROUS : Incongruous; inviting ridicule : It is ludicrous to call a cottage a mansion
LUMINOUS : Giving off light; shining; bright : A sky luminous with stars
LUNATIC : a person who does crazy things that are often dangerous : The lunatic jumped in front of the running train
LUNCHEON : A formal lunch or a formal word for lunch : Luncheon will be served at one, Madam.
LUSCIOUS : Having a strong pleasant taste : He presented an assortment of luscious fruit
LUSTRE : The shining quality of a surface : Her hair had lost its lustre
LUSTROUS : Having luster; shining; bright; glorious : Lustrous auburn hair
LUxURIANT : Growing with vigor and in great abundance; lush; attractive : the garden had a luxuriant undergrowth
LUxURIOUS : Of a sumptuous, costly, or rich variety; very comfortable; containing expensive and enjoyable things : The businessman enjoyed a very luxurious lifestyle
MACABRE : Suggesting the horror of death and decay; gruesome : Macabre tales of war and plague in the Middle Ages
MACARONI : Pasta in any of various hollow shapes, especially short curved tubes : She really likes macaroni
MACHETE : A large heavy knife with a broad blade, used as a weapon and an implement for cutting vegetation : He took the machete along when going to the farm
MACHINERy : Machines as a group, especially large ones : Agricultural / industrial machinery
MAELSTROM : A violent or turbulent
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situation : They were being sucked into the maelstrom of war
MAESTRO : An artist of consummate skill : The maestro held the audience spellbound with his rendition
MAGAzINE : Periodical containing a collection of articles, stories, pictures, or other features. : India Today is a very popular magazine
MAGNESIUM : A chemical element used in making several alloys; burns with a hot, white light : Magnesium is a light, silver-white metal that burns with a bright white flame
MAGNIfICENT : Extremely attractive and impressive; deserving praise : The Taj Mahal is a magnificent building
MAHOGANy : The hard reddish-brown wood of a tropical tree, used for making furniture : A mahogany table
MAINTENANCE : The act of keeping something in good condition by checking or repairing it regularly : The school pays for heating and the maintenance of the buildings
MALAISE : General sense of depression or unease : Typical symptoms include malaise, weight loss, a low grade fever and pain and swelling in the affected joints
MALIGN : To make evil, harmful, and often untrue statements about; speak evil of : She feels she has been much maligned by the press
MALLEABLE : Quality of metals to be hit or pressed into different shapes easily without breaking or cracking : Gold is a very malleable metal
MANAGEMENT : The act, manner, or practice of managing; handling, supervision, or control : The report blames bad management for the bad performance
MANNEQUIN : A life-size dummy of the human body used to fit or display clothes : The store assistants arranged the mannequins in the shop window every day
MARGARINE : A yellow substance like butter made from animal or vegetable fats, used in cooking or spread on bread, etc. : He likes his bread with margarine
MARIONETTE : A puppet or little jointed figure made to look like a person or animal and moved by strings or wires from above, often on a miniature stage : The show included a cute marionette
MARRIAGE : The legal relationship between a husband and wife; a close and intimate union : He has had an arranged marriage
MARTyR : A person who suffers very much or is killed because of their religious or political beliefs : The early Christian martyrs
MASCARA : A substance that is put on eyelashes to make them look dark and thick : She liked to use mascara when on stage
MASCULINE : Of or relating to men or boys; male : He was handsome and strong, and very masculine
MASQUERADE : A way of behaving that hides the truth or a person’s true feelings : He was tired of the masquerade and wanted the truth to come out
MASSACRE : The killing of a large number of people especially in a cruel way : The bloody massacre of innocent civilians
MASSEUR : A person who is skilled in and gives people a massage : The masseur was a very talkative person
MATRIMONy : Marriage; the state of being married: Holy matrimony
MATTRESS : A casing of strong fabric filled with cotton, hair, foam rubber, etc., usually
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containing coiled springs, often quilted or tufted at intervals, and used on or as a bed : We can sleep on a mattress on the floor
MAUSOLEUM : A special building made to hold the dead body of an important person or the dead bodies of a family : The royal mausoleum
MAVERICk : A person who does not behave or think like everyone else, but who has independent, unusual opinions : A political maverick
MAyONNAISE : A thick, cold, white sauce made from eggs, oil and vinegar, used to add flavour to sandwiches, salads, etc : Egg mayonnaise
MECHANIC : a worker skilled in making, using, or repairing machines, vehicles, and tools : A mechanic will be required to repair the car
MEDALLION : A large medal sometimes worn on a chain around the neck : He was awarded a medallion for his efforts
MEDIEVAL : Connected with the Middle Ages (about AD 1000 to AD 1450) : Medieval architecture / castles / manuscripts
MEDIOCRE : Not very good; of only average standard : A mediocre musician
MEDIOCRITy : The quality of being average or not very good : If one does not strive to improve constantly, one may sink into
mediocrity
MEDITERRANEAN : Connected with the Mediterranean Sea or the countries and regions that surround it; typical of this area : A Mediterranean country
MELANCHOLy : A deep feeling of sadness that lasts for a long time and often cannot be explained : A mood of melancholy descended on us
MEMENTO : A reminder of the past; a keepsake, a souvenir : A memento of our trip to Italy
MERCENARy : A professional soldier who will fight for any country or group that offers payment : Foreign mercenaries
MERCHANDISE : Goods that are bought or sold; goods that are for sale in a shop/store : A wide selection of merchandise
MERCILESS : showing no kindness or pity; cruel : It was clear that the killer was merciless
MERCURy : A heavy, silvery, metallic element; the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures : Mercury is very poisonous
MESMERISM : A strong or spellbinding appeal; fascination : The magician’s act induced mesmerism among the audience
MESSIAH : Any expected savior or liberator of a people, group or country : He arrived like a messiah in their ghetto
METALLIC : Containing or made of or resembling or characteristic of a metal : It had a metallic sound
METAMORpHOSIS : A process in which somebody/something changes completely into something different : The metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly
METEOROLOGy : The science of the atmosphere and atmospheric phenomena; study of weather, including weather
2010 WINNER :DpS - kALy-ANpUR - kANpUR
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forecasting : A timely monsoon was predicted by the department of meteorology
METICULOUS : Extremely or excessively careful about details : He’s always meticulous in keeping the records up to date
MEzzANINE : A floor that is built between two floors of a building and is smaller than the other floors : A bedroom on the mezzanine
MICROpHONE : A device that is used for recording sounds or for making one voice louder when one is speaking or singing to an audience : To speak into the microphone
MILIEU : Environment; especially social or cultural setting : The findings of the report refer to a particular social and cultural milieu
MILITARy : Connected with soldiers or the armed forces : Military action was necessary to curb the violent crowds
MILLENNIUM : A period of 1000 years, especially as calculated before or after the birth of Christ : The second millennium AD
MILLIONAIRE : Person who has a million pounds, dollars, etc. ; a very rich person : An oil millionaire
MIMICRy : The art or skill of imitating the mannerisms, voice, movements, etc. of others : Parrots specialize in vocal mimicry
MINIATURE : Very small; much smaller than usual : Miniature roses are very popular
MINSTREL : Any of a medieval class of entertainers who traveled from place to place : The minstrels sang many delightful songs
MISANTHROpE : One who hates or mistrusts humankind : The serial killer was a misanthrope
MISCELLANEOUS : Consisting of many different kinds of things that are not
connected and do not easily form a group : A sale of miscellaneous household items
MISCHIEf : Behavior that causes discomfiture or annoyance to another without causing serious harm : Those children are always upto some mischief
MISCHIEVOUS : Causing mischief., enjoying playing tricks and annoying people : Her eyes danced with mischievous amusement
MISCREANT : An evildoer; a villain : The miscreants broke his car windows
MISDEMEANOR : An action that is bad or unacceptable, but not very serious : Youthful misdemeanors
MISSpELL : To spell incorrectly : He has the tendency to misspell large words
MNEMONIC : A device, such as a formula or rhyme, used as an aid in remembering : VIBGYOR is a mnemonic for the seven colours of the rainbow
MOCCASIN : A heelless slipper of soft, flexible leather, worn originally by North American Indians : He packed his moccasins in his bag
MONASTERy : A building or residence for monks or others who have withdrawn from the world for religious reasons : It was a beautiful Buddhist Monastery
MORGUE : A building in which dead bodies are kept before they are buried or cremated : The unidentified body was sent to the morgue
MOSQUITO : Two-winged insect whose female has a long proboscis to pierce the skin and suck the blood of humans and animals : A mosquito bite
MOUSTACHE : An unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip : The moustache looked good on him
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MURMUR : To say something in a soft quiet voice that is difficult to hear or understand : She murmured her agreement
MUSEUM : a building in which objects of artistic, cultural, historical or scientific interest are kept and shown to the public : The Indian museum is one of the largest in the country
MyRIAD : An extremely large number of something : Designs are available in a myriad of colours
MySTERIOUS : Difficult to understand or explain; strange : He died in mysterious circumstances
MySTERy : One that is not fully understood or that baffles or eludes the understanding; an enigma : It is still a mystery how the robbery was done
MySTIQUE : An aura of heightened value or interest or meaning surrounding a person or thing : The mystique surrounding the monarchy has gone for ever
NARCISSISM : Excessive love or admiration of oneself : He is a serious victim of narcissism
NAUSEOUS : Feeling as if you want to vomit : She felt dizzy and nauseous
NECESSARy : That which is vital / needed for a purpose or a reason : It may be necessary to buy new tyres
NEGLIGIBLE : So small as to be meaningless; insignificant : The effect was negligible
NEITHER : Not one nor the other of two things or people : Neither answer is correct
NEpOTISM : Favouritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in power : Employees resent nepotism which leads to merit being ignored
NICHE : A comfortable or suitable role, job, way of life etc. : He eventually found his niche in sports journalism
NOMENCLATURE : A system of naming things, especially in a branch of science : Zoological nomenclature
NONAGENARIAN : A person who is between 90 and 99 years old : The nonagenarian was still physically fit
NONCHALANCE : Behaving in a calm and relaxed way; giving the impression that one is not feeling any anxiety : ‘It’ll be fine,’ she replied, with nonchalance
NONDESCRIpT : Having no interesting or unusual features or qualities : A nondescript person / building / town
NOSTALGIA : A bittersweet longing for things, persons, or situations of the past : She is filled with nostalgia for her own college days
NOTORIETy : Fame for being bad in some way : He gained a certain notoriety as a gambler
NOTORIOUS : well known for being bad; infamous : The notorious criminal escaped from jail
NOURISHMENT : What (usually food) that is needed to stay alive, grow and stay healthy : Can plants obtain adequate nourishment from such poor soil
NUISANCE : A thing, person or situation
WEST BENGAL 2009 WINNERS : MODERN HIGH SCHOOL
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that is annoying or causes trouble or problems : I hope you’re not making a nuisance of yourself
NUTRITIOUS : Very good for you; containing many of the substances which help the body to grow : Tasty and nutritious meals
OBEDIENCE : The act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behaviour with respect to another person : Obedience to ones teachers is a virtue
OBLIQUE : Slanting or inclined in direction or course or position, neither parallel nor perpendicular nor right-angled : The oblique rays of the winter sun
OBNOxIOUS : Extremely unpleasant, especially in a way that offends people : His obnoxious behaviour was despised by all
OBSEQUIOUS : Trying too hard to please somebody, especially somebody who is important : The customer resented the obsequious behaviour of the salesman
OBSESSION : The state in which a person’s mind is completely filled with thoughts of one particular thing or person in a way that is not normal : Her fear of flying is bordering on obsession
OCCASION : The time at which something happens; special event : On the occasion of our last meeting
OCCUpANCy : The act of living in or using a building, room, piece of land, etc : Prices are based on full occupancy of an apartment
OCCURRENCE : Something that occurs; event; incident : Accidents are a common occurrence on these roads
ODySSEy : A long, wandering, and eventful journey : His odyssey was the talking point for days to come
OESOpHAGUS : The tube that passes from
the mouth to the stomach : The doctor said that he had an infection in the oesophagus
OMINOUS : Suggestive of something bad going to happen in the future : There were ominous dark clouds gathering overhead
OMISSION : The act of not including somebody/something : The play was shortened by the omission of two scenes
OMITTED : Left out, not included : People were surprised that Smith was omitted from the team
OMNISCIENCE : Knowing everything : The novel has an omniscient narrator
ONCOLOGy : The scientific study of and treatment of tumours in the body : He was referred to the department of oncology
ONOMATOpOEIA : Words containing sounds similar to the noises they describe, for example hiss; the use of words like these in a piece of writing : The onomatopoeia is used often in short stories
OpAQUE : Not letting light pass through; not transparent or translucent : The windows had opaque glass
OpHTHALMOLOGIST : A physician that specializes in the study and treatment of defects and diseases of the eye : He visited the ophthalmologist to get his eyes checked
OppORTUNITy : A chance for progress or advancement : Opportunity doesn’t knock twice
OppRESSIVE : Exercising power arbitrarily and often unjustly; tyrannical : The political situation has grown increasingly oppressive
ORCHESTRATE : To arrange or control the elements of, as to achieve a desired overall effect : Orchestrated a successful political campaign
ORCHID : A family of plants with brightly
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coloured flowers of unusual shapes : There are many different types of orchid and some of them are very rare
ORDINARy : Common; not unusual or different in any way : He wore ordinary looking clothes
ORpHANAGE : a home / public institution for the care and protection of children without parents : The orphanage was already full
OSCILLATE : To swing back and forth : The child spent all the time watching the pendulum oscillate
OSTENTATIOUS : For the purpose of attracting attention; pretentious : Her diamond studded necklace was very ostentatious
OSTRACISM : The state of being banished or ostracized (excluded from society by general consent) : He has been facing extreme ostracism
OSTRICH : A very large African bird with a long neck and long legs, that cannot fly but can run very fast : The Ostrich was running very fast
OUTRAGEOUS : Very shocking and unacceptable : His behaviour was outrageous
OVERWHELM : To make helpless, as with greater force or deep emotion; overcome;
crush; overpower : She was
o v e r w h e l m e d
with joy at his gesture of kindness
OxyMORON : A phrase that combines two words that seem to be the opposite of each other, for example a deafening silence : A popular oxymoron is living together alone
pACHyDERM : One of a group of thick-skinned mammals (as an elephant or rhinoceros) : The pachyderm moved freely in the forest
pAGEANT : A public entertainment in which people dress in historical costumes and give performances of scenes from history : His participation in the pageant was confirmed
pALANQUIN : A covered litter, formerly used in the Orient, carried on the shoulders of four men : The Sorceress rode in a beautiful palanquin
pALETTE : A thin board with a hole in it for the thumb to go through, used by an artist for mixing colours on when painting : He liked to used the yellow palette when painting portraits
pALINDROME : A word or phrase that reads the same backwards as forwards, for example madam or nurses run : Madam is an often used example of a palindrome
pAMpHLET : A very thin book with a paper cover, containing information about a particular subject : The visitors were given pamphlets about the laundry service
pANACHE : The quality of being able to do things in a confident and elegant way that other people find attractive : She carried off the performance with panache
pANTOMIME : A performance using gestures and body movements without words : We took the children to a pantomime
pARACHUTE : an apparatus used to retard free fall from an aircraft, consisting of a light, usually hemispherical canopy
j. M. INTER-NATIONAL SCHOOL DELHI 2009 WINNERS
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attached by cords to a harness and worn or stored folded until deployed in descen : The soldiers used parachutes to reach the swampy region
pARADIGM : A typical example or pattern of something : The war was a paradigm of the destructive side of human nature
pARALLEL : Two or more lines that are parallel to each other; are the same distance apart at every point : The two railway tracks run parallel to each other
pARANOIA : A mental illness in which a person may wrongly believe that other people are trying to harm them : Superstars generally suffer from paranoia
pARApHERNALIA : A large number of objects or personal possessions, especially the equipment that you need for a particular activity : An electric kettle and all the paraphernalia for making tea and coffee
pARLIAMENT : A legislative assembly; the group of people who are elected to make and change the laws of a country : The German parliament is called the ‘Bundestag’.
pASTIME : Something that one enjoys doing when one is not working : Watching television now seems to be the most popular national pastime
pATHETIC : Invoking pity or sadness : The starving children were a pathetic sight
pATIENCE : The ability to stay calm and accept a delay or something annoying without complaining; tolerance : She has little patience with such views
pATISSERIE : A shop/store that sells cakes, etc.: We visited the local patisserie to buy a birthday cake
pATRIARCH : The male head of a family or community : As the patriarch of the family he was responsible for their security
pAUCITy : Shortage, an insufficient quantity or number : A paucity of information
pAVILION : A usually temporary structure erected at a fair or show for use by an exhibitor : The French pavilion at the World Trade Fair
pECULIAR : Strange or unusual; eccentric; odd : The guest behaved in a very peculiar way
pEDAGOGUE : A teacher; a person who likes to teach people things : The best pedagogue is he who understands the students
pEDESTRIAN : A person walking in the street and not travelling in a vehicle : Two pedestrians were injured when the car skidded
pEDICURE : Care and treatment of the feet and toenails : She went for a pedicure to the salon
pENCHANT : A special liking for something : She has a penchant for champagne
pENDULUM : a body suspended from a fixed point so as to swing freely to and fro under the action of gravity and commonly used to regulate the movements of clockwork and other machinery : The suspended trolley swung like a pendulum
pERCEIVE : To notice or become aware of something : I perceived a change in his behaviour
pERENNIAL : Continuing for a very long time; happening again and again for many years : The perennial problem of water shortage
pERIpHERy : The outer edge of a particular area : The condition makes it difficult for patients to see objects at the periphery of their vision
pERMISSIBLE : Acceptable according to the
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law or a particular set of rules : Permissible levels of nitrates in water
pERpETUAL : Continuing for an indefinitely long period of time without interruption : The concept of perpetual motion is difficult to understand
pERpETUATE : Cause to continue or prevail for a long time : Comics tend to perpetuate the myth that ‘boys don’t cry’
pERSEVERANCE : Steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness: They showed great perseverance in the face of difficulty
pERSUADE : To induce to undertake a course of action or embrace a point of view by means of argument, reasoning, or entreaty : The fans tried to persuade the singer to hum a few lines
pETROLEUM : An oily, flammable, liquid solution of hydrocarbons, yellowish-green to black in color, found under the ground or the sea and is used to produce petrol, gas, paraffin, diesel oil, etc. : The natural resources of petroleum are fast drying up
pHARAOH : A ruler of ancient Egypt : The museum had a mummy of a pharaoh
pHARMACEUTICAL : Connected with making and selling drugs and medicines : He started his career as a salesman for the pharmaceutical company
pHARMACy : A outlet where drugs and medicine are sold; the art and science of preparing and dispensing medicine : We bought the prescribed medicines at the local pharmacy
pHENOMENON : A remarkable development; a fact or an event in nature or society, especially one that is not fully understood : Globalization is a phenomenon of the 21st century
pHILANTHROpy : The practice of helping humanity, especially the poor and needy in kind or by service : Hospitals were built as a result of private philanthropy and government intervention
PHILATELY : The collection and study of stamps : Philately is a very popular hobby
pHILOSOpHy : The study of the nature and meaning of the universe and of human life : He took philosophy as his main subject
pHLEGM : Thick, sticky, stringy mucus secreted by the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, as during a cold or other respiratory infection : The child was continually wiping the phlegm that was flowing out of his nose
pHOENIx : A legendary magical bird that lives for several hundred years before burning itself and then being born again : To rise like a phoenix from the ashes
pHONETIC : Using special symbols to represent each different speech sound; connected with the sounds of human speech : The children were taught the alphabet using phonetics
pHySICIAN : a medical doctor, especially one who is a specialist in general medicine and not surgery : The physician advised him to consult a dermatologist
pHySIQUE : The size and shape of a person’s body : He has the physique of a
BANGALORE 2009 WINNERS:NATIONALpUBLIC SCHOOL (RNR)
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rugby player
pICTURESQUE : Pretty, beautiful; suitable for a picture : We saw a picturesque cottage in the countryside
pILGRIMAGE : a journey to a holy place for religious reasons : The old couple set out on the pilgrimage to Varanasi
pINNACLE : The highest point, the most important or successful part of something : The pinnacle of her career
pIQUANT : Having a pleasantly strong or spicy taste : Chicken served with a piquant wild mushroom sauce
pIROUETTE : A fast turn or spin that a person, especially a ballet dancer, makes on one foot : She pirouetted across the stage
pISTACHIO : Small tree of southern Europe and Asia Minor bearing small hard-shelled nuts : I like pistachio flavoured ice-cream
pLAGIARISM : The act of taking someone’ s words or ideas as if they were your own : There were accusations of plagiarism on the playwright
pLAQUE : a flat plate, slab, or disk that is ornamented or engraved for mounting, for decoration or information : A bronze plaque marks the house where the poet was born
pLATEAU : A relatively flat highland : The plateau provided a perfect location for a race course
pLAUSIBLE : Reasonable and likely to be true : Her story sounded perfectly plausible
pLAyWRIGHT : a person who writes plays for the theatre, television or radio : A career as a playwright can be very rewarding
pLEBISCITE : A vote by the people of a country or a region on an issue that is very important : To hold a plebiscite on the country’s future system of government
pNEUMATIC : Using air; something run by or using compressed air : A pneumatic drill
pNEUMONIA : Respiratory disease characterized by inflammation of the lung : He had to be hospitalised with a bout of pneumoni
pOIGNANT : Profoundly moving; touching : A poignant memory
pOISONOUS : Capable of harming or killing; toxic or venomous : The leaves of certain trees are poisonous
pOLTERGEIST : A ghost that manifests itself by noises, rappings, and the creation of disorder : The film was about a playful poltergeist
pOMEGRANATE : A round fruit with thick smooth skin and red flesh full of large seeds : Pomegranates are very good for health
pORCELAIN : A hard white shiny substance made by baking clay and used for making delicate cups, plates and decorative objects; objects that are made of this : A porcelain figure adorned the mantlepiece
pORCUpINE : An animal covered with long stiff parts like needles (called quills), which it can raise to protect itself when it is attacked : In haste he stepped on a porcupine
pORpOISE : a sea animal or small whale that looks like a large fish with teeth and a short rounded snout : The children saw a porpoise at the aquarium
pORTUGUESE : Of or relating to Portugal or its people, language, or culture : The musical also included a traditional Portuguese dance
pOSSESSION : The state of having or owning something : The manuscript is just one of the treasures in their possession
pOSTHUMOUS : Happening, done, published, etc. after a person has died : A posthumous award for bravery
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pOTpOURRI : A mixture of dried flowers and leaves in a jar, used for making a room smell pleasant : She kept a potpourri on her kitchen windowsill
pRACTICALLy : In a practical manner; in effect; virtually : The theatre was practically empty
pRECARIOUS : Not safe or certain; dangerous : The car was perched precariously on the hillside
pRECEDING : To happen before something or come before something/somebody in order : The years preceding the war
pRECINCT : A district of a city or town marked out for administrative purposes : This is the cleanest precinct in the city
pRECIOUS : Rare and worth a lot of money; valuable : The old vase was very precious
pRECOCIOUS : Having developed particular abilities and ways of behaving at a much younger age than usual : A precocious child who started her acting career at the age of 5
pREDECESSOR : The person who held the office / post earlier or before : The new president reversed many of the policies of his predecessor
pREfER : To like one thing or person better than another; to choose one thing over others : I prefer coffee to tea
pREjUDICE : a partiality that
prevents objective considerat ion
o f a n
issue or situation : Their decision was based on ignorance and prejudice
pRESTIGIOUS : Esteemed; respected and admired as very important or of very high quality : It was a very prestigious event
pRIVILEGE : A special right or advantage that a particular person or group of people has : Education should be a universal right and not a privilege
pROCEDURE : A specified way of doing something, especially the usual or correct way : Maintenance procedures
pROfESSION : an occupation or career, usually one such as law, medicine, or engineering, that requires considerable training and specialized study : He was an electrician by profession
pROfICIENT : Able to do something well because of training and practice : She’s proficient in several languages
pROLIfIC : Producing many works : A prolific author
pROMENADE : A public place for walking, usually a wide path beside the sea : The promenade at Blackpool
pRONUNCIATION : The way in which a language or a particular word or sound is orally spoken : A guide to English pronunciation
pROpAGANDA : Ideas or statements that may be false or exaggerated and that are used in order to gain support for a political leader, party, movement etc.: The rebels leaflets to spread propaganda among the tribals
pROpHETIC : Correctly stating or showing what will happen in the future: Many of his warnings proved prophetic
pROpINQUITy : The property of being close together : Differences arose because of their
2010WINNER : MARy IM-MACULATE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL - MUMBAI
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propinquity
pROpRIETOR : The owner of a business, a hotel, etc. : He was the founder and proprietor of the company
pROTAGONIST : The main character in a play, film/movie or book : The protagonist of this play has a negative role
pROTOCOL : Forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state : A breach of protocol
pROTUBERANCE : A round part that sticks or bulges out from a surface : The diseased trees are marked by protuberances on their trunks
pROVINCIAL : Connected with one of the large areas that some countries are divided into, with its own local government : Provincial assemblies / elections
pROVOCATIVE : Intended to make people angry or upset; intended to make people argue about something : He doesn’t really mean that—he’s just being deliberately provocative
pROxIMITy : The state of being near somebody/something in distance or time : A house in the proximity of the motorway
pSEpHOLOGy : The scientific study of elections : Candidates look to psephology to plan their campaigns
pSEUDONyM : A name used by somebody, especially a writer, instead of their real name : She writes under a pseudonym
pSyCHIATRy : The branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders : She is looking forward to studying psychiatry in college
pSyCHIC : Connected with strange powers of the mind and not able to be explained by natural laws : Psychic energy / forces /
phenomena / powers
pSyCHOLOGy : The scientific study of the mind and how it influences behaviour : Understanding child psychology helps in handling children effectively
pUNCTUAL : Acting, arriving or performed exactly at the time appointed; not late : She has been reliable and punctual
pURSUIT : The act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture; chase : She travelled the world in pursuit of her dreams
pyRAMID : A large building with a square or triangular base and sloping sides that meet in a point at the top mostly found in Egypt : The ancient Egyptians built stone pyramids as places to bury their kings and queens
QUAGMIRE : A soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot : The heavy rain soon turned the field into a quagmire
QUALM : A feeling of doubt or worry about whether what you are doing is right : He had been working very hard so he had no qualms about taking a few days off
QUANDRy : The state of not being able to decide what to do especially in a difficult situation : The policemen were in a quardry about how to handle the situation
QUARANTINE : Enforced isolation of patients suffering from a contagious disease in order to prevent it from spreading : The dog was kept in quarantine for six months
QUARTz : A hard mineral, often in crystal form, that is used to make very accurate clocks and watches : Quartz watches have become very popular
QUESTIONNAIRE : A form containing a set of questions, submitted to people to gain statistical information : To complete a questionnaire
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QUEUE : A line of people, cars, etc. waiting for something or to do something : How long were you in the queue
QUINTESSENTIAL : Representing the perfect example of a class or quality : He was a quintessential knight
QUORUM : The smallest number of people who must be at a meeting before it can begin or decisions can be made : If a quorum is not present, the meeting must be adjourned
QUOTIENT : A number which is the result when one number is divided by another : The quotient is to be underlined
RACONTEUR : One who excels in telling anecdotes; storyteller : The raconteur held his audience spellbound with his vivid description
RAzzMATAzz : A lot of noisy exciting activity that is intended to attract people’s attention; a showy and exciting display : The documentary focuses on the razzmatazz of an American political campaign
REBUTTAL : The act of refuting by offering a contrary contention or argument : His rebuttal silenced all those questions
RECEIpT : An acknowledgement ( usually on paper), that payment has been made : Can I have a receipt, please
RECEIVE : To get or accept something that is sent or given to you : To receive a letter / present /
phone call
RECIpE : a set of instructions with a list of ingredients for making or preparing something, especially food : The chef did not share the recipe of his special dish
RECIpIENT : A person who receives something : He was the recipient of many awards
RECIpROCAL : Concerning each of two or more persons or things; especially given or done in return : The two colleges have a reciprocal arrangement whereby students from one college can attend classes at the other
RECOMMEND : To suggest favorably as suited for some use, function, position etc. : To recommend a book
RECONCILIATION : An end to a disagreement and the start of a good relationship again : Their change of policy brought about a reconciliation with Britain
RECONNAISSANCE : The inspection or exploration of an area, especially one made to gather military information : To make an aerial reconnaissance of the island
RECRUIT : To engage or enroll; to find new people to join a company, an organization, the armed forces, etc. : The army is trying to recruit more officers from all communities
RECUpERATE : To be restored to health, strength or energy; get well again; recover : After an exhausting few weeks, I needed some time to recuperate
RECURRENCE : Happening again : Attempts to prevent a recurrence of the problem were in vain
REfEREE : The official who controls the game in some sports like football : The referee was very strict and fair
REfERENDUM : A popular vote by the electorate whether to approve a specific
1999 WINNER : LORETO HOUSE
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legislative act : Ireland decided to hold a referendum on divorce
REfERRAL : A recommendation to consult another person or group : His illnesses required a referral to a specialist
REHEARSAL : The act of practicing in preparation for a public performance : The director informed all that it was compulsory to be present at all rehearsals
REIMBURSE : To repay or compensate for expenses, damages, losses etc. : We will reimburse any expense incurred
REINCARNATION : Rebirth of the soul in another body, as in Hindu religious belief : Do you believe in reincarnation
REINfORCE : To make a feeling, an idea, etc. stronger : The experience reinforced my sense of loss
REITERATE : To repeat something that you have already said, especially to emphasize it : The officer reiterated the importance of punctuality
REjUVENATE : To make feel or seem young again; bring back to youthful strength, appearance etc. : The session at the Yoga centre rejuvenated him
RELIEVE : To ease, lighten or reduce ( pain, anxiety etc. ) : Removal of the plaster cast would relieve him of the stiffness
RELIGIOUS : Connected with religion or with a particular religion : The religious gathering was chanting hymns very loudly
RELINQUISH : To give up, abandon, part with : He was forced to relinquish control of the company
REMINISCE : To think, talk or write about remembered events or experiences : We spent a happy evening reminiscing about the past
REMUNERATION : Payment or compensation for work or service done, loss incurred etc.; reward : Adequate remuneration is essential to retain the quality of service received
RENAISSANCE : The humanistic revival of classical art, architecture, literature and learning that originated in Italy in the 14th century and later spread throughout Europe : Renaissance art
RENDEzVOUS : A meeting at a prearranged time and place : I had a secret rendezvous with Mohan that evening
RENEGADE : A person who abandons a party, movement, etc. and goes over to the other side; traitor; turncoat : The renegades launched a guerilla campaign
RENEWAL : The act of renewing or making a contract, etc. valid for a further period of time after it has finished : As per the agreement, the terms and conditions would be reviewed at the time of renewal
RENOWN : Fame and respect because of something you have done that people admire : He won renown as a fair judge
REpERCUSSION : An often indirect effect, influence, or result that is produced by an event or action : The collapse of the company will have repercussions for the whole industry
REpERTOIRE : The range or number of skills, aptitudes, or special accomplishments of a particular person or group : A pianist with a wide repertoire
REpETITION : The fact of doing or saying the same thing many times : In her work, we find the constant repetition of the same themes
REpLACEMENT : The act of replacing one thing with another, especially something that is newer or better; substitution; the thing or person that is used for replacing :
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He asked for a replacement of the damaged tyres
REpLENISH : To make something full again by replacing what has been used : Allow me to replenish your glass
REpLICA : a very good or exact copy of something : The children created a replica of the Taj Mahal
REpREHENSIBLE : Morally wrong and deserving criticism : His conduct was thoroughly reprehensible
REQUIREMENT : Something that one needs or wants for something : He made a list of the requirements for repairing the television
RESCIND : To officially state that a law, contract, decision, etc. is no longer valid : The Governor agreed to rescind the decision on popular demand
RESCUE : To save somebody/something from a dangerous or harmful situation : He rescued a child from drowning
RESEARCH : a careful study of a subject, especially in order to discover new facts or information about it : He has dedicated his life to medical research
RESERVOIR : A natural or artificial pond or lake used for storage and regulation of a liquid usually water : The natural reservoir would soon dry up if appropriate steps are not taken
RESIDENCE : The place in which one lives; a dwelling or a house : The
new President was escorted to his official residence
RESTAURANT : A place where you can buy and eat a meal : We had a meal in a restaurant
RESTRAINT : The act of controlling by holding back from action, checking; supression : The government has imposed export restraints on some products
RESURRECT : To bring back to life; restore from a depressed, inactive or unused state : The campaign for spelling reform has been resurrected
RESUSCITATE : To revive or revitalize; bring back to life, to restore consciousness : He had a heart attack and all attempts to resuscitate him failed
RETALIATE : Take revenge for a perceived wrong : The boy hit his sister, who retaliated by kicking him
RETRIEVE : To get back, recover : The police have managed to retrieve some of the stolen money
REVERBERATE : To resound in a succession of echoes; reecho : Her voice reverberated around the hall
REVERE : To regard with deep respect, love and awe, venerate : He is now revered as a national hero
RHApSODy : A piece of music that is full of feeling and is not regular in form : His rhapsody surprised everybody
RHETORIC : The art of using words effectively in speaking or writing; the art of prose composition : The rhetoric of political slogans
RHEUMATISM : A painful disorder of the joints, muscles or connective tissues : His grandfather complained of rheumatism whenever the weather was cold and damp
BANGALORE 2005 WIN-NER :INNIS-fREE HOUSE SCHOOL
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RHINOCEROS : A large heavy animal with very thick skin and either one or two horns on its nose, that lives in Africa and Asia : The main attraction of the park was the rhinoceros
RHOMBUS : a flat shape with four equal sides and four angles which are not 90°; an equilateral parallelogram : A rhombus is a parallelogram but not a rectangle
RHyME : A piece of verse, poem in which there is a regular recurrence of corresponding sounds, especially at the end of lines : The child recited a nursery rhyme
RHyTHM : A strong regular repeated pattern of sounds or movements : To dance to the rhythm of the music
RICOCHET : The oblique rebound or skipping of a bullet, stone, etc. after striking a surface at an angle : A woman protester was killed by a ricochet (bullet)
RIDICULOUS : Very silly or unreasonable; absurd : I look ridiculous in this hat
RIGHTEOUS : Morally right and just : He was known to be a righteous judge
SACHET : A closed plastic or paper package that contains a very small amount of liquid or a powder : A sachet of sauce / sugar / shampoo
SACRILEGIOUS : Grossly irreverent toward what is or is held to be sacred : Leading clerics condemned the book as a sacrilegious attack on their faith.
SACROSANCT : Considered to be too important to change or question, sacred and inviolable : I’ll work till late in the evening, but my weekends are sacrosanct
SAGACIOUS : Having or showing keen discernment, sound judgment, and farsightedness : The sagacious old man was consulted by many
SALVAGE : The act of saving things that have been, or are likely to be, damaged or lost, especially in a disaster or an accident : The divers tried to salvage what was left of the wrecked tanker
SANCTUM : A private room where somebody can go and not be disturbed; a sacred place : No one except the high priest was allowed in the inner sanctum of the temple
SANDWICH : Two slices of bread, often spread with butter, with a layer of meat, cheese, vegetables etc. between them: He asked for a cheese sandwich
SANGUINE : Hopeful, cheerful and confident about the future : They investors are less sanguine about the company’s future prospects
SAppHIRE : A clear, bright precious stone, generally blue : The crown was adorned with a large sapphire in the centre
SATELLITE : Man-made object rocketed into orbit around the earth, the moon etc.: The interview came live by satellite from Hollywood
SAxOpHONE : A metal musical instrument that you blow into, used especially in jazz : The saxophone has a very distinctive sound
SCAffOLDING : A system of temporary wooden or metal framework for suppoting workmen and material during the erecting, repairing, or painting of a building etc. : The statue is currently surrounded by scaffolding
SCARCITy : Insufficiency of amount or supply; shortage : A scarcity of food that was caused by drought
SCENARIO : A description of how things might happen in the future: Let me suggest a possible scenario
SCENERy : A view or views of natural features, especially in open country : The
scenery from the hotel window is really beautiful
SCHEDULE : A plan for performing work or achieving an objective, specifying the order and allotted time for each part : I have a hectic schedule for the next few days
SCHIzOpHRENIA : A mental illness in which a person becomes unable to link thought, emotion and behaviour, leading to withdrawal from reality and personal relationships : He suffered from schizophrenia
SCHOLARSHIp : Grant or financial aid given to somebody by an organization to help pay for their education : The businessman offered a scholarship to the brightest student
SCINTILLATE : Gleam or emit quick flashes as if throwing off sparks : Her eyes scintillate whenever she is joyously excited
SCISSORS : A hand-held tool for cutting paper or cloth, that has two sharp blades with handles, joined together in the middle : A pair of scissors is necessary for craft-work
SCRUMpTIOUS : Delightful, excellent, tasty : The bakery down the street makes scrumptious pastries
SCRUpULOUS : Conscientious and exact, principled; careful about paying attention to every detail : Ram was very scrupulous in maintaining the accounts of the hostel
SCyTHE : A tool with a long handle and a slightly curved blade,
used for cutting long grass, etc :
The gardener
u s e d t h e
scythe to defend himself
SECEDE : To officially leave an organization of states, countries, etc. and become independent : The people of that region want to secede from the state
SECRETARy : A person employed to handle correspondence, keep files, and do clerical work for another person or an organization; an officer who keeps records, takes minutes of the meetings, and answers correspondence, as for a company, association, club etc. : The company had a very efficient secretary
SEISMOGRApH : An instrument that measures and records information about earthquakes : The seismograph readings were indicative of an impending earthquake
SEIzURE : A sudden attack or occurrence (or recurrence) of a disease : He suffered an epileptic seizure
SELLOTApE : Adhesive tape used to stick things together : We used sellotape to cover the notebooks with brown paper
SENSORy : Connected with your physical senses or sensation : Sensory organs
SENTINEL : A guard or watchmen, usually referred to a soldier : The lone sentinel soon fell asleep
SEpULCHRAL : Suggestive of the grave or burial; dismal; gloomy : The atmosphere at the accident site was sepulchral
SEQUEL : A book, film/movie, play, etc. that continues the story of an earlier one : A sequel to the hit movie ‘Munna Bhai’
SEQUENCE : A set of events, actions, numbers, etc. which have a particular order and which lead to a particular result : The witness recounted the exact sequence of events
SEQUIN : a small round shiny disc sewn onto clothing as decoration: The bride was
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2010 WINNER :MODERN HIGH SCHOOL WEST BENGAL
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wearing a dress covered in gold sequins
SERGEANT : Noncommissioned officer in the defense or police force : The sergeant led his team from the front
SHRIVEL : Become or make something dry and wrinkled as a result of heat, cold or being old : The shriveled old man laughed
SIEGE : A military operation in which an army tries to capture a town by surrounding it and stopping the supply of food, etc. to the people inside; a blockade : The rebels laid siege to the capital city
SIEVE : A utensil having many small meshed or perforated openings, used to strain solids from liquids, to separate fine particles of loose matter from coarser ones : A sieve is use to separate the larger tea leaves from the finer ones
SIGNATURE : Your name as you usually write it, for example at the end of a letter: Someone had forged her signature on the cheque SILHOUETTE : The dark outline or shape of a person or an object that is seen against a light background : The silhouette of chimneys and towers
SIMILE : A word or phrase that compares something to something else, using the words like or as: Most of us have used a simile without know about it
SIMULTANEOUS : Happening or done at the same time as something else : There were several simultaneous attacks by the rebels
SINCERE : With honest intentions, showing what one really thinks or feels; genuine : Although not very talented he was very sincere
SkELETON : The hard framework consisting of bones, of an animal or human body, supporting the tissues and protecting the organs : The human skeleton consists of 206
bones.
SkIRMISH : A brief fight or encounter between small groups, usually an incident of a battle : Several people were killed in skirmishes during the night
SLEIGHT : Skilful movements of your hand that other people cannot see : The trick is done simply by sleight of hand
SMORGASBORD : A meal or buffet offering a large range of hot and cold dishes : All guests were fascinated by the smorgasbord at the party
SOjOURN : To live somewhere temporarily, as on a visit; stay for a while : Once this is completed she plans her summer sojourn in Shimla
SOLACE : A feeling of emotional comfort when you are sad or disappointed, consolation : The bereaved widow was looking for solace from some quarter
SOLDIER : A member of an army, usually referred to one a noncommissioned officer : The soldiers marched past the President in perfect order
SOLEMN : Done, said, etc. in a very serious and sincere way : A solemn oath / undertaking / vow etc.
SOLILOQUy : lines in a drama in which a character reveals his or her thoughts to the audience, but not to the other characters, by speaking as if to himself or herself : Soliloquies play an important role in Shakespeare’s plays
SOLITAIRE : A single precious stone; a piece of jewellery with a single precious stone in it : A solitaire ring
SOLITARy : Existing, living or going without others, alone : She enjoys long solitary walks
SOLSTICE : Either of the two times of the year at which the sun reaches its highest or
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lowest point in the sky at midday, marked by the longest and shortest days : The summer / winter solstice
SOMBRERO : A Mexican hat for men that is tall with a very wide brim, turned up at the edges : The Sombrero was too big for him
SOMERSAULT : An acrobatic feat in which the feet roll over the head (either forward or backward) and return : He did a somersault on scoring a goal
SOMNAMBULIST : Someone who walks about in their sleep : He did not know that he was a somnambulist
SOUVENIR : A reminder of past events, place, an occasion or a holiday/vacation : We bought something for all at the souvenir shop
SOVEREIGN : Having complete power or the greatest power in the country : A sovereign ruler
SpAGHETTI : A pasta made in solid strings of small diameter but larger than vermicelli : The children loved the spaghetti at the party
SpECTRUM : A band of coloured lights in order of their wavelengths, as seen in a rainbow and into which light may be separated; a complete or wide range of related qualities, ideas, etc : The exhibition displayed the entire spectrum of tribal dresses
SpHINx : An ancient Egyptian stone statue of a creature with a human head and the body of a lion lying down : All tourists to Egypt definitely visit the famous sphinx
SpONTANEOUS : Said or done without having been planned or written in advance : A spontaneous offer of help
SQUADRON : A group of military aircraft or ships forming a section of a military force : A bomber / fighter squadron
SQUEAMISH : Easily upset, or made to
feel sick by unpleasant sights or situations, especially when the sight of blood is involved : There is no place for squeamish people on this assignment
SQUELCH : The sound of liquid, mud, slush etc. moving under pressure or suction, as in wet shoes : The mud squelched as I walked through it
STALWART : One who is physically and morally strong; steadfast in support to an organisation or cause : He is a stalwart of the political party
STATUE : A figure of a person or an animal in stone, metal, etc., usually the same size as in real life or larger : His statue was the most beautiful of all
STATUESQUE : Tall and well-proportioned; like a statue : A statuesque sculpture was placed in the town square
STEREOTypE : One that is regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image or type : Quite an impressive collection of images of racial stereotypes
STETHOSCOpE : An instrument used by doctors for the detection and study of sounds within the body : The doctor had a stethoscope hung around his neck
STRATEGy : A plan that is intended to achieve a particular purpose : To develop a strategy for dealing with unemployment
SUBCONSCIOUS : Connected with feelings that influence your behaviour even though you are not aware of them : Subconscious desires
SUBpOENA : A written legal order directing a person to appear in court to give testimony, show specified records etc. : He was served with a subpoena
SUBSEQUENT : Following in time or order : The subsequent outcome was expected
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SUCCEED : To achieve or accomplish something planned or attempted : One needs to be persistent to succeed
SUCCESSfUL : Having obtained something desired or intended : They were successful in winning the contract
SUCCINCT : Marked by brief and compact expression or by lack of unnecessary words and details : Ram’s succinct answers were enough to silence his detractors
SUCCUMB : To not be able to fight an attack, an illness, a temptation, etc : The town succumbed after a short siege
SUffICIENT : As much as is needed; equal to what is required or specified, enough : Allow sufficient time to get there
SUpERCILIOUS : Behaving towards other people as if you think you are better than they are; haughty or disdainful : The seniors were supercilious in their bahaviour towards the freshers
SUppRESS : Subdue; to put an end, often by force, to a group or an activity that is believed to threaten authority : The police needs to suppress the rebellion as soon as possible SURGEON : A doctor who is trained to perform surgery : The surgeon was very dexterous
SURREpTITIOUS : marked by quiet, caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed : He passed the packet to her surreptitiously
SURVEILLANCE : Observation of a place or process or person : They kept a close surveillance on the suspect
SUSCEpTIBLE : Easily influenced or affected, highly impressionable : He’s highly susceptible to flattery
SUSpICION : A feeling that somebody or
something is wrong, illegal or dishonest, even though there is no proof : He was arrested by the police on the basis of suspicion
SyCOpHANT : A person who seeks favour by flattering people of wealth or influence : The politician was surrounded by sycophants
SyLLABLE : Any of the units into which a word is divided, containing a vowel sound and usually one or more consonants : The word pocket has two syllables
SyLLABUS : A list of the topics, books, etc. that students is required to study in a particular subject at school or college : The children were handed their syllabus for the year by the class teacher
SyMMETRy : Exact correspondence of form and constituent configuration on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane or about a center or an axis : Everything in nature has perfect symmetry
SyMpATHy : The feeling of being sorry for somebody; showing that you understand and care about somebody’s problems; the act or power of sharing the feelings of another : The poor child aroused sympathy in all the people who passed by
SyMpHONy : A long complicated piece of music for a large orchestra, in three or four main parts (called movements): Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony
SyMpOSIUM : A meeting or conference for the public discussion of some topic especially one in which the participants form an audience and make presentations : Delegates from all over attended the symposium
SyNAGOGUE : The place of worship for a Jewish congregation : The synagogue was at the centre of the town
SyNCHRONISM : The fact or state of being synchronous; simultaneous occurrence:
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Motion-picture cameras are devised to ensure good synchronism between sound and picture.
SyNONyMOUS : Having the same, or nearly the same meaning : Wealth is not necessarily synonymous with happiness
SyRINGE : A medical instrument used to inject or withdraw fluids : The syringe should always be sterilized before use
TABLEAU : A scene showing, for example, events and people from history, that is presented by a group of actors who do not move or speak : The procession included a tableau of the Battle of Plassey
TApESTRy : A heavy textile with a woven design; used for curtains and upholstery : The chateau had beautiful tapestry
TARGETED : Aimed an attack or a criticism at somebody/something : The missiles were mainly targeted at the United States
TARMAC : A paving material of tar and broken stone; mixed in a factory and shaped during paving; airport runway : The aircraft was parked on the tarmac
TARpAULIN : A large sheet made of heavy waterproof material, used to cover things with and to keep rain off : The poor use tarpaulin to line their roofs for protection against rain
TATTOO : A permanent mark or design made on the
skin by a process of pricking and
ingraining an indelible pigment or by raising scars : His arms were covered with tattoos
TECHNICIAN : One whose occupation requires training in a specific technical process; a person who is very skilled at the technical aspects of an art, a sport, etc. : He was a master technician
TECHNIQUE : A particular way of doing something, especially one in which you have to learn special skills : The artist combines different techniques in the same painting
TECHNOLOGy : The application of science, especially to industrial or commercial objectives : There have been great advances in construction technology
TEDIOUS : Lasting or taking too long and not interesting : The journey soon became tedious
TEETOTALER : A person who does not drink alcohol : They were surprised to know that he was a teetotaler
TEMERITy : Foolhardy disregard of danger; recklessness : He had the temerity to call me a liar
TENACIOUS : Holding or tending to hold persistently to something, such as a point of view : She’s a tenacious woman, she never gives up
TENANCy : A period of time that you rent a house, land, etc. for : A three-month tenancy
TENTACLE : A long thin part of the body of some creatures, such as an octopus, used for feeling or holding things, for moving or for getting food : The octopus has eight tentacles
TERCENTENNIAL : A 300th anniversary or its celebration : A grand ceremony was held to celebrate the tercentennial of the city
TERRAIN : A particular geographic area; a region : A guide who knows this terrain well
2008 WINNERS :OUR LADy Of fATIMA CONVENT SEC. SCHOOL - DELHI
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TERRESTRIAL : Of or relating to the Earth or its inhabitants; living on the land or on the ground, rather than in water, in trees or in the air : Many people believe in the existence of extra-terrestrial beings
TERRITORy : The land and waters under the jurisdiction of a nation, state, ruler, etc. : They have refused to allow UN troops to be stationed in their territory
TERRORIST : A person who takes part in acts of terrorism : The terrorist was arrested from the railway station
TESTIMONy : A declaration by a witness under oath, as that given before a court or deliberative body : The testimony of the eyewitness was enough to convict the accused
THERApEUTIC : Having or exhibiting healing powers : The therapeutic properties of herbs
THERApy : The treatment of a physical problem or an illness : The patient will need a sustained therapy to get completely cured
THESAURUS : A book that is like a dictionary, but in which the words are arranged in groups that have similar meanings : Most people have used a dictionary but not a thesaurus
THREATEN : To express a threat against; to be a source of danger to : The local goon used to threaten his neighbours
THRESHOLD : The floor or ground at the bottom of a doorway, considered as the entrance to a building or room : She stood hesitating on the threshold
THROTTLE : A valve that regulates the flow of a fluid, such as the valve in an internal-combustion engine that controls the amount of vaporized fuel entering the cylinders : The car sped ahead at full throttle
THROUGHOUT : In or into every part of something, during the whole period of time
of something : The children slept throughout the journey
THyROID : A small organ at the front of the neck that produces hormones that control the way in which the body grows and functions : She suffered from a thyroid related disease
TOBACCO : A plant, the leaves of which are prepared for smoking, chewing, or snuffing : Tobacco consumption is injurious to health
TOBOGGAN : A long light narrow sledge sometimes curved up in front, used for sliding down slopes of snow or ice : The team of adventurers used the toboggan for their descent
TOMAHAWk : A light axe used by Native Americans : The tomahawk struck the tree just beside him
TOMORROW : The day after today : See you tomorrow
TORMENTOR : A person who causes somebody to suffer : The hostage pleaded for mercy to her tormentors
TORTOISE : A land turtle with a hard round shell that moves very slowly : The tortoise peeped out of its shell
TOURIST : A person who is travelling or visiting a place for pleasure, religion or other purposes : The foreign tourists loved the local food
TOURNAMENT : A series of contests in which a number of contestants compete and the one that prevails through the final round or that finishes with the best record is declared the winner; generally a sports competition involving a number of teams or players : The world cup is the most watched football tournament in the world
TOURNIQUET : Bandage that stops the flow of blood from a blood vessel by applying pressure : She tore her shawl to make a
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tourniquet on his arm
TRAffIC : The totality of vehicles, pedestrians etc. that are on a road at a particular time : There’s always a lot of traffic at this time of day
TRAGEDy : A very sad event or situation, especially one that involves death or distressing loss : The family suffered a great tragedy with loss of two boys
TRANQUIL : Quiet and peaceful : The tranquil waters of the lake
TRANSCEND : To go beyond the limits of; overstep; exceed : A story that transcends belief
TRANSCRIBE : To record thoughts, speech or data in a written form, or in a different written form from the original : Clerks transcribe everything that is said in court
TRANSGRESS : To go beyond the limit of what is morally or legally acceptable : They had transgressed the bounds of decency
TRANSLUCENT : Allowing light to pass through partially but not transparent : The windows had translucent panes
TRAUMA : An emotional wound or shock often having long-lasting effects : The children showed no signs of trauma after their ordeal
TRAVELOGUE : A film/movie, broadcast or piece of writing about travel :
The travelogue had a lot of details
about the resort
TREACHEROUS : Tending to betray, that cannot be trusted; intending to harm you : He was weak, cowardly and treacherous
TRESpASS : To enter land or a building that you do not have permission or the right to enter : He told me I was trespassing on private land
TRIATHLON : A sporting event in which people compete in three different sports, usually swimming, cycling and running : This year there was a new triathlon champion
TRIBUTARy : A river or stream that flows into a larger river or a lake : The tributary was almost as large as the river itself
TRICyCLE : A vehicle similar to a bicycle, but with three wheels, one wheel at the front and two at the back generally used by children : The child was thrilled to receive a tricycle on her birthday
TriUmPhAnT : Victorious, very successful in a way that causes great satisfaction : They emerged triumphant in the September election
TROUSSEAU : The possessions, such as clothing and linens, that a bride assembles for her marriage : She kept her trousseau safely in a large trunk
TUITION : The training or instruction provided by a teacher or tutor : She received private tuition in French TURBULENCE : A state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally) : a period of turbulence in the country’s history TURQUOISE : A blue or greenish-blue semi-precious stone : He gifted her a turquoise brooch
TUxEDO : A suit of a semiformal men’s
2008 WINNERS :pADMA SES-HADRI BALA BHAVAN - CHENNAI
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jacket and dark trousers, worn with a dark bow tie : He looked very smart in the new tuxedo
TWILIGHT : The faint light or the period of time at the end of the day after the sun has gone down : It was hard to see him clearly in the twilight
TypICALLy : Used to say that something usually happens in the way that you are stating : The factory typically produces 500 chairs a week
TyRANT : A person who has complete power in a country and uses it in a cruel and unfair way : The country was ruled by a succession of tyrants
UBIQUITOUS : Seeming to be everywhere or in several places at the same time; very common : The ubiquitous movie star, Tom Hanks
UNAMBIGUOUS : Clear in meaning; that can only be understood in one way : The message was clear and unambiguous—‘Get out!’
UNANIMOUS : In complete agreement : The policy was passed by a unanimous vote
UNCONSCIOUS : Not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead : She was knocked unconscious
UNSCRUpULOUS : Without moral principles; not honest or fair : He was not averse to using unscrupulous methods
UpHOLSTERy : Soft covering on furniture such as armchairs and sofas : The upholstery matched with the curtains
UTENSIL : An instrument, implement, or container used domestically, especially in a kitchen for cooking or serving food : The maid comes everyday to wash the utensils
VACANCy : The condition of being vacant
or unoccupied; a position, office, or place of accommodation that is unfilled or unoccupied that is available for somebody else : The young graduate visited many companies to look for any job vacancy
VACCINATE : To give a person or an animal a vaccine, especially by injecting it, in order to protect them against a disease : I was vaccinated against polio
VACUUM : A space that is completely empty of all substances, including all air or other gas : A vacuum pump
VALEDICTORy : Connected with saying goodbye, especially at a formal occasion : A valedictory speech
VANQUISH : To defeat somebody completely in a competition, war, etc. : We need to vanquish them so that they learn a lesson
VEHEMENT : Showing very strong feelings, especially anger : He had been vehement in his opposition to the idea
VEHICLE : An automobile or something that is used for transporting people or goods from one place to another, such as a car or lorry/truck : The policeman asked the driver to park his vehicle properly
VELOCITy : The speed of something in a particular direction : The velocity with which the meteor hit the ground created a big crater
VENGEANCE : The act of punishing or harming somebody in return for what they have done to you, your family or friends : He swore vengeance on his child’s killer
VENOMOUS : Extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom : The Cobra is a venomous snake
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VENTRILOQUISM : The art of speaking without moving your lips and of making it look as if your voice is coming from another person / place : Ventriloquism as an art form is slowly dying
VERMICELLI : Pasta in strings thinner than spaghetti : The vermicelli made it more delicious
VERNACULAR : The language spoken in a particular country, area or by a particular group, as distiguished from the literary language : Most of the signs in the village were in the vernacular
VERSATILE : Able to do many different things : He’s a versatile actor who has played a wide variety of parts
VERTIGO : The feeling of dizziness and fear, and of losing your balance, that is caused in some people when they look down from a very high place : He suffered from vertigo since childhood
VESTIBULE : A passage, hall, or chamber between the outer door and the interior of a building. : The train coaches were connected by a vestibule
VICARAGE : A vicar’s house, or a priest of a parish : The local children went and hid in the vicarage
VICEROy : Governor of a country or province who rules as the representative of his or her king or sovereign : The viceroy had a large retinue of helpers
VICINITy : A nearby, surrounding, or adjoining region; a neighborhood; the area around a particular place : There is no good school in the vicinity
VICIOUS : Spiteful; malicious; full of hatred and anger : The opposition launched a vicious attack on the minister on the issue of corruption
VIGILANT : Alert and watchful; very careful to notice any signs of danger or trouble : The guards were very vigilant throughout the night
VIGNETTE : A short piece of writing or acting that clearly shows what a particular person, situation, etc. is like : A charming vignette of Edwardian life
VIGOROUS : Characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity : Take vigorous exercise for several hours a week
VINyL : A strong flexible material made of plastic , used for making wall, floor and furniture coverings, signboards etc. with : The decorator used vinyl to make all the direction signs at the venue
VIRTUOSO : A person who is extremely skilful at doing something, especially playing a musical instrument : A piano virtuoso
VISCERA : Internal organs collectively (especially those in the abdominal cavity) : The wound exposed his viscera
VIVACIOUS : Having a lively, attractive personality : He had three pretty, vivacious daughters
VOCABULARy : All the words that a person knows or uses in a particular language : Reading newspapers helps children improve their vocabulary effectively
VOLUNTEER : A person who does a job without being paid for it : Schools need volunteers to help children to read
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VORACIOUS : Devouring or craving food in great quantities : A voracious eater
VOUCHSAfE : To condescend to grant or bestow : He vouchsafed to me certain family secrets
VULNERABLE : Weak and easily hurt physically or emotionally; susceptible to attack : The small group was in a very vulnerable position
WARRANTy : A written agreement in which a company selling something promises to repair or replace it if there is a problem within a specified period of time : Most electronic items come with a limited warranty
WELfARE : The general health, happiness and safety of a person, an animal or a group : It is very important for any businessman to look after his employees’ welfare
WHIMSICAL : Unusual and not serious in a way that is either amusing or annoying : To have a whimsical sense of humour
WHOLESOME : Good for health; nutritious : The meal given to the children was not very tasty but wholesome food
WITHDRAWAL : The act of moving or taking something away or back : The gunshot was a signal for the withdrawal of the army
WORRISOME : Causing distress, worry or anxiety : That is really worrisome news
xENOpHOBIA : A strong feeling of dislike or fear of people from other countries : A campaign against racism and xenophobia
xyLOpHONE : A percussion instrument with wooden bars tuned to produce a chromatic scale and with resonators; played with small
mallets : The xylophone has a very pure sound
yACHT : A large sailing boat, often also with an engine and a place to sleep on board, used for pleasure trips and racing : They boarded his luxury yacht
yOUNGSTER : A young person; a child or youth : The youngster was able to cross all the hurdles successfully
zEALOT : A fervent and even militant proponent of something : The zealots would go to any extent for their beliefs
zEpHyR : A soft warm breeze from the west: The gentle zephyr was not sufficient to keep Renee’s kite airborne
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These are a few guidelines and tips which can be used to improve spelling and become better spellers. Most of these guidelines do have exceptions and one should always refer to a dictionary in case of doubt.SpELLING pLURAL NOUNSMost words add s to the root forms without any change (car - cars).Words ending in sh, ch, ss, x, and z, usually add es to form the PLURAL (dish - dishes).Words ending in a consonant and y change the y to i and add es (penny - pennies).Some words ending in f change the f to v and add es (shelf - shelves).Some singular words have different words for their plural form (woman - women; mouse - mice; goose-geese).SUffIxESA letter or a syllable placed after a word to form a new word is called a suffix. Some suffixes are s, es, ed, ing, er, est, ly, ful, able, ible, ment, ive, ance, ence, ion, tion, ition, ation, sion, ous, ious, less, and al. Sometimes a word will have two suffixes. For example, respectfully has the two suffixes ful and ly added to the root word respect.Many words are formed by adding ed and ing without any change (garnish - garnished - garnishing).Words ending in a silent e drop the e before adding ed and ing (love - loved - loving).Words ending in a consonant and y change the y to i before adding ed, but do not make any change before adding ing (deny - denied - denying).Words ending in a vowel and y add ed and ing without making any other change (play - played - playing).pREfIxESA syllable placed before a word to change its meaning is called a prefix. Some prefixes are im, un, in, co, dis, inter like impossible etc.DOUBLING THE fINAL CONSONANTWords of one syllable ending in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel double the final consonant before adding ed and ing (trim - trimmed - trimming).Words of two or more syllables double the final
consonant before adding ed and ing when these conditions are met: the last syllable ends in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, and the accent is on the last syllable (refer - referred - referring).pOSSESSIVE fORMSSingular nouns form the possessive by adding an apostrophe and s (pilot - pilot’s).Plural nouns that end in s add only an apostrophe to form the possessive (aviators - aviators’).Plural nouns that do not end in s add the apostrophe and s to form the possessive (men - men’s).CONTRACTIONSAn apostrophe is used to show that the letters have been omitted (won’t - will not), (o’clock - of the clock).CApITALSThe beginning of a sentence is always capitalized (The day was bright and sunny.).The names of holidays are capitalized (Christmas, Diwali ).The names of the months of the year and the days of the week are capitalized (january, Monday).The names of countries are capitalized (India, Argentina).When you write the name of a particular avenue or street, capitalize the words avenue and street (park Street, Alipore Road).The abbreviations Mr., Mrs. and Ms. are always capitalized and followed by a period (Mr. Banerjee, Mrs. Ghosh, Ms. Sharma).The names of deities are capitalized (God, Allah, Buddha, krishna).When words like senator and general are used as titles with a person’s name, they are capitalized (General Chowdhury distinguished himself in battle.).We capitalize the words parliament, senate, building, supreme and court when referring to the parliament Building, the Senate, the Supreme Court of India.SpECIAL WORDSCompound Words are made by writing two small words together to make one larger word. (newspaper, somebody)A root word is the root, or beginning word,
TIPS AND GUIDELINES FOR BETTER SPELLING
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A crossword is a word puzzle that normally takes the form of a square or rectangular grid of white and shaded squares. The goal is to fill the white squares with letters, forming words or phrases, by solving clues which lead to the answers. The shaded squares are used to sepa-rate the words or phrases.Squares in which answers begin are numbered. The clues are then referred to by these num-bers and a direction, for example, “4-Across”
or “20-Down”. At the end of the clue the to-tal number of letters is sometimes given, de-pending on the style of puzzle and country of publication. Some crosswords will also indicate the number of words in a given answer, should there be more than one.Crosswords are very popular and form an integral part of most English Newspapers all around the world. Given below is a simple Crossword. You can try and solve it.
ACROSS 1. Stalks (5)6. Plead guilty (7)8. Made by humans (3-4)9. Honey insect (3)10. Hurry (4)12. Quick look (4)15. Atmosphere (3)16. Betrayal (4-3)18. Tract of grassland (7)19. Portion (5)
DOWN 1. Camp for children (6,4)2. Level (4)3. Go away (5)4. Below (5)5. Small stone (6)7. Lottery (10)11. Move apart (6)13. Former Russian rulers (5)14. Cease being awake (5)17. A single time (4)
An anagram is a popular word game where the letters of a word or phrase are rearranged to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once; e.g., spelling could become englispl. Try and solve these anagrams which are all very commonly used words.
GLUEANAG - ----------------------------- LOFTALOB - -----------------------------
SUITINVERY - ----------------------------- COPYTURN - -----------------------------
CUTEROMP - ----------------------------- FEARONNOT - -----------------------------
OURCATCALL - -----------------------------
from which another word is made. Play is the root word of plays, played and playing.Derived words are words that come from other words. Suitable is derived from suit; advertisement from advertise. Sometimes the spelling of the root word is slightly changed in the derived word.A synonym is a word having almost the same meaning as another word. (replied - answered; accurate - exact)An antonym is a word that is opposite in meaning to another word. (private - public; good - bad)Homonyms are words that are pronounced alike but which are spelled in different ways and have different meanings (knew - new; steel - steal; deer - dear) The Trouble with Spell CheckersWell the trouble is that a spell checker can’t tell the difference between homophones.Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and different spellings. There are lots of examples in the English language. Here are a few:piece/peace, flower/flour, beech/beach, rode/road, rain/rein/reign.Have a look at this poem:Ode to My Spell Checker (author unknown)Eye have a spelling checker, it came with my pea seaIt plainly marks four my revue miss steaks eye kin knot sea.Eye strike a quay and type a word and weight for it to sayWeather eye yam wrong oar write, it shows me strait a weigh. As soon as a mist ache is maid it nose bee fore two longAnd eye can put the error rite its rare lea ever wrong.Eye have run this poem threw it I’m shore your pleased to noIts letter perfect awl the way, my checker told me sew.There are numerous mistakes concerning homophones.Now try this experiment: copy the poem into your clipboard and paste it into your word processor. Then check it with your spell checker.The result: your word processor will be happy with the spelling.
Of course you’re unlikely to make as many errors as this. But beware,your spell checker might let the odd mistake through. The solution is to make sure that you always proofread important documents before you print them.
ADVICE ON HOW TO BECOME A BETTER SpELLERThis advice is addressed to parents,but it should also be read by children and adults. Why children need to learn to spell correctly:• poor spelling creates a bad impression • it’s the first thing a reader notices • examiners, teachers, prospective employers, often place a lot of weight on spelling• anxiety about spelling inhibits a child’s
writing, especially their choice of words• even in these days of word processors there
are still times when we need to writeTo improve and develop their spelling children need to:• develop an interest in words • feel safe about trying new words, not just
words they’re sure about• learn about the way words are built up using
syllables • learn basic spelling patterns of English • develop memorizing strategies • understand the meanings of words • learn about prefixes and suffixes• write for their own enjoyment without the
fear that they will be criticized• read for pleasureParents can help their children by:• encouraging them to look closely at words • talking to them about words• encouraging them to try new words ( tip:
they won’t do this if you’re always criticizing their spelling )
• playing word games with them, such as hangman, crosswords etc.
• encouraging effective memorizing strategies • encouraging spare time reading • pointing out interesting newspaper items • encouraging visits to the library • buying comics, magazines and books as
treats.
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