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)

45

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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The meaning and usage examples have been compiled using various resources including different websites.

First edition 2010 MRP. Rs. 50/-