Learn English Vocabulary - via Word of the Day

Doldrums [ DOHL-druh'mz ][ noun ]MEANING :1. stagnation or a state where there is no activity
2. a slump or a period of depression
3. a region of the ocean near the equator, characterized by light winds or squalls.USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The company was in the doldrums after missing out on the huge contract.

Plenary [ PLEE-nuh'-ree ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1. (adj.) complete or absolute
2. (adj.) attended by all qualified members or fully constituted
3. a meeting at which all members are presentUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Many members objected as the vote was not taken at a plenary meeting.

Allegory [ AL-uh'-gawr-ee, -gohr-ee ][ noun ]MEANING :1. figurative representation of an abstract idea by means of concrete characters, events or symbols
2. an emblem or symbolic representationUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His books were famous for the way in which the allegory of mysticism was depicted.

Belie [ bih-LAHY  ][ transitive verb ]MEANING :1. to refute, contradict or prove to be false
2. to misrepresent or give a false impressionUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His nervous gesticulations belied the confidence with which he spoke.

Asunder [ uh'-suh'n-DER ][ adjective, adverb ]MEANING :1. (adj.) into separate parts or into pieces
2. (adj.) apart in position or directionUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The hillock was rendered asunder by explosive charges and levelled by bulldozers.

Edible [ ED-uh'-buh'l ][ noun, adjective ]MEANING :1. (adj.) consumable, esculent or eatable
2. (n.) food or a substance that can be eatenUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :They have released a list of edible items to avoid cases of food poisoning.

Convulsion [ kuh'n-VUHL-shuh'n  ][ noun ]MEANING :1. contortion of the body caused by violent, involuntary muscular contractions
2. a commotion or violent disturbance
3. a paroxysm or an uncontrollable fit of laughterUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The electrician was lucky to have survived the convulsions caused by the electric shock.

Expository [ ik-SPOZ-i-tawr-ee ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. serving to explain
2. pertaining to a public show or exhibition
3. characteristic of being set forthUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Despite the expository nature of the lecture, only a few students were able to understand.

Dubious [ DOO-bee-uh’ s, DYOO- ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. uncertain or undecided
2. questionable or doubtful
3. sceptical or hesitantUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He received several dubious glances on his arrival to the airport.

Reprimand [ n. REP-ruh’-mand, -mahnd; v. REP-ruh’-mand, -mahnd, rep-ruh’-MAND, -MAHND ][ noun, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) formal and severe rebuke from an authoritative person
2. (tr.v.) to severely rebuke or reproof someone esp. authoritatively and formallyUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The employee was reprimanded by the senior manager.

Mausoleum [ maw-suh’-LEE-uh’ m, -zuh’- ][ noun ]MEANING :1. an impressive and splendid tomb
2. a small building used to bury the remains of individuals esp. of those belonging to the same family
3. a large, gloomy room or buildingUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The Taj Mahal is probably the most famous mausoleum in the world.

Petulant [ PECH-uh’-luh’ nt ][ adjective ]MEANING :irritable, peevish, touchy or fretfulUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Petulant behaviour in children must be discouraged from early childhood.

Ersatz [ ER-zahts, -sahts, er-ZAHTS, -SAHTS ][ adjective ]MEANING :an artificial and usually inferior substitute or imitationUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :At the seminar they served us ersatz coffee made of chicory.

Bane [ beyn ][ noun ]MEANING :1. anything that spoils or ruins
2. anything that caused harm, destruction or death
3. a deadly poison
4. the source of one's exasperation or a persistent annoyanceUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Alcoholism was the bane of his family life.

Entail [ v. en-TEYL; n. en-TEYL, EN-teyl ][ noun, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (tr. v.) to impose or require as a necessary accompaniment or consequence
2. (tr. v.) To limit inheritance of (property) to a chosen succession of heirs
3. (n.) a predetermined order of successionUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Success in the examination entails sincere studying.

Connoisseur [ kon-uh’-SUR, -SOO’ R ][ noun ]MEANING :an expert, critic or aesthete esp. one of the fine artsUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :He considered himself a connoisseur of all things French.

Obeisance [ oh-BEY-suh’ ns, oh-BEE- ][ noun ]MEANING :a gesture of body movement that expresses homage, like a bowUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :Thousands pay obeisance to the image of Lord Jagannath as it passes through the streets of Puri.

Covetous [ KUHV-i-tuh' s ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. having a craving to acquire or possess
2. marked by excessive desire for wealth or possession or for another possessionsUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His covetous gaze made it clear that he wanted to own a Ferrari.

Rapine [ RAP-in, -ahyn ][ noun ]MEANING :the act of forcefully taking away someone else's property; pillageUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The rapine of Hindustan by Nadir Shah has been well documented.

Pedant [ PED-nt ][ noun ]MEANING :1. a person who makes an excessive or inappropriate display of learning.
2. a person who overemphasizes rules or minor details.
3. a person who adheres rigidly to book knowledge without regard to common sense.USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The conference for Chemical engineers held recently in New Delhi was attended by world renowned pedants.

Unrelenting [ uhn-ri-LEN-ting][ adjective ]MEANING :1. not yielding or wavering in determination
2. not diminishing in severityUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The detective assured the Dean that he was making unrelenting efforts to clear the campus of drug dealers.

Maudlin [ MAWD-lin ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. tearfully or weakly emotional
2.mawkish or sentimental especially under the influence of alcoholUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The singer's maudlin love ballads made him hugely popular with women.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :One of the best impassioned outcries comes from a maudlin columnist in the Salt Lake City Tribune.

Sedentary [ SED-n-ter-ee ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. characterized by remaining in one place or not moving about
2. accustomed to rest a great deal or to take little exercise
3. having or requiring a sitting postureUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The physiotherapist told him that his backache was due to his sedentary job.

Unwonted [ uhn-WAWN-tid,-WOHN-,-WUHN- ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. not customary or habitual
2. not accustomed; unusedUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The strictest teacher started treating the students with unwonted kindness because an official visit from the faculty inspector was due.

Inadvertent [ in-uh’ d-VUR-tnt ][ adjective ]MEANING :heedless, careless or not intentionalUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :His inadvertent remarks during the meeting earned him a censure from his boss.

Unwitting [ uhn-WIT-ing ][ adjective ]MEANING :1. unintentional
2. unawareUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The thief managed to escape with a little unwitting help from the guard.

Cache [ kash ][ noun, transitive verb ]MEANING :1. (n.) a place to conceal food, supplies and ammunition
2. (n.) one that is hidden or stored in a cache
3. (n.) computer memory used for quick access to frequently accessed data and instructions
4. (tr.v.) to hide or conceal ammunition and supplies in a cacheUSAGE EXAMPLE 1 :The terrorists carried with them a cache of arms and grenades which they hoped to used to inflict maximum damage.