Some exceptional words of English vocabulary from the newspaper ‘The Hindu’ are listed here. Go through these words and read their usages to learn how to use them in sentences. This will really help you boost up your learning.

Happy Learning!

1. waif (noun) – बेघर, लावारिस
Pronunciation: weif
Meaning: a homeless, neglected, or abandoned person, especially a child
Synonyms: ragamuffin, guttersnipe, foundling, orphan, stray
Usage: A waif is begging on the street.

2. ungainly (adjective) – बेढ़ंगापन
Pronunciation: un-gein-li
Meaning: (of a person or movement) awkward; clumsy
Synonyms: awkward, clumsy, ungraceful, graceless, inelegant, gawky, gangling
Antonyms: graceful, elegant
Usage: He has an ungainly appearance.

3. cajole (verb) – ख़ुशामद करना
Pronunciation: kuj-ol
Meaning: persuade (someone) to do something by flattery
Synonyms: persuade, wheedle, coax, manoeuvre
Antonym: bully
Usage: He hoped to cajole her into selling the house.

4. portend (noun) – संकेत, पूर्व-सूचना
Pronunciation: po-tend
Meaning: be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen
Synonyms: presage, augur, foreshadow, foretell, prophesy
Usage: Black clouds portend a storm.

5. insular (adjective) – संकुचित विचार का
Pronunciation: in-syu-ler
Meaning: ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one's own experience; lacking contact with other people
Synonyms: narrow-minded, limited, blinkered, restricted, conventional, parochial; isolated, inaccessible, separate
Antonyms: broad-minded, tolerant, accessible, cosmopolitan
Usage: The residents of this city have an insular mindset, so strangers are not always made welcome.

6. wail (noun, verb) – विलाप
Pronunciation: weil
Meaning: a prolonged high-pitched cry of pain, grief, or anger
Synonyms: howl, bawl, yowl, keening, cry, weep
Usage:

•  I heard the wail of a baby. (noun)
•  The women began to wail in mourning. (verb)

7. gainsay (verb) – प्रतिवाद करना
Pronunciation: gein-sei
Meaning: deny or contradict (a fact or statement); speak against or oppose (someone)
Synonyms: deny, dispute, contradict, repudiate
Antonym: confirm
Usage: No one was able to gainsay Jack’s statement.

8. jocular (adjective) – परिहासशील, ठिठोलिया
Pronunciation: jok-yu-ler
Meaning: fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful
Synonyms: humorous, funny, witty, comic, comical, amusing, chucklesome
Antonyms: solemn, serious, earnest
Usage: The song was written in a light-hearted jocular way.

9. lionise (verb) – सराहना करना
Pronunciation: lai-un-aiz
Meaning: give a lot of public attention and approval to (someone); treat as a celebrity
Synonyms: celebrate, fete, glorify, exalt, acclaim, admire, commend
Antonym: vilify
Usage: The City Hall was packed and the press was ready to lionise the winners.

10. agonise (verb) – तड़पना, अत्यधिक चिंतित होना
Pronunciation: ag-un-aiz
Meaning: undergo great mental anguish through worrying about something
Synonyms: worry, fret, fuss
Usage: I didn't agonize over the problem.

LET’S CHECK HOW MUCH YOU LEARNT:

1. Try to make sentences using given words:

• jocular
• gainsay
• portend
• ungainly
• waif

2. Match the columns:

# Let others know your answers by sharing them in comment section.

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Vocabulary -  Exceptional English words with meanings : 11 October 2019

Vocabulary -  Exceptional English words with meanings : 10 October 2019