Picture dictionary

Impetus

2012-07-15T04:59:00.004-07:00

MEANING :

1. the force or energy that is associated with a body in motion.
2. an impelling force

USAGE EXAMPLE 1:

The deployment of anti-missile systems by the U.S. provided a strong impetus for Russia and China to build even more sophisticated missiles.

USAGE EXAMPLE 2:

The advent of a new anti-rejection drug, cyclosporine, gave new impetus to organ transplants in the 1980s

dastardly

2012-07-15T04:49:00.003-07:00

MEANING :

1. cowardly
2. malicious; characterised by underhanded treachery; sneaking

USAGE EXAMPLE 1:

Terrorists are carrying out dastardly bomb blasts in various cities in the country in order to foment violence between communities.

USAGE EXAMPLE 2:

The dastardly attacks on September 11, 2001 will be an indelible date in U.S. history—and, in their shared hour of agony on that fateful day, one more bond between two sister cities.

grimace

2012-07-15T04:42:00.002-07:00

MEANING :

1. (n.) a distorted facial expression often indicating discomfort, pain, disgust etc.
2. (v.) to make distorted facial expressions

USAGE EXAMPLE 1:

The thought of entering the dark, filthy alley made him grimace.

USAGE EXAMPLE 2:

They found changes in facial expression, including a grimace, squeezing eyes shut and furrowing the brow, were best indicators the baby was in pain.

profligate

2012-07-15T04:39:00.002-07:00

MEANING :

1. utterly licentious or immoral
2. wildly extravagant or prodigal

USAGE EXAMPLE 1:

His profligate ways landed him in prison.

USAGE EXAMPLE 2:

With attention on energy problems worldwide, Formula One cannot afford to be profligate in its use of fuel, said Mosley, who expects general levels of spending to be cut in half "without affecting the spectacle in any way."

Disquietude

2012-01-07T23:40:00.000-08:00

MEANING :
1. the state of being worried or uneasy
2. anxiety or edginess

EXAMPLE 1:
The disquietude of the parents mounted as it was past six o’clock and their daughter had not come back from school.

Uproar

2012-01-07T23:36:00.000-08:00

MEANING :
a condition of noisy disturbance; tumult

EXAMPLE 1:
There was an uproar at the society meeting because the secretary had accepted a bribe from the contractor.

Mirth

2012-01-07T23:33:00.000-08:00

MEANING :
gaiety, happiness or amusement

EXAMPLE :
Her mirth on seeing his downfall became evident from the sadistic expression on her face

Spruce

2012-01-04T22:07:00.000-08:00

1. (n.) any evergreen, coniferous tree or the like or the wood of such a tree
2. (tr. v.) to make neat or smart in appearance
3. (adj.) neat and smart in appearance

The teacher told the shabbily dressed child to spruce up a bit.

Palimpsest

2012-01-04T21:58:00.000-08:00

1. a parchment from which writing has been partially erased to make room for some other text leaving the earlier writing sometimes legible
2. parchment from which earlier writing has been removed to clear it for new writing
3. an object, place, or locality that reflects its history

Ex:It was only after they realized that the treasure map happened to be on a palimpsest that they were able to make some headway in deciphering the script.

Bristling

2012-01-04T21:49:00.000-08:00

1. to become erect or stiff like bristles
2. to be aroused
3. to become irritated

EX: He was bristling with rage after the manager of the department store refused to acknowledge his complaint.

Jade

2012-01-04T21:42:00.000-08:00

1. (n.) a green-coloured, hard gemstone or its green colour

Ex:The statue was an antique carved from the finest jade.

Cadaverous

2012-01-04T21:38:00.000-08:00

1. corpselike, haggard, ghastly or gaunt
2. pallid or livid

The sighting of the cadaverous form managed to scare off everyone in the castle

Aghast

2011-07-07T17:11:00.000-07:00

shocked, amazed, terrified or horrified

Ex: Her aghast expression indicated she did not know about the accident.

Appurtenances

2011-07-04T16:58:00.000-07:00

1. instruments or apparatus
2. accessories
3. equipment or gear

Ex: The team carried all the appurtenances they needed for the mountain climbing expedition.

Abstruse

2011-07-04T16:53:00.000-07:00

recondite, ambiguous, esoteric or very difficult to understand or comprehend

Ex: HELP menu is so abstruse for navigation.

Quasar

2011-07-04T16:48:00.000-07:00

a space object that appears like a star but is much brighter and distant, characterised by a very large red shift

Ex: It is only recently that astronomers have discovered the existence of quasars.

vie

2011-07-03T02:12:00.000-07:00

To strive for victory or superiority; contend. Synonymous to rival.

1. Archaic To offer in competition; match.
2. Obsolete To wager or bet.

eg.Kings belonging to the Chola, Pandya and the Pallava Empire were devotees of Lord Venkateswara and they vied with each other in endowing the temple with rich offerings during the Vijayanagar dynasty.

Plight

2011-07-02T11:05:00.000-07:00

1. (n.) an unfortunate situation
2. (n.) a situation or predicament
3. (tr. v.) to pledge or to bind by a pledge

Ex: People donated in cash and kind after hearing of the sorry plight of the victims of the tsunami.

Magnanimous

2011-07-02T10:56:00.000-07:00

1. noble of mind and heart; high-minded
2. forgiving, not holding onto grudges; not revengeful or vindictive
3. characterised by great generosity or nobility of action

Ex: The magnanimous shopkeeper served medicines to the flood affected victims.

Blemish

2011-07-02T05:22:00.000-07:00

1. (tr. v.) to tarnish or mar by a flaw
2. (tr. v.) to impair, destroy or lessen the perfection of
3. (n.) a flaw or defect
5. (n.) a mark that impairs or spoils the appearance of

Ex: Her pretty face was blemished by a severe case of acne

Derogatory

2011-07-02T05:15:00.000-07:00

disparaging, depreciatory or belittling

Ex: The derogatory remarks shocked everyone.

Collage

2011-07-02T05:01:00.000-07:00

1. an artistic composition of various materials (as paper, cloth or wood) pasted over a surface often with unifying lines and colour
2. a film that presents a series of seemingly unrelated scenes in rapid succession without transitions
3. the art or technique of creating such compositions
4. an occurrence of diverse elements

Ex: Addicted to FB,a collage was prepared by the students depicting unity in diversity.

Quandary

2011-07-02T04:56:00.000-07:00

a state of doubt or uncertainty; dilemma

Ex: He was in a state of quandary, whether to pursue higher education overseas or in his own country.

Parquet

2011-06-28T02:13:00.000-07:00

1. (n.) a floor composed of short strips of wood forming a pattern

2. (n.) the entire main floor of a theatre

Ex: He wanted the marble floor in the bedroom to be replaced by parquet.

Distraught

2011-06-28T02:12:00.000-07:00

1. agitated or troubled

2. insane or crazed

Ex: The distraught mother feared for the lives of her children after the riots.