Contents

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 10. Title Billingsgate Incarcerated Plethora Predicament Prognosticate Watchdog Wily Work Out Zone Answers Page No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

www.wordpandit.com

The Vocab Weekly

9BILLINGSGATE

Billingsgate Origin of the word Billingsgate There is a particular gate in London by the name of Billing (the identity of Mr. Billing has always been doubtful though). In its vicinity, there is one of largest fish markets in the world and in the past, it was known to be a pretty rough place. Here the language used was not pretty at all, and was abusive and foul to say the least. Fishwives and their fish mongering husbands got quite a reputation from this place. And so did this place. The word now stands for offence and abusive language. The dictionary definitions for Billingsgate are as follows: 1. Coarsely or vulgarly abusive language. (noun)

www.wordpandit.com

April01-April07| Issue 25

The Vocab Weekly

INCARCERATED

Incarcerate Incarcerate is to put someone behind bars, in other words, to lock them up in jail. It is not only in jail that people are locked up. They can be even locked up in their houses. It depends who the adjudicating authority is. If it is ones parents, then one is likely to be incarcerated at home. Incarcerate is derived from the Latin word carcer-, which means prison, jail; an enclosed place. A term derived from the same root is the following: Carceral State: A state designed like a prison which is known as a "police state". A carceral state is one that seeks to know everything about its inhabitants and visitors, but hides everything about itself. It demands transparency of everything except its own operations. Incarcerate carries the following dictionary definitions: 1. To put into jail. 2. To shut in; confine. Synonyms: Gaol: Lock up or confine, in or as in a jail. Immure: Lock up or confine, in or as in a jail Imprison: Confine as if in a prison. Put behind bars: Lock up or confine, in or as in a jail

www.wordpandit.com

April01-April07| Issue 25

The Vocab Weekly

PLETHORA

PLETHORA Origin of the term Plethora: The word plethora came from Greek root plthra, meaning fullness. And if we trace back the root genealogy (The study or investigation of ancestry) a little further, we come to realize that the Greek word initially referred to a condition where there was an excess of blood or other fluids in the body. Over a period of time, as it has happened with numerous other words, plethora wasadopted into the English language retaining its figurative sense: an abundant excess. The dictionary definitions for plethora are as follows: 1. A superabundance; an excess. (noun) 2. An excess of blood in the circulatory system or in one organ or area. (noun) Masters Tip to remember Plethora: A plethora of abuses are hurled by an angry lover, as in the word-poster above. Usage Examples for Plethora: 1. The plethora of special effects -- some dazzling, some clumsy -- make "Harry Potter" at times resemble a generic Hollywood horror movie. That three-headed dog that stands guard over a treasure was better left to the imagination. . .- David Ansen 2. We're going to have a plethora of questions for the FBI and for Justice. And I'm not sure they are going to have any good answers to those questions. - Tim Roemer

www.wordpandit.com

April01-April07| Issue 25

The Vocab Weekly

PREDICAMENT

Predicament See the ad first and then we will come to the word. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv750BWrUhY&NR=1 Life will be very tough on anyone if he or she ends up in such a situation, isnt it? Well, this situation where one just does not know what to do and one has to decide for sure is called a PREDICAMENT. The dictionary definitions for Predicament are as follows: 1. A situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one. 2. A class or category of logical or philosophical predication. Usage examples for PREDICAMENT: 1. The long-term predicament over the issue of Kashmir remains unchanged. 2. Tell the truth and you wouldn't be in a bad predicament. Synonyms: Precariousness: Subject to chance or unknown conditions. hot water - a dangerous or distressing predicament; "his views on race got him into political hot water" Dilemma: State of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavourable options. Quandary: A state of uncertainty or perplexity.

www.wordpandit.com

April01-April07| Issue 25

The Vocab Weekly

PROGNOSTICATE

Prognosticate To Prognosticateis to have to knowledge of an event beforehand, to predict the future in simple terms. Who all can prognosticate? The list is long: Crystal ball gazers and tarot card readers Palmists or Chiromancers (Fortuneteller who predicts your future by the lines on your palms) Necromancers: One who can predict the future by talking to the dead. The above name just a few. You can add the ones you know to the list as well. And I guess this field will never be out of fashion, as human curiosity to look into the future will never end. The dictionary definitions for Prognosticate are as follows: 1. To forecast or predict (something future) from present indications or signs; prophesy. 2. To foretoken; presage: birds prognosticating spring. Masters Tip to remember Prognosticate: PROGNOSTICATE: A PRO who KNOWS enough to PREDICT the FUTURE. Usage Examples for Prognosticate: 1. Anyone who thinks they can prognosticate what will happen in November is going to look foolish. -Think Progress 2. It's so much like your front page poll questions that seek to have people prognosticate on one issue or another as if they have any clue! -CNN Poll: Americans say Obama respected by world leaders

www.wordpandit.com

April01-April07| Issue 25

The Vocab Weekly

WATCHDOG

WATCHDOG Dogs can be really helpful. They can be our best friends and even ward off our enemies. When they do so, they become WATCHDOGS. And the sense of safety they offer translates into figurative sense and is used in language to represent an organization that guards or protects against illegal activity or waste. The dictionary definitions for watchdog are as follows: 1. A dog trained to guard people or property. (noun) 2. One who serves as a guardian or protector against waste, loss, or illegal practices. (noun) 3. Organized or functioning as a watchful guardian, especially against illegal or unethical conduct: a watchdog group in the legislature. (adjective) Masters Tip to remember Watchdog: WATCHDOG: A WATCHFUL DOG! Usage Examples for Watchdog: 1. A data privacy watchdog is to be set up in India to oversee the country's IT industry amidst international concerns about the security of outsourced customer records and data.

www.wordpandit.com

April01-April07| Issue 25

The Vocab Weekly

WILY

WILY Wily people are clever. Wily people are deceptive. Wily people are crafty. Wily people are in the habit of making a fool out of others. This is what they are all about: they are a store of wiles (tricks). The dictionary definitions for wily are as follows: 1. Full of wiles, in other words full of tricks that can deceive other people. (adjective) Masters Tip to remember Wily: Who better to learn this word from but Politicians. Politicians are wily characters: the blood of deception flows in their veins. So, Wily=Politician Usage Examples for Wily: 1. Thieves need to be wily, else they would get caught. 2. Employees need to wily when it comes to tricking their bosses for some extra holidays.

www.wordpandit.com

April01-April07| Issue 25

The Vocab Weekly

Work Out Zone

Work Out 1: Match the following words with their respective meanings or synonyms. Word 1 Billingsgate 2 Incarcerated 3 Plethora 4 Predicament 5 Prognosticate 6 Watchdog 7 Wily Meaning or Synonym A Overplus B Overseer C Foul-mouthed D Imprisoned E Foxy F Quandary G Augur

Work Out 2: Did you really understand the word? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Wily men are disliked by most. Watchdogs are lovable and handy. Soothsayers prognosticate. It is never good to be in a predicament. Moneyed people have plethora of options for everything. Murderers should not be incarcerated. Kids should be encouraged to use billingsgate. yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no no no no no no no

www.wordpandit.com

April01-April07| Issue 25

The Vocab Weekly

Answers: Work Out Zone

Work Out 1 1-C, 2-D, 3-A, 4-F, 5-G, 6-B, 7-E Work Out 2 1-yes, 2-yes, 3-yes, 4- yes, 5-yes, 6-no, 7-no

www.wordpandit.com

April01-April07| Issue 25