28 Feb 08 – new words and phrases

Recently I have overhauled my routine on my way to work to pick up a copy of “My paper, 我报“, it’s free-of-charge.

I liked it more than the established Singapore English papers – The Straits Times, firstly because it’s bilingual, english and chinese, each territorizing half the papers; I seldom want to learn new words in chinese though, having a conversational vocab on the language will do. Secondly, it has a small box called the helpdesk, 我的字典 on most of the articles, be it the english or chinese sections. This has simplified my process of learning new vocabularies as these boxes have highlighted and placed the difficult words on potshot in the small boxes, giving a concise explanation of the meaning at the same time, saving me some time in checking up the dictionary for a few of the words. Ok let’s share a few new words.

neophyte – this word is used for a new plant found which has not been recorded previously; alternatively, it has the similar meaning to a newbie or amateur. I can say: “You are a neophyte in gaming.”

sheepishly - in embarassment or shame. I like this word too. Imagining a sheep always shying herself away from people and bending her head down to graze. I reply sheepishly.

Oh I came across another meaning of the word radical today. Radical usually we use it to mean something revolutionary, with a new direction for example the radical move to eradicate poverty. It can be used to mean thoroughly. For example, future proposal on this topic have to be radically different to stand a chance to be accepted.

Aesthetically – in a tasteful way.

A good phrase to learn is pale into insignificance in comparison with.

Lastly, a very flirty word – coquettish. A coquette is a seductive woman who used her sex appeal to exploit men. So coquettish simply means flirtatious.

That’s all folks. Hope you will like these words as much as I do.

2 Feb 08 – exasperate,oblivious,deranged,unremittingly,bankroll,deft,breathtakingly,amoral,fortitude,equanimity

1. exasperate (verb) – make furious, make worse.
2. oblivious (adj) – lacking conscious awareness of (unmindful); failing to keep in mind (forgetful).
3. deranged (adj) – driven insane.
4. unremittingly (adv) – with unflagging resolve; without interruption (perpetually).
5. bankroll (verb) – to finance.
6. deft (adj) – dexterous.
7. breathtakingly (adj) – in an amazing manner to everyone’s surprise (amazingly, surprisingly, awesomely).
8. amoral (adj) – lacking any sense of moral standards or principles (unmoral).
9. fortitude (noun) – strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage.
10. equanimity (noun) – steadfast of mind under stress (calm, composure).

25 Jan 08 – serendipitous

1. serendipitous(adj) – lucky in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries. “serendipitous events”

24 Jan 08 – eclectic,enigmatic,nemesis,crass,destabilising

1. eclectic (adj) – selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas. (choicest) “The notable actor’s resolution this year is to take on a diverse and eclectic range of roles.”
2. enigmatic (adj) - not clear to the understanding. (ambiguous, puzzling) “Away from the camera, he is just as enigmatic as the characters he protrayed.”
3. nemesis (noun) - something causing misery or death. (bane, curse) “The stolid and malicious warden became the nemesis of us who became POW during WW2.”
4. crass (noun) - (of persons) so unrefined as to be lacking in discrimination and sensibility.
5. destabilising (adj) - become unstable, make unstable. “emotionally destabilising.”

23 Jan 08 – juxtapose …

1. juxtapose (verb) – place side by side. “The use of boats to alleviate traffic congestion for 50 people, juxtaposed against the problem of traffic congestion still present for the whole city, seemed insignificant.   
2. interim (noun) - the time between one event or process. “interim solution” (meanwhile) 
3. heartening (adj) - cheerfully encouraging. (inspiring)
4. surmise (verb) – infer from incomplete evidence. (suspect)
5. spontaneous (adj) - happening or arising without apparent external cause. (self-generated)
6. erratic (adj) - unpredictable, temperamental.
7. impersonal (adj) - having no personal reference.
8. jaundice (noun) - bitter; (verb) - distort adversely.

22 Jan 08 – assiduously,amiss,assuage,embellish

1. assiduously – with care and persistence.
2. amiss – not functioning properly. “Something is amiss”
3. assuage – cause to be more favourably inclined (pacify), gain the goodwill of; satisfy; provide physical relief from pain. (relieve, alleviate) 
4. embellish – add details to; make more attractive.