the vocab weekly_issue 25

8/2/2019 The Vocab Weekly_Issue 25

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Contents

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Title Page No.1. Billingsgate 1

2. Incarcerated 2

3. Plethora 3

4. Predicament 45. Prognosticate 5

6. Watchdog 6

7. Wily 7

8. Work Out Zone 810. Answers 9


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The Vocab Weekly

1 www.wordpandit.com April01-April07| Issue 25

9BILLINGSGATE

Billingsgate

Origin of the word BillingsgateThere 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.

Thedictionary definitions forBillingsgate are as follows:

1. Coarsely or vulgarly abusive language. (noun)
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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 incarceratedat 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 followingdictionary 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
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5/12

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 rootgenealogy (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.

Thedictionary definitions forplethora 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:Aplethora of abuses are hurled by an angry lover, as in the word-poster above.

Usage Examples for Plethora:

1. Theplethora 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 aplethora 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
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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 aPREDICAMENT.

Thedictionary definitions forPredicament 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-termpredicament 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.
http://www.wordpandit.com/http://www.wordpandit.com/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv750BWrUhY&NR=1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv750BWrUhY&NR=1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv750BWrUhY&NR=1http://wordpandit.com/2011/predicament/http://www.wordpandit.com/


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The Vocab Weekly


PROGNOSTICATE

Prognosticate

ToPrognosticateis to have to knowledge of an event beforehand, to predict the future in simple terms.

Who all canprognosticate?

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.

Thedictionary definitions forPrognosticate 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: APRO whoKNOWS enough toPREDICTthe 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
http://www.wordpandit.com/http://www.wordpandit.com/http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2010/03/13/86579/udall-gop-obstruction/http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2010/03/13/86579/udall-gop-obstruction/http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2010/03/13/86579/udall-gop-obstruction/http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2010/03/13/86579/udall-gop-obstruction/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/13/cnn-poll-americans-say-obama-respected-by-world-leaders/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/13/cnn-poll-americans-say-obama-respected-by-world-leaders/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/13/cnn-poll-americans-say-obama-respected-by-world-leaders/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/13/cnn-poll-americans-say-obama-respected-by-world-leaders/http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2010/03/13/86579/udall-gop-obstruction/http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2010/03/13/86579/udall-gop-obstruction/http://wordpandit.com/2011/prognosticate/http://www.wordpandit.com/


8/12

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.

Thedictionary 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.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/13/cnn-poll-americans-say-obama-respected-by-world-leaders/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/13/cnn-poll-americans-say-obama-respected-by-world-leaders/http://www.wordpandit.com/http://www.wordpandit.com/http://wordpandit.com/2011/watchdog/http://www.wordpandit.com/


9/12

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).

Thedictionary 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.
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10/12

The Vocab Weekly


Work Out Zone

Work Out 1: Match the following words with their respective meanings or synonyms.

Word Meaning or Synonym

1 Billingsgate A Overplus

2 Incarcerated B Overseer3 Plethora C Foul-mouthed

4 Predicament D Imprisoned

5 Prognosticate E Foxy

6 Watchdog F Quandary

7 Wily G Augur

Work Out 2: Did you really understand the word?

1. Wily men are disliked by most. yes no

2. Watchdogs are lovable and handy. yes no3. Soothsayers prognosticate. yes no

4. It is never good to be in a predicament. yes no

5. Moneyed people have plethora of options for everything. yes no

6. Murderers should not be incarcerated. yes no

7. Kids should be encouraged to use billingsgate. yes no
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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
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the vocab weekly_issue 25

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