Vocabulary Building -- Word Meanings ---List of words--Alphabets A to C.

VOCABULARY   ----------     WORD MEANINGS

Given here under is a list of  meanings of words often used. It is illustrative and not exhaustive. A word usually has more than one meaning. It is generally according to the use of the word in a sentence. Some of the implied meanings have been given in the list. However in case of any doubt candidates are requested to refer to some authentic dictionary.

(In examination a word with three or four options of its meaning is  given. Candidates are required  to choose the correct option.This list is based on the questions of examinations of previous years)

(Alphabets - A to C)

WORD                  MEANINGS

Abject -----------Miserable, Humble, despicable

Abhor-------- ----Despise, hate, loathe

Abjure-------renounce, reject, give up.

Abstruse--------- Obscure, mysterious, perplexing

Abysmal ---------Terrible, Awful, dreadful, Very bad

Acclimate-------- Adapt, familiarize, adjust

Acerbic----------sharp,bitter,sour,mordant.

Acrimony----------hostility, bitterness, animosity, ill-will.

Acumen------------Intelligence, wisdom. shrewdness.

Audacious---------daring,bold,brave,impudent,overconfident

Adroit------------ Adept, dexterous, clever

Admonition--------scold, rebuke, reprimand.

Agile ------------ Alert, Swift, nimble

Agnostic---------Atheist, non-believer, disbeliever

Alacrity-------- eagerness, swiftness, enthusiasm

Albatross--------Impediment, shackle, encumbrance

Ambidextrous----------Skillful, Using both hands

Apathy------------Lethargy, ennui, Indifference.

Apostasy------------Renunciation of belief

Apposite-------------- Appropriate, Pertinent, suitable

Arduous-----------Strenuous, Onerous, Tough

Argot---------- Jargon, Slang, Vernacular

Arraign--------- Prosecute, Impeach, accuse

Astute----------- Wise, judicious, smart, shrewd

Artifice---------Trick, deceit, Ploy

Ascetic-------- Austere, frugal, abstinent, severe

Askew---------Crooked, awry, out of line

Assiduous--------Diligent, Hardworking, Industrious

Assimilate--------incorporate, learn, digest

Astigmatic--------Blurred vision

Augury--------warning, signal, omen.

Aureole--------Halo, circle of light

Austere----------Severe, Stern, strict.

Avid--------ardent, fervent, keen, enthusiastic

Aver----------assert, affirm, maintain

Barbaric----------Uncivilized, cruel, ill-mannered,uncultured.

Barge--------------Boat, to move roughly, to push

Belligerent--------aggressive, confrontational, quarrelsome

Bivouac---------Brief  stay, halt camp.

Bravado------Audacity, boldness, boasting.

Beseech-------implore, request, plead.

Blasphemy--------profanity, sacrilege, irreverence.

Blatant------- obvious, transparent, deliberate.

Boisterous-------energetic, active, overexcited

Bounteous----------Ample, abundant, plentiful.

Boulevard--------Avenue, road, concourse.

Blithe---------------happy, merry, amiable.

Bourgeois-------conventional, conservative, materialistic

Byzantine--------complex, intricate, complex.

Buoyant-------Cheerful, happy, optimistic.

Beguile----------fascinate, lure, entice.

Banal---------ordinary, dull, prosaic.

Baneful--------Bad, evil, destructive.

Bellicose-------Belligerent, aggressive, combative.

Cache---------accumulation,collection,reserve.

Cadaverous-------thin,gaunt,ghastly.

Cajole----------------coax,flatter,entice.

Calumny------------Slander, defamation,misrepresentation.

Callous------------cruel,heartless,uncaring.

camaraderie---friendship,Amity,company.

Camouflage----------disguise,conceal,hide,obsecure.

Canaille------------------low class people

Candid------------frank,straight,open,honest.

Cantabile---smooth flow.

Capacious------------Large,big,huge,spacious.

Caprice-------Whim, fancy, notion.

Capricious---------Impulsive,fickle,unpredictable

Caricature—comic exaggeration, travesty,distortion.

Carcass--------corpse,skelton,remains.

Carousal------Noisy party.

Cascade-----flow,pour,gush.

Catastrophe-----disaster,misfortune,calamity.

Caveat-------warning, caution. admonition.

Celestial------Divine. Outer space, extraterrestrial.

Chattel-----Personal property like furniture.

Chemise-----Shirt,,top,blouse.

Chimera-----fantasy, imagination, daydreaming.

Chimerical---------imaginary,unrealistic,

 Chisel-----Carve, shape, mold,fashion.

Circumambulate------evade, circumvent.

Circumspect-------- Judicious, Vigilant, Cautious.

Clandestine-------- secret, covert, concealed

Clairvoyant------------psychic, mystic, divine.

Coagulate-----------clot, thicken, set.

Coerce-----------force, intimidate, persuade.

Cohesion----------consistency,unity,solidarity.

Concierge-------- caretaker, keeper.

Concord-----------harmony, unity, peace, agreement.

Confluence--------Convergence, Union, meeting together.

Conglomerate-------company, business, firm.

Conjure---------invoke, summon, perform tricks.

Construe-----------interpret, understand, to mean.

Contentious--------Controversial,debatable,arguable.

Copious--------------abundant,plentiful,profuse.

Cryptic-------------obsecure,mysterious,enigmatic,secret.

Crystalline-------- clear, of definite shape, of crystal.

Cuisine----------cooking,cookery,food.

Cuckold----------husband of unfaithful wife.

Cygnet-------------a young swan.

Contrition----------remorse,regret,apology.

Credence------confidence,credibility,belief.

Culinary-----------cookery,cooking.

Cynosure---------attraction.admiration,guidance.



Any discrepancy please be brought to notice for rectification.
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Exercise for Practice ----Questions Based on Questions of Previous Years Question Papers (with answers)

Exercise No. 13.

Each of the following sentences has one italic part. There are three possible substitutes. If one of them is equivalent to meaning of the italic part, choose that as your answer. If none of the substitutes improves the sentence, then choose (4) as your answer.

(These sentences are based on questions  of  previous years examinations)

1. The prime function of a news paper is to provide us with all sorts of news, local and foreign. But for it, we would have to remain in total ignorance of the affairs of the world. It is only on account of newspapers that we can keep abreast of the times.  

1. But newspapers would have removed  ignorance of world.

2. But newspapers would have put forth  affairs of the world.

3. Else we would have remained ignorant about affairs of the world.

4. None of the above.

2. One should have courage to live humbly within one’s  means rather than live dishonestly upon the means of other people. He, who incurs debts in striving to maintain a style of living beyond his means, is in spirit as dishonest as the man who openly picks your pocket. To many this appears as an extreme view but it is true in real sense.

1. who has not sufficient means to maintain his standard of living.

2, who borrows  from others to live a life beyond his sources of income.

3. who is unable to earn enough to maintain his standard of living.

4.  None of these.

3. An honourable man is frugal of his means and pays his debts honestly. A man is not poor whose means  are small, but whose desires are controlled, so that man is rich whose means are more than sufficient for his wants.

1. A man who earns more than his expenditure is not poor.

2. A man who maintains his expenditure  within his income is  not poor.

3. A man whose sources are less but his needs are restricted is not poor.

4. None of these  

4. Character is built upon little things-little things well and honourably transacted. A man’s success in his life depends upon his attention to little things. It will invariably be proportionate to his efforts,  to his industry, to his attention to small things. The comfort of a household is the result of small things well arranged.

1. A man who has good business is successful in his life.

2. A man’s success implies his hard work diligence and his concern for petite activities of life.

3. A man’s success is not possible without his labour and solving the minutest problems of life successfully.

4. None of these.

5. The advantage of punctuality to a man is manifold. A punctual man never puts others to inconvenience and accordingly wins the respect and confidence of all who come in contact with him. He has confidence in his own powers and knows he cannot but be successful in any undertaking  where time is an essential factor.

1. has won confidence of others and is sure to succeed in his life.

2. has confidence in his own self that he can do a work and succeed.

3. has self-confidence to win favour of other to be successful in life.

4. None of these.

6. Brevity is an art which can be acquired by developing skill in the choice of words for more effectiveness. Verbosity is the enemy of wit while brevity is the soul of wit. The epigrammatic and  crisp sayings of great orators and writers are always remembered and quoted.

1. Brief way of expression makes a man more intelligent and wise.

2. Brief and not lengthy ways of expression shows intelligence of a person.

3. Brevity is the yard stick to measure a man’s intelligence and wisdom.

4. None of these.

7. A fool who is rash and impulsive always takes his decisions without thinking twice. He is gullible and falls into a trap of allurement and glamour of the world. He gets easily excited and rushes to act madly.

1.is innocent and is not in a position to make wise decisions.

2. is credulous and is swayed away by the outward spell of good looking things.

3. is shortsighted and is charmed by outer beauty of the person.

4. None of these.

8. A man may be wise and yet he may not be a man of great knowledge. Knowledge comes through reading and perceiving but wisdom comes not only through learning but also through experience, good judgement and prudence etc. and even the it takes its  own time in coming.

1.not only by studying but through cunning and tactful way of life.

2. not only by knowledge but also through practice, good decision and wisdom.

3. not only understanding but also through skill, good decision and maturity.

4.  None of these.

9. It is difficult to gauge the depth of one’s heart simply by looking at one’s face and outward appearance. Things are not what they seem to be. In the world of today full of hypocrisy there are many wolves in sheep’s clothing.

1. are many noble persons in modern and costly clothes.

2. are bad characters doing evil deeds.

3. are many evil minded persons in the garb of good persons.

4.None of these.

10.  A man who is persevering and industrious is sure to achieve success and make his fortune in life. By dint of his strong will and firm determination he finds all his difficulties solved. To him there are a thousand ways open to steer clear of all dangers and difficulties of life.

1. to face all the difficulties of  life boldly.

2.  to overcome risks and troubles of life successfully.

3.  to achieve success and fortune in life easily.

4. None of these.

Answers  : (1)   3    (2)  2    (3) 3  (4)  2   (5)  2  (6)   2    (7)  2     (8)  2    (9)   3    (10) 2

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Exercise For Practice---Questions From Question Papers Of Previous Years----with answers

Exercise No.CS 11

(These questions  are from Questions papers of previous years.)

Question 1. : A word is given in capital letters followed by four meanings of which two are appropriate. Identify the appropriate ones.

1. HAIL

(a). Call out to               (b) Pull              (c) Compel             (d) Acclaim

(i) (a) & (d)               (ii) (a) & (c)          (iii) (a) & (b)        (iv)  (b) & (d)

2. BUCKLE

   (a). Dislodge      (b) Become Tense                (c) Crumple               (d) Fasten

   (i) (a) & (c)        (ii) (a) & (b)                         (iii) (b) & (d)             (iv)  (c) & (d)

                                                                                        

3. BLAZE

a). A mark on a tree                      (b) Ennui                  (c) Flood                   (d) Fire

(i) (a) & (d)                                 (ii) (a) & (c)               (iii) (a) & (d)              (iv)  (c) & (d)

Question  2.   A word in capital letters is followed by four words. Choose the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word given in capital letters.

1. PROSAIC

(i) Pensive           (ii) Imaginative          (iii) Rhetorical      (iv) Pacified

2. Levity

(i) Praise              (ii) Blame               (iii) Solemnity        (iv) Frivolity

3. OBLOQUY

(i)Praise                      (ii) Shame                    (iii)Slander                     (iv) Dialogue

Question 3. In each of these questions two words of a sentence are left blank. Chose  the best alternative to fill the blanks.

1. The……………..terrorist was finally ………by the police.

   (i) Famous apprehended                        (ii)Notorious nabbed

   (iii) Crafty admonished                          (iv) Renowned  caught

2. It is foolish to vent your spleen on a/an ………….object. Still, you make …………………enemies this way.

   (i) immobile, bitter                                          (ii) interesting, curtain

   (iii)Humane, more                                           (iv) Inanimate, fewer

3. Compromise is………..to passionate natures because it seems to surrender, and to intellectual natures because it seems a …………..

  (i) Unsuited, submission                                 (ii) Odious, confusion

  (iii) Intimidation, dichotomy                           (iv) Inherent, fabrication

Question 4. Each sentence has four italic parts marked A,B,C&D. Identify the one that must be changed for the sentence to be correct.

1. Organised (A) labour has fight(B) for and won protection and benefits(C) for its (D) workers.

1.A                   2.B                         3.C                  4.D

2  .A music and dance show have been (A) organized  to raise (B) funds for the orphanage on the first (C) Saturday of  next (D) month.

1.A                   2.B                      3.C                   4.D

3. The book is well- printed (A) and attractively bound(B) making altogether (C) an attractive(D).

1.A                  2.B                      3.C                   4.D

Question 5. Each of these sentences has an idiomatic expression followed by four options. Choose the one close to its meaning.

1. ‘Dog in the manger’

(i) A person who is not liked by others.

(ii) A person who is hounded.

(iii) A person who puts himself into danger on account of others.

(iv) A person who is useless and prevents others from enjoying.  

2. ‘Talk Shop’

(i) Always talk about shopping.

(ii) Talk exclusively about business or professional affairs.

(iii) Talk about the latest trends in fashion.

(iv) Talk about useless things. 

3. Stick to one’s guns.

(i) Remain faithful to one’s cause.

(ii) Suspect something.

(iii)  Make something fail

(iv)  Be satisfied

Question 6. Each sentence has an italic word. Choose the best word or phrase from the four options which can replace it.

1. She saw through the con man’s wiles.

(i) Timing (ii) Casualness (iii) Sudden fancy (iv) Trickery

2. It is woman’s prerogative to change her mind.

(i)opinion (ii) wealth (iii) privilege  (iv).knowledge.

3. The inexorable demands of the workers brought the company to closure.

(i) unreasonable (ii) Monetary (iii) violent (iv) Relentless

Question 7 In each of these questions a related pair of words is followed by four pairs of words. Select the pair that best expresses a relationship similar to the one expressed in the original pair.

1 ELUSIVE: CAPTURE

(i) Elastic : Stretch

(ii)Gullible: Trick

(iii) Headstrong: Control

(iv)Sensible: Decide

2. APHORISM : SENTENTIOUS

(i) Criticism: Redundant

(ii) Eulogy: Laudatory

(iii) Adage: Symbolic

(iv) Maxim : Allegorical

3. Physique: Sturdy

(i) Punctuality: Tardy

(ii) Intellect : Noble

(iii) Fabric: Warm

(iv) Investment: Sound

Question  8.Each sentence has one italic part. There are three possible substitutes. If one of them is better than the italic part, choose that as your answer. If none of the substitutes improves the sentence, then choose (4) as your answer.

1. The Vice President of the local bank spoke for a half an hour and told his colleague that he, his colleague,  must consider finding a new job,or accept a reduction in salary.

(i) for a half hour and told his colleague that he must consider to find a new job.

(ii) for half an hour and told his colleague that the colleague must get employed by a new bank.

(iii) for half an hour and told his colleague to consider finding a new job.

2. He does not smoke, nor he drinks.

(i) nor he does drink.(ii)neither he does drink.(iii)nor does he drink(iv)no change.

3. Although he is liable to make political enemies with the decision, the Finance Minister will propose severe tax cuts that may stimulate business and reduce the availability of loans.

(i) Liable from (ii) able to (iii) of a mind to (iv) No change.

4. She wished that her career could be as glamorous as the other women but not willing to work as they had.

(i) As glamorous as the other women’s

(ii) More glamorous than the career of the other women.

(iii) Glamours

(iv) No change.

5. No matter what experience you have had with forest fires if you would have witnessed the fire roaring down through the canyon, you would have been terrified.

1.if you witnessed  2. If you had witnessed   3. If you could witness 4. No change

Answers: 

Q1. 1(i)  2(iv) 3(iii) 

Q2.1(ii) 2(iii) 3(i)

Q3 1(ii) 2(iv) 3.(i)

Q4 1(2B) 2(1A) 3(3C)

Q5 1(4)  2(2) 3(1)

Q6 1(iv) 2(iii) 3(iv)

Q7 1(iii) 2(ii) 3(iv)

Q8 1(iii) 2(iii) 3(iv) 4(ii) 5 (ii)

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