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Today’s article talks about the need to change the law systems that are redundant and prevalent since colonial times in India.
The article title is: ‘Revise the law’.
Did you find words that were absolutely new? Great! Below are the explanations given for some of those difficult words you found. Go through them slowly and don’t forget to do the exercises at the end.
Important words and idioms from the article
PENAL
Pronunciation: pee-nuhl
Part of Speech: adjective
Meaning: a) related to, or used for punishment under the legal system
b) punishable by law
Synonyms: corrective, punishing, retributive, punitory
Usage: His action breached the penal code of law.
Forms: penalty(noun)
IMPERATIVE
Pronunciation: im-peh-ruh-tuhv
Part of Speech: adjective, noun
Meaning: a) of vital importance (adjective)
b) giving a command (adjective)
c) an urgent thing (noun)
Synonyms: authoritative, compulsory, obligatory, commanding
Antonyms: discretionary, inessential, secondary
Usage: The statement by the court was an imperative, not to be taken lightly. .
ENSURE
Pronunciation: en-shyow
Part of Speech: verb
Meaning: to make sure of something
Synonyms: guarantee, establish, assure, secure
Antonyms: endanger, harm, injure, contradict
Usage: The doctor ensured that our mother will be fine.
OVERHAUL
Pronunciation: oh-ver-hawl
Part of Speech: verb
Meaning: to examine and repair something
Synonyms: fix, improve, renew, rebuild
Antonyms: break, damage, destroy
Usage: Having finished his lunch, he went to overhaul his bike.
OVERDUE
Pronunciation: ow-vuh-dyoo
Part of Speech: adjective
Meaning: not having happened at the estimated time
Synonyms: belated, delinquited, outstanding, tardy
Antonyms: early, timely, settled
Usage: The rent for the past two months is long overdue.
Forms: due(adjective, noun)
WEAPONISE
Pronunciation: veh-pn-ahyz
Part of Speech: verb
Meaning: adapt to use for a weapon
Synonyms: adapt, alter, modify
Antonyms: stiffen, tune, dissimilate
Usage: His one mistake was weaponized against him in his whole term of service.
Forms: weapon(noun), weaponry(noun), weaponization(verb)
SEDITION
Pronunciation: suh-di-shn
Part of Speech: noun
Meaning: to conduct a speech exciting the people against an authority
Synonyms: insubordination, insurrection, mutiny, dissent
Antonyms: obedience, submission
Usage: A sedition against the administration raged after the change of policies.
Forms: seditious (adjective)
PROVISION
Pronunciation: prow-vi-zhn
Part of Speech: noun, verb
Meaning: a) the act of supplying something(noun)
b) an amount supplied (noun)
c) to supply with essentials(verb)
Synonyms: arrangement, catering, equipping, procure
Antonyms: removal, taking
Usage: The government has arranged for provision of essentials to the needy.
Forms: provisional(noun,adjective), provide(verb)
SAFEGUARD
Pronunciation: seif-gaad
Part of Speech: noun, verb
Meaning: a) a step taken to protect someone or something (noun)
b) to protect someone or something (verb)
Synonyms: security, shield, armament
Antonyms: harm, hurt, injury
Usage: All measures have been taken to safeguard the common man from effects of the war.
Forms: guard(verb, noun)
GAMUT
Pronunciation: ga-muht
Part of Speech: noun
Meaning: a complete range of something
Synonyms: spectrum, catalogue, compass, extent
Antonyms: limited
Usage: We came up with a whole gamut of ideas to execute the function.
Practice Questions
Q1) If the words ‘ensure’ and ‘guarantee’ make a perfect pair, select the correct pair from the following set of words following the same logic:
- Penal-Free
- Overdue-Timely
- Sedition-Submission
- Overhaul-Improve
Q2) Create sentences of your own with the following words:
- Weaponise
- Imperative
- Overhaul
- Safeguard
- Gamut
Tell us your answers in the comments below.
