discreet: \di-ˈskrēt\

having or showing discernment or good judgment in conduct and especially in speech.

A person should be discreet in choosing his partner.

discrete \dis-ˈkrēt, ˈdis-ˌ\

constituting a separate entity : individually distinct.

He took out the discrete random variables.

complaisant: \-s^ənt, -z^ənt, -ˈzant, -ˈzänt\

willing to please; marked by an inclination to please.

Naina is ready with her complaisant smile, when it comes to getting her things done.


complacent: \kəm-ˈplā-s^ənt\

smug & self-satisfied;

The teacher always tells her students not to be complacent with their performance.

appraise: \ə-ˈprāz\

to estimate the value of; estimate.

The engineer was asked to appraise the cost of the building.

apprise: : \ə-ˈprīz\

to give notice to ; tell ;inform.

They apprised him of his rights.

exonerate: \ig-ˈzä-nə-ˌrāt, eg-\

to relieve of a responsibility, obligation, or hardship.

The thief was exonerated,as he pleaded for mercy with the judge.

exasperate: \ig-ˈzas-pə-ˌrāt\

to excite the anger of

His behaviour was exasperating, so the teacher sent him out of the class.

apprehend: \ˌa-pri-ˈhend\

to become aware of ; arrest ; seize ;

The thief was apprehended by the police.

comprehend: \ˌkäm-pri-ˈhend, -prē-\

to grasp the nature, significance, or meaning of

The students were unable to comprehend the theory.

prescribe: \pri-ˈskrīb\

recommend for or permit something

This text book has been prescribed for college.

proscribe:: \prō-ˈskrīb\

to condemn or forbid the use of

This part of the drama has been proscribed as it has objectionable parts.

auger: \ˈȯ-gər\

an auger is a tool like a large corkscrew used for boring holes;

Fetch the auger, I want to drill holes to hang the curtains.

augur: \ˈȯ-gər\

is a prophet or soothsayer.

there is also a verb to augur, meaning either 'to predict' or 'portend a good or bad outcome'!

Their new house augured well for them

baluster: \ˈba-lə-stər\

a pillar supporting an ornamental rail around a gallery or terrace.


banister \ˈba-nəs-tər\

a banister is a single post supporting a handrail at the side of a staircase.

abysmal: \ə-ˈbiz-məl, a-\

profound ;immeasurably low

Abysmal conditions of the poor is unbearable.

abyssal: \ə-ˈbi-səl\

of or relating to the bottom waters of the ocean depth; unfathomable.

The present world politicians should try to bridge the abyssal gap between' the haves & the have- nots' .

preponderance: \pri-ˈpän-d(ə-)rən(t)s\

a superiority in weight, power, importance, or strength

Gandhi preferred a preponderance of women over men in his entourage .

presumptuous: \pri-ˈzəm(p)-chə-wəs, -chəs, -shəs\

taking liberties; overstepping due bounds

She was presumptuous taking advantage of his softness .

insidious \in-ˈsi-dē-əs\

awaiting a chance to entrap;treacherous

She was reeling under the insidious pressure of modern life.

invidious: \in-ˈvi-dē-əs\

tending to cause discontent or animosity or envy

Political leaders indulge in invidious task of arbitration.

alter ego: \ˌȯl-tər-ˈē-(ˌ)gō also -ˈe-(ˌ)gō\

second self , a close friend, counterpart


Ever since I have met him he has been my alter ego

sine die: \ˌsī-ni-ˈdī(-ˌē), ˌsi-nā-ˈdē-ˌā\

indefinitely put off

The meeting has been postponed sine die

ipso facto: \ˈip-(ˌ)sō-ˈfak-(ˌ)tō\

by the very fact

As he is already married this marriage would be void ipso facto.


Sine qua non \ˌsi-ni-ˌkwä-ˈnän, -ˈnōn also ˌsē-; also ˌsī-ni-ˌkwā-ˈnän\

the most essential, necessity

Reliability is a Sine qua non for a job

pince-nez: \paⁿs-ˈnā, pan(t)s-\

eyeglasses held by spring on the nose

His old fashioned pince-nez makes him look very old.

penchant:\ˈpen-chənt, especially British ˈpäⁿ-ˌshäⁿ\

a strong desire or liking

With her penchant for teaching she has proved herself to be a great teacher

acrimonious: \ˌa-krə-ˈmō-nē-əs\

Something caustic, biting ,rancorous in speech

A speaker has to listen to acrimonious debates in the assembly many times.


parsimonious: \ˌpär-sə-ˈmō-nē-əs\


frugal to the point of stinginess

Don't be parsimonious.