Quarantined, aren't you?

A word which is being used frequently in the last few weeks is 'Quarantine'. Historically, it signified a period of 40 days of isolation imposed upon ships, persons or animals, on arrival at a port or place, when suspected of carrying some infectious or contagious disease. But now we don't necessarily attribute a 40 day period to the word. It essentially means a strict exclusion, detention or isolation to prevent the spread of a contagious disease. Today about  1.5 billion people worldwide are in quarantine. Let's all pray it ends soon and things are bright and beautiful again. Be positive and take good care.

Aspire to Inspire

Aspire or inspire? Confused? It's a simple case of Self versus the Other.
Aspirations are your dreams, ambitions, goals, vision for the future. You ASPIRE to achieve them. INSPIRE is when you arouse the urge in someone else to do something; simply put, to inspire is to encourage someone to attain their objective.

It's Peanuts!

We all know what peanuts are, don't we? People are often taken by surprise when they learn that peanuts grow beneath the soil and do not grow on trees like walnuts do. While we consume peanuts in various forms there is yet another use of this rather cute nut in informal language. It signifies a very small amount. Today's newspapers have this screaming headline - 'It's Peanuts for Farmers' for the story being carried on the allowances being provided to the farmers.

Two extremes but a possible truth

When a statement or a proposition swings between two ends of the spectrum - it brings out an emotion or response that's not just of surprise but even absurdity. The expression used for such a statement or situation

is 'paradox' and that's our word of the week. The statement may seem contradictory but may express a possible truth. The expression, paradox, extends itself to a person, thing, or even situation that may seem contradictory. 

The case in point is our cricketer - Ravindra Jadeja. While the world adores the all-round skills of this talented cricketer, the Indian selectors find him a surplus. The headline of Indian Express sums it up wonderfully: The Jadeja paradox.

https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/the-ravindra-jadeja-paradox5409861/

#IndianExpress #RavindraJadeja #jadeja #cricket #paradox

Appropriated...without consent

How often have you been caught or teased for not wearing clothes that are 'appropriate' to an occasion or appropriate clothing for a place such as a place of worship or a formal meeting.   The word 'appropriate' means 'fitting or suitable for a specific task, purpose, purpose or occasion'. 
Now in its past tense form (appropriated) - the expression has slightly different connotations. A popular one is about setting apart or authorizing for some particular purpose (as in: The treasurer appropriated funds for the development of the community park). One usage that finds regular mention in news now-a-days is 'to take without permission or consent' (The official appropriated the funds for his personal use). 
Our word of this week is 'appropriated' - it's a Double-clue variety for Smart-Vocab Challenger followers (word having two diverse meanings depending on the usage).

Teacher by more names!

Beginning today, with just about a week to go for Teachers' Day celebrations - we will come up with words that describe these wonderful souls who impact our lives for good, and irrevocably so. 
We begin with this word - Pedagogue. Well, pedagogue is just another word for an instructor or a dogmatic teacher. Pronounced as 'ped -uh-gawg' it has its origins in Greek (paidagogos) and Latin (paedagogus). One can use it in sentences such as: I was so delighted to meet up with my favourite English pedagogue at the mall today. 

Discord and lack of harmony

India lost in the ICC Champions Trophy and before a detailed analysis could be done on the factors leading to the defeat came the revelations of a discord between the Indian cricket captain and the coach. The discord reached to such levels that the coach, Anil Kumble, had to give up being a coach and move on. 

Discord is our Word-of-the-week. And it is a typical 'double-clue' variety for the Smart-Vocab Challenger followers. While in the context above 'discord' refers to a lack of agreement or harmony between two sides - 'discord' also reflects harsh confused mingling of sound.