contempt

con·tempt

1. The feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn.

2. The state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace.

3. Open disrespect or willful disobedience of the authority of a court of law or legislative body.
The Governors say they will not follow the OBC quota as it may amount to contempt of court.

18/03/2007

Charismatic

1. Of, relating to, or characterized by charisma: "the warmth of a naturally charismatic leader" Joyce Carol Oates.

2. Of, relating to, or being a type of Christianity that emphasizes personal religious experience and divinely inspired powers, as of healing, prophecy, and the gift of tongues.

stickler

1. One who insists on something unyieldingly: a stickler for neatness.

2. Something puzzling or difficult.

From being seen as the charismatic mascot of her party, she is now being seen as a leader unable to guarantee success. From being projected as a "devi" (goddess) of sacrifice, she now is accused of having an Indira Gandhi-like dictatorial streak. And from being perceived as a stickler for propriety, she now even finds herself being haunted yet again by the charges of protecting the corrupt.


incumbent

1. Imposed as an obligation or duty; obligatory: felt it was incumbent on us all to help.

2. Lying, leaning, or resting on something else: incumbent rock strata.

3. Currently holding a specified office: the incumbent mayor.

A person who holds an office or ecclesiastical benefice: The incumbent was reelected to another term.

17/03/07

cacophony :---

1. Jarring, discordant sound; dissonance: heard a cacophony of horns during the traffic jam.

2. The use of harsh or discordant sounds in literary composition, as for poetic effect.

The patriarchal baritone of the Times of India in the Fifties and Sixties has given way to a high pitched cacophony.

Disingenuous
1. Not straightforward or candid; insincere or calculating: "an ambitious, disingenuous, philistine, and hypocritical operator, who ... exemplified ... the most disagreeable traits of his time" David Cannadine.

2. Pretending to be unaware or unsophisticated; faux-naïf.

3. Usage Problem Unaware or uninformed; naive.

Certainly the Elizabeth Hurley Arun Nayyar wedding was a media tamasha. But the shrill complaint of who-on-earth-even-knows-Elizabeth-Hurley, was nothing but disingenuous hypocrisy.

Cannibal
n.

1. A person who eats the flesh of other humans.

2. An animal that feeds on others of its own kind.

Lurid stories of cannibalism have been printed without any caveats that there is still no linking evidence joining the accused with the skeletons, apart from narco analysis confessions which are not admissible in a court.

Caveat

1.

a. A warning or caution: "A final caveat: Most experts feel that clients get unsatisfactory results when they don't specify clearly what they want" Savvy.

b. A qualification or explanation.

2. Law A formal notice filed by an interested party with a court or officer, requesting the postponement of a proceeding until the filer is heard.

Hypocrisy

1. The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.

2. An act or instance of such falseness.

unpalatable

1. Not pleasing to the taste: an unpalatable meal.

2. Not pleasant or agreeable: unpalatable truths.

The unpalatable yet inescapable truth is that almost everyone who consumes English language news knows who Elizabeth Hurley is, right from her safety pin dress to her colourful love affairs

venerable

1. Commanding respect by virtue of age, dignity, character, or position.

2. Worthy of reverence, especially by religious or historical association: venerable relics.

vigilante

1. One who takes or advocates the taking of law enforcement into one's own hands.

2. A member of a vigilance committee.
When the accused in the Nithari killings were attacked outside a Ghaziabad courtroom, venerable lawyers thundered that the media had pre-judged the case and motivated the public to strike an accused. That this was a case of "vigilante justice".

11/03/2007

brawl

1. A noisy quarrel or fight.

2. A loud party.

3. A loud, roaring noise.

4. To quarrel or fight noisily.

5. To flow noisily, as water.

Initial investigations revealed that the incident could have been the result of a brawl between the personnel from an India Reserved Battalion.

devastate

1. To lay waste; destroy.

2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark.

confront

1. To come face to face with, especially with defiance or hostility: I wish to confront my accuser in a court of law.

2. To bring face to face with: The defendant was confronted with incontrovertible evidence of guilt.

3. To come up against; encounter: confronted danger at every turn.

10/03/2007

cropper :---

1. A heavy fall

2. A disastrous failure
Virender Sehwag came a cropper again in the one day international played against West-Indies.

formidable

1. Arousing fear, dread, or alarm: the formidable prospect of major surgery.

2. Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder: "Though a true hero, he was also a thoroughgoing bureaucrat and politician, a formidable combination" Mario Puzo.

3. Difficult to undertake, surmount, or defeat: a formidable challenge; a formidable opponent.

augur

1. To make predictions from signs or omens.

2. To be a sign or omen: A smooth dress rehearsal augured well for the play.
Captain Rahul Dravid said on Friday that key players in his team were coming into top form and fitness which augured well for India's chances at the cricket World Cup.

extravaganza
An elaborate, spectacular entertainment or display: "Washington is an extravaganza of great buildings, greenery, and monuments"

^Batter

1. To hit heavily and repeatedly with violent blows.

2. To subject to repeated beatings or physical abuse.

3. To damage, as by heavy wear.

v.intr.

To pound repeatedly with heavy blows.

n. Printing

A damaged area on the face of type or on a plate.

delude

1. To deceive the mind or judgment of: fraudulent ads that delude consumers into sending in money.

2. Obsolete To elude or evade.

3. Obsolete To frustrate the hopes or plans of.