Understanding the Chinese mind – The Hindu (Sep 01, 2017)

Understanding the Chinese mind – The Hindu (Sep 01, 2017)

Just when the stand-off between India and China over the Doklam plateau threatened to go the way of the 1986-1987 Sumdorong Chu incident (Arunachal Pradesh), the two sides agreed to step back and disengage, thus avoiding a confrontation. For further reading, visit “The Hindu”.

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Word List-3 (To Improve English Vocabulary)

1. riposte (verb) – answer/reply/respond, retort, counter.
2. discern (verb) – understand, fathom, perceive.
3. viz. (adverb) – namely, specifically, in other words.
4. ramifications (noun) – consequence, result, issue.
5. labyrinthine (adjective) – complicated, intricate, confusing.
6. savour (verb) – relish, enjoy,, appreciate.
7. gamut (noun) – range, spectrum, scope.
8. decipher (verb) – make out, interpret, understand/comprehend.
9. nurse (verb) – foster, have (a belief/feeling); encourage/nurture.
10. alienation (noun) – isolation, detachment, estrangement/separation.
11. obtuse (adjective) – stupid, dull, unintelligent.
12. attrition (noun) – wearing away, weakening, debilitation.
13. protracted (adjective) – very long, prolonged, extended/extensive.
14. opportune (adjective) – favourable, advantageous, right.
15. mitigate (verb) – alleviate, reduce, lessen.
16. extraneous (adjective) – irrelevant, immaterial, inappropriate/pointless.
17. pyrrhic (adjective) – (of a victory) – meaningless, valueless/worthless, useless.
18. redress (verb) – remedy/fix, compensate, rectify.
19. hinterland (noun) – remote areas of a country away from the coastal areas/the banks of major rivers.
20. achilles heel (noun) – weak spot/point, weakness, vulnerable spot.
21. embark on (verb) – begin, start, commence (a course of action).
22. aggravate (verb) – worsen, exacerbate, increase.
23. dampener (noun) – discontent, complainer, fault-finder.
24. pragmatic (adjective) – empirical, realistic/actual, practical.
25. crescendo (noun) – peak, top, high point.
26. shun (verb) – avoid, evade, reject (through antipathy or caution).
27. status quo (noun) – the present situation, the current state, the existing state of affairs. A supporter of the status quo is called as status quoist.
28. indulge in (verb) – involve (in an undesirable action).
29. imply (verb) – suggest, hint, say indirectly.
30. tianxia (Chinese word) – literally means”under heaven” (the concept/belief of  the Chinese empire).
31. envisage (verb) – foresee, predict, forecast.
32. aphorism (noun) – proverb, maxim/adage; saying.

Note:  

1. Click each one en.oxforddictionaries.com/…ition/foremostof the words above for their definition, more synonyms, pronunciation, example sentences, phrases, derivatives, origin and etc from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/.

2. Definitions (elementary level) & Synonyms provided for the words above are my personal work and not that of Oxford University Press. Tentative definitions/meanings are provided for study purpose only and they may vary in different context. Use it with the corresponding article published on the source (website) via the link provided. 

3. This word list is for personal use only. Reproduction in any format and/or Commercial use of it is/are strictly prohibited.