The Hindu Editorial (The edge of war) – Oct 01, 2024

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The Hindu Editorial (The edge of war) – Oct 01, 2024:

edge (noun) – brink, verge, outer limit.
excuse (noun) – (ostensible) reason.
widen (verb) – increase, spread, amplify.
Hezbollah (noun) – Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim political party and militant group based in Lebanon, where its extensive security apparatus, political organization, and social services network have fostered its reputation as “a state within a state.” Founded in the chaos of the fifteen-year Lebanese Civil War, the Iran-backed group is driven by its opposition to Israel and its resistance to Western influence in the Middle East.
consequential (adjective) – important, significant, major, serious.
break out (phrasal verb) – begin/start suddenly, erupt, burst out, flare up.
decade (noun) – a period of ten years.
parallel state/government (noun) – a government formed by a person or by a group of people regardless of the presence of the main government with authority. It is basically formed to undermine the authority of the main government.
non-state (adjective) – relating to an individual or organization that has significant political influence.
constituent (noun) – integral part.
axis of resistance (noun) – An alliance known as the Axis of Resistance, built up over decades with Iranian support, includes the Palestinian group Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Yemen’s Houthis, and various Shi’ite Muslim armed groups in Iraq and Syria.
project (verb) – present, promote, communicate something in a particular way.
influence (noun) – control, sway, hold, power, authority, domination, leadership.
blow (noun) – shock, surprise; setback/misfortune.
deal a blow (phrase) – to harm, upset, affect, afflict or shock someone/something very badly; hit someone/something very badly in order to cause harm
dent (verb) – reduce, diminish, lessen, shrink, weaken, erode, undermine.
cross-border (adjective) – across a border between two states/countries.
displace (verb) – force someone to leave his/her home, usually due to war, persecution, or natural disaster; banish, exile, deport, evict, expel, oust.
red line (noun) – boundary, limit.
open war (noun) – a military tactic characterized by direct, large-scale confrontations between opposing forces, rather than relying on trench warfare or guerrilla tactics.
retaliatory (adjective) – revenging, vengeful, avenging.
Gaza (noun) – a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip. Gaza Strip is a self-governing Palestinian territory surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Israel and Egypt.
Hamas (noun) – Hamas is an Islamist militant group based in Gaza.
front (noun) – combat zone, field of battle, battlefield, battleground.
Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) (noun) – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are the armed forces of Israel, comprising the Israeli army, navy, and air force. it is was established in 1948 and commonly known in Israel by its Hebrew acronym Tzahal.
play along (phrasal verb) – cooperate or pretend to cooperate.
exchange (of) fire (phrase) – shoot at each other.
dramatically (adverb) – rapidly, abruptly, suddenly, aggressively, seriously.
escalate (verb) – increase rapidly, rise, soar, surge, intensify, accelerate.
conflict (noun) – war, warfare, armed conflict, military action, armed clash.
functionary (noun) – office-holder, office-bearer, administrator, representative.
objective (noun) – target, intention, purpose, goal/aim.
enable (verb) – let, facilitate, give the resources to, give the means to.
strike (noun) – attack.
missile (noun) – a self-propelled/rocket-propelled weapon designed to deliver a conventional/nuclear explosive warhead with great accuracy at high speed; projectile.
offensive (noun) – attack, onslaught, incursion, assault.
seek (verb) – try, aim, attempt.
carve (verb) – to form, create or obtain something.
buffer zone (noun) – neutral area, neutral territory.
reel under (phrase) – to suffer (due to a burden).
invasion (noun) – attack, offensive, onslaught, incursion, assault.
meet (verb) – fulfil, satisfy, come up to, match up to (a need, requirement, or condition).
hostage (noun) – a person captured or held as security for the fulfilment of certain conditions/terms.
degrade (verb) – reduce, devalue, deteriorate, degenerate.
rival (noun) – opponent, combatant, adversary, nemesis, enemy/foe.
at the cost of (phrase) – by sacrificing/losing/giving up something.
trigger (verb) – stir up, stoke up, instigate , encourage, prompt, rouse, provoke.
all-out (adjective) – intense, aggressive, vigorous, powerful.
call for (phrasal verb) – require, publicly ask/necessitate, demand.
ceasefire (noun) – a negotiated agreement that will be accompanied by other associated commitments to de-escalate the fighting; a temporary stoppage of a war, truce, armistice.
weight (noun) – value, importance, significance.
administration (noun) – government, regime.
arm (verb) – provide/supply with weapons.
repeatedly (adverb) – frequently, again and again, invariably, constantly, regularly, consistently.
provoke (verb) – annoy, make angry, incense, infuriate; incite, arouse.
push someone to the corner (phrase) – to force someone into a difficult or unpleasant situation.
so far (phrase) – until now, up to the present, up to this point.
relative (adjective) – reasonable, considerable, some, a fair degree of.
restraint (noun) – restriction, limitation, control.
go on (phrasal verb) – continue, carry on, proceed.
blood-thirsty (adjective) – murderous, violent, sadistic.
rampage (noun) – a period of uncontrollable behaviour; rioting, out of control, running amok, going berserk.
tempt (verb) – entice, persuade, induce, cajole, coax, woo.
wider comparative adjective of wide (adjective) – large-scale, extensive, broad, exhaustive.