The Hindu Lead Article (In ending standoff, magnanimity must prevail) – Jul 01, 2020:
stand-off (noun) – deadlock, stalemate, impasse (in a dispute/conflict).
magnanimity (noun) – big-heartedness, generosity, humanity, kindness.
prevail (verb) – exist, be in existence, be present, be prevalent.
call for (phrasal verb) – require, publicly ask/necessitate, demand.
outrage (noun) – fury, anger, wrath, indignation, resentment; (moral outrage is an (emotional) anger in reaction to an injustice).
might (noun) – strength, force, power.
oft- (adverb in combination) – often.
DNA (noun) – (figuratively) basic or fundamental traits, qualities, or characteristics of a person.
so to speak (phrase) – in a way, so to say, n some way or other; saying/speaking something figuratively.
demonise (verb) – to show someone as evil/wicked/bad.
neighbourhood (noun) – (surrounding) area, region, district/country.
long-standing (adjective) – well established, deep-rooted, long-term, firm (for a long time).
civilisational (adjective) – relating to civilisation (culture, customs, way of life).
ties (noun) – bond, association, relationship.
recount (verb) – tell, narrate, describe, recite.
intimacy (noun) – closeness, togetherness, affinity.
solidarity (noun) – unity, unanimity, harmony, cooperation.
affirmation (noun) – endorsement, confirmation, pronouncement.
spirit (noun) – principles, standards, ethos.
keep a cool head (phrase) – to stay calm in a difficult situation.
on the brink of (phrase) – on the edge/verge of difficult/dangerous situation; at a crucial or critical point.
regard (verb) – consider, think, view, treat.
hand-to-hand (adjective) – (of fighting/combat) at very short range.
valley (noun) – a low area between hills or mountains typically with a river running through it.
frontier (noun) – boundary, borderline, border.
casualty (noun) – victim, loss, death, fatality.
face-off (noun) – clash, conflict, confrontation, skirmish.
occasion (noun) – time.
sake (noun) – purpose, cause, consideration, reason.
McMahon line (noun) – the demarcation line between Tibet and the North-east region of India proposed by British colonial administrator Sir Henry McMahon at the 1914 Simla Convention signed between British and Tibetan representatives. It is the effective boundary between China and India.
demarcation (noun) – an act of fixing of the boundary or limits.
tranquillity (noun) – peacefulness, restfulness, calmness, quietness.
Line of Actual Control (LAC) (noun) – the de-facto (effective) border between India and China. The LAC is a 4,057-km border running through three areas-Western (Ladakh, Ladakh (Kashmir)), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal) and eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal).
confidence building measures/mechanisms (noun) – confidence-building measures (CBMs) are planned procedures to prevent hostilities, to avert escalation, to reduce military tension, and to build mutual trust between countries.
clause (noun) – term, condition, provision, requirement.
bio-degradation (noun) – it is defined as ‘the gradual breakdown of a material mediated by specific biological activity’.
hazardous (adjective) – dangerous, perilous, unsafe.
apparently (adverb) – obviously, clearly, seemingly.
barbarically (adverb) – brutally, cruelly, ruthlessly.
inhuman (adjective) – vicious/cruel, brutal, barbaric.
Aksai Chin (noun) – a territory in Ladakh, is under illegal Chinese occupation.
de facto (adjective) – Latin, literally ‘of fact’; existing, actual, effective.
negotiation (noun) – discussions, talks, deliberation.
hindsight (noun) – understanding of something after it has happened.
consequence (noun) – result, outcome, effect; ramification, repercussion.
superpower (noun) – a nation which is very powerful and possesses military, political or economic might (power) with dominant status on the globe. (like the Soviet Union (erstwhile) or United States of America).
in the making (phrase) – burgeoning, coming, growing, developing.
imply (verb) – say indirectly, suggest, hint.
condescend (verb) – put down, talk down, patronize; degrade, demean, lower.
tantamount to (adjective) – equivalent to, comparable to, amounting to, on a par with.
beleaguered (adjective) – hard-pressed, troubled, suffering.
intransigent (adjective) – uncompromising, inflexible, unwavering.
flex one’s muscles (phrase) – publicly showing strength/power.
arbitration (noun) – conciliation, mediation, intervention/negotiation.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) (noun) – The Permanent Court of Arbitration, established by treaty in 1899, is an intergovernmental organization providing a variety of dispute resolution services to the international community.
breach (verb) – violate, infringe, break.
obligation (noun) – duty/responsibility; necessity, necessary requirement.
convention (noun) – agreement, accord, protocol.
maritime (adjective) – of or related to the sea.
pay heed to (phrase) – pay attention to, take notice of, listen to.
unimpeded (adjective) – unrestricted, unblocked, unlimited.
freedom of navigation (FON) (noun) – a principle of customary (established ) international law that ships flying the flag of any sovereign state shall not suffer interference from other states, apart from the exceptions provided for in international law.
overflight (noun) – a passage of an aircraft over a particular area.
hubris (noun) – excessive pride, feeling of superiority/arrogance, self-confidence.
intolerant (adjective) – allergic, sensitive, hypersensitive; inflexible, dogmatic, uncompromising, unforgiving, unsympathetic.
weigh in (phrasal verb) – make a forceful contribution to an argument; influence, be important to.
tit-for-tat (phrase) – equivalent retaliation; counterattack, revenge, an eye for an eye.
posture (noun) – standpoint, position, perspective/approach.
aggression (noun) – hostility, belligerence, combativeness, warmongering, hawkishness.
redouble (verb) – make something more intense.
diplomatic (adjective) – (delicate & sensitive) consular, foreign-policy, political.
intransigence (noun) – refusal to change opinions/views or agree/compromise something.
toll (noun) – number, count, sum total (of deaths/casualties).
boycott (noun) – restriction, ban/bar, prohibition.
sanctions (noun) – action taken, or an order given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc (Courtesy: VOA Learning English).
justification (noun) – reason, rationale, premise, basis.
apartheid (noun) – racial segregation/discrimination system in (South Africa); prejudice, bias, bigotry/inequity (racial segregation).
hasten (verb) – speed up, accelerate, expedite.
arguably (adverb) – possibly, conceivably, maybe, potentially.
trigger (verb) – give rise to, cause, invoke, bring about.
in the aftermath of (phrase) – as a consequence of, as a result of.
nationalist (adjective) – patriotic.
ferment (noun) – fever, furore, storm, clamour.
come to (the) fore (phrase) – to become obvious; to become visible.
sovereignty (noun) – authority, supreme power, rule/raj.
transgress (verb) – breach, violate, disobey.
run its course (phrase) – come to an end, end, cease, terminate.
barely (adverb) – only a very short time before; only just, hardly.
dent (noun) – blow, damage; reduction, depletion.
prospects (noun) – chances, potential, opportunities (for success).
laud (verb) – praise, hail, applaud, acclaim.
compelling (adjective) – convincing, valid, reasonable.
mobilise (verb) – stimulate, galvanize, encourage, urge.
workforce (noun) – workers, employees.
emulate (verb) – imitate, follow, take as an example.
agility (noun) – cleverness, quickness, sharpness. (an ability to think cleverly & quickly).
much more (phrase) – a lot more.
parity (noun) – equality, uniformity, sameness, evenness.
watch (noun) – guard, vigil, observation, lookout.
resemble (verb) – look like, be similar to, be like.
ostracize (verb) – to deliberately exclude someone from a group (& to stop communicating with him/her); shun, ignore, reject, avoid, cast off, blacklist.
unleash (verb) – let loose, release, set free.
hostility (noun) – opposition, aversion, enmity, antipathy; unfriendliness, bitterness.
warm (adjective) – friendly, kind, sympathetic, affectionate, amiable.
gushing (adjective) – enthusiastic, unrestrained, unreserved, effusive.
pragmatic (adjective) – empirical, realistic/actual, practical.
shrewd (adjective) – clever, astute, wise.
diplomacy (noun) – statesmanship, statecraft; negotiation, discussion, talks.
