Leaden (ledd’n): 1. Numbed, deaden;

2. Darkened, gloomy

Synonyms: 1. Inert, sluggish

2. Murky, sombre

Antonyms: 1. Light, energetic, strong

2. Bright, clear

Horrendous (ho-rendus): Awful, revolting.

Synonyms: Appalling, repulsive, dreadful.

Antonyms: Pleasant, agreeable

—The horrendous story that he narrated frightened the little children.

Haughty (haw-ti) : Proud, arrogant.

Synonyms: Overbearing, high-handed, disdainful.

Antonyms: Humble, modest.

Intelligentsia (intelli-jent-shia): The educated class.

Synonyms: Intellectuals

Antonyms: Masses

— The intelligentsia of the country shoulders major responsibilities.

Demean (di-meen) : Humiliate

Synonyms: Debase, humble, shame

Antonyms: Dignify, honour, glorify, elevate.

—How can I demean myself by doing this horrendous act.

Insurgent (in-sur-jent): Rebel, revolter.

Synonyms: Anarchist, revolutionist.

Antonyms: Patriot, loyalist.

Discover

1. The word haughty is based on the French word haut which means high. This further led to some phrases. Match the following:

a) haute couture 1. high society

b) haute cuisine 2. high fashion

c) haute monde 3. fine cooking

2. The Latin word torquere means to twist. This gave rise to many more words. Match the following and see what these words mean:

a) Distort 1. twisting the body into an unusual position.

b) Contortion 2. twisting or wringing money out of someone by threat.

c) Extortion 3. a degree of twist.

d)Torque 4. twist a speaker’s words back to him.

e) Retort 5. twist out of shape.

Looking back

Renaissance was the great cultural movement that began in Italy in the fourteenth century. It spread to England, France, Germany, Spain and other countries. It finally came to an end in about 1600. It represented a rebirth of cultures and also came to be called the revival of antiquity or the revival of learning.

Ponder

If there be a paradise for virtues, there must be a hell for crimes.— Caussin.

Score card:
1. a2, b3, c1
2. a5, b1, c2, d3, e4

— Illa Vij