Refute (re-fewt): To prove or to say something is wrong.

Synonyms — counter, disprove, contradict.

Antonyms— confirm, substantiate, verify.

Supercilious (sooper-sillius): Showing that one is better than the others, proud.

Synonyms — disdainful, arrogant, haughty.

Antonyms — humble, unassuming, modest.

Transient (tran’zient): Lasting or staying for a short time.

Synonyms — momentary, fleeting, transitory.

Antonyms — constant, enduring, eternal.

— We’ll soon overcome these transient problems.

Fuzzy (fuzzi): Not clear in sound, shape etc.

Synonyms — blurred, distorted, vague.

Antonyms — clear, defined, distinct.

Ensued (in’swed): Followed

Synonyms — result, succeed, stem.

Antonyms — forerun, lead, precede.

— Panic ensued the riots in the city.

Impromptu (im-promp-tew): Done without advance planning or thought.

Synonyms — unprepared, extempore, unrehearsed.

Antonyms — planned, prepared, rehearsed.

— Despite being an impromptu performance, her dance enthralled the audience.

Fill in the blanks to discover some phobias:

1. Phobia of money — C H - - - AT - PHOBIA

2. Phobia of closed space — C L - - - T R - P - - B I A

3. Phobia of computers — C - B - R P H - - - A

4. Phobia of demons — D - - - N - P H - - - A

5. Phobia of water — H - D - - P H O - - A

6. Phobia of sleep — H - - N - P H - - - A

An ugly duckling refers to the ugliest or the least promising child of a family who turns out to be the best looking or cleverest or the most successful in life. The allusion is to Hans Anderson’s story of a swan that was hatched with a brood of ducklings. It was first despised for its ugliness but later grew into a beautiful swan.

A noble deed is a step towards God. — J.G. Holland

Chromatophobia, claustrophobia, cyberphobia, demonophobia, hydrophobia, hypnophobia.

— Illa Vij