“nee”

The word is normally used after a married woman’s name. When you say “Padma Srivastav, nee Bhalla…” what you mean is that before Padma married Srivastav her family name was Bhalla. The “ee” sounds like the “ay” in “say” and “bay”.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 22, 2003

“assuage”

When you assuage something unpleasant, what you are doing is making it less unpleasant. You are making it less severe; you are reducing its strength.

Here are a few examples. * The President tried to assuage the fears of his neighbour about a potential war. * Nothing you do will assuage Anand’s desire for power. * The committee failed to assuage the fears of the workers.

The “a” in the first syllable is like the “a” in “china”; the following “uage” is pronounced like the word “wage”. The stress is on the second syllable.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 22, 2003

“categorical inaccuracy”

If ordinary people like you and me don’t tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, we will be accused of lying. When Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Ministers don’t tell the truth (as a tribe of course, you don’t expect them to!) you cannot call them liars. It wouldn’t be polite to do so. Instead, what you say is that there are “categorical inaccuracies” in their statements! It is a polite way of saying that the men in power are lying!

Here are a few examples. * Some people believe that there were several categorical inaccuracies in President Bush’s speech. * The Prime Minister’s statement was a categorical inaccuracy.

Another expression, which is heard very often these days, is “massage something”. When you “massage data” for example, what you are doing is falsifying it.

* Promod, as usual, massaged the sales figures. * We were told that the scientist had massaged the data.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 22, 2003

Is “Isabel” actually a colour?

I understand that “brownish yellow” is often referred to as “isabel”. There is an interesting story behind this and in order to tell it, I have to let some dirty linen remain unwashed! According to the story, Isabella was the daughter of King Philip II of Spain. In 1598, she was married off to Prince Albert of Austria, and as dowry the young couple was given the whole of the Netherlands. Unfortunately, one of the cities, Ostend was in the hands of the Flemish. Isabella apparently told her husband that until he captured this city, she would not remove her underwear even to wash it! The husband of course panicked and set off to Ostend to capture it. Fortunately, or unfortunately, it took nearly three years for the city to fall! So if the story is to be believed, poor Isabella was wearing the same unwashed underwear for three years! Now do you understand why “isabel” means “brownish yellow”? I guess the story explains two things. One, why Isabella and Albert never had children, and two, why Hamlet kept saying that something was rotten in the state of Denmark! The smell probably carried all the way from the Netherlands! Just kidding!

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 22, 2003

“unaware” and “unawares”

“Unaware” means not aware, in other words, you do not notice or realise what is happening. The stress is on “ware”.

Here are a few examples. * Praveen is unaware of the trouble that he is causing. * The Minister thought that the press was unaware of his illegal activities. * The film star was unaware of his fan’s presence.

When something happens suddenly or unexpectedly, then you are caught “unawares”. Since the thing happens without any warning, you are often left confused or embarrassed.

Here are a few examples. * The midnight raid by the dacoits caught the police unawares. * The President was caught unawares by the sudden criticism in the media. * Bhaveen was caught unawares and therefore couldn’t think of an excuse.

The “s” in “unawares” is pronounced like the “z” in “zoo” and “zip”.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 22, 2003