Vocabulary through Verses


Limerick - 1

A fellow with a poor attitude,
Climbed a mountain with much fortitude,
At a great altitude,
He found some gratitude,
For the view that dispelled his platitude.

climber

Meanings of Words and example sentences

1. fortitude: courage in pain or difficulties

Jawaharlal Nehru was incarcerated for more than 9 years, but he showed great fortitude in continuing the freedom struggle.

2. platitude: an often repeated remark or statement which has become boring

The speech of every motivational speaker is filled with platitudes like hard work leads to success and so on.


Limerick - 2

There once was a man of parsimony,
Whose ways were met with much acrimony,
He hoarded his wealth,
To the detriment of his health,
And end of his matrimony in disharmony.

coins

Meanings of words and example sentences

1. parsimony: unwillingness to spend money or give things to people

People born in riches are more prone to parsimony than those born in poverty.

2. acrimony: bitterness or ill-feeling

The dispute between the neighbours was finally resolved without any acrimony.

3. hoard: accumulate or store

A squirrel has hoarded a lot of nuts in the tree near my house.

4. detriment: a cause of harm or damage

Students eat a lot of fast food to the detriment of their health.


Limerick - 3

There once was a man of rhetoric,
Whose speeches made people ecstatic,
But his talking so chronic,
Made them think him demonic,
Now they run when he starts his didactic. .

man-speaking

Meanings of Words and example sentences

1. rhetoric: the art of writing or speaking effectively

People were stunned by his rhetoric on corruption, as he himself was a well-known scamster.

2. ecstatic: extremely happy and excited

He was ecstatic when he received his appointment letter.

3. chronic: persisting for a long time

Chronic illnesses are financially devastating for poor families.

4. demonic: having characteristic of a demon

The demonic ruler showed no mercy to anyone who spoke against him.

5. didactic: intended to teach, in the manner of a teacher

The teacher's lectures were didactic but most of the students usually fell asleep.


Limerick - 4

A poet received much accolade,
As his verses in books were displayed,
His words did encapsulate,
The world in a cavalcade,
But sometimes his confidence would vacillate.

poet

Meanings of words and example sentences

1. accolade: praise, approval

He finally received the Oscar Award, considered to be the highest accolade for an actor.

2. encapsulate: to summarize

The film maker successfully encapsulated the story of the second world war in a two hour movie.

3. cavalcade: a formal procession of vehicles or ships

When the war was finally won, a cavalcade of tanks and military vehicles entered the capital to take over the offices and buildings.

4. vacillate: waver between different opinions and views

Children vacillate between different dishes on the menu in a restaurant.


Limerick - 5

The beauty of life is ephemeral,
And time is a force quite temporal,
So seize every day,
In your own special way,
Before you become a mere memorial.

clock.png

Meanings of Words and example sentences

1. ephemeral: lasting for a very short time

His success as a popular film star was ephemeral.

2. temporal: related to worldly affairs or practical matters

The monk said that all things we see are temporal while unseen thinks are eternal.


Limerick - 6

As the orchestra made a cacophony,
The conductor had an epiphany,
He gestured with grace,
A radiant smile on his face,
And turned it into sweet symphony.

orchestra

Meanings of words and example sentences

1. cacophony: mixture of unpleasant sounds

In a city we usually wake up to the cacophony of traffic noises.

2. epiphany: a moment of sudden revelation

Lying on the hospital bed, he experienced an epiphany on the importance of health.

3. gesture: a movement of the hand, head etc. to express something

The child gestured angrily when he was teased by other children.


Limerick - 7

A man at the ball in masquerade,
Went on a political tirade,
He ranted and raved,
Till the party was stayed,
And the host felt terribly betrayed.


Meanings of Words and example sentences

1. masquerade: false show or pretence

He skillfully used humor to masquerade his inner struggles.

2. tirade: a long angry speech

The airlines staff was subject to tirade of abuse from the angry passengers.


Limerick - 8

A girl lived a life that was vicarious,
Through books that were ubiquitous,
As each page unfurled,
She travelled the world,
She never missed not being gregarious.


Meanings of words and example sentences

1. vicarious: experienced by reading or watching others

The movies give us a vicarious pleasure of being in different situation.

2. ubiquitous: found everywhere

The phone booths were ubiquitous in our childhood.

3. gregarious: fond of company, sociable

Her gregarious nature made her the life of every party she attended.