The Hindu Editorial (Prime message) – May 14, 2025

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The Hindu Editorial (Prime message) – May 14, 2025:

1. mobilise (verb) – (of people) bring together for a particular cause.
2. address (noun) – a formal speech, talk, discourse.
3. military base (noun) –  a place where armed forces are stationed and military operations are conducted; it typically includes housing, training, and support facilities for military personnel.
4. frontline (noun) – a place where opposing armed forces/militaries face each other in war; vanguard, firing line, battlefield, combat zone.
5. reassuring (adjective) – optimistic, favourable, encouraging, promising, hopeful.
6. in the midst of (phrase) – in the middle of.
7. volatile (adjective) – turbulent, changeable, variable, fickle, mercurial, unpredictable; inconstant, disloyal, undependable, unstable, unsteady, unreliable, unfaithful. ​
8. conflict (noun) – war, warfare, armed conflict, military action, armed clash. ​
9. reiterate (verb) – say something again; say again, repeat, retell, restate, iterate, recapitulate.
10. strategy (noun) – plan of action (in order to achieve a more expansive set of political, economic, and security interests).
11. resolve (noun) – determination, willpower, firmness, resolution, courage.
12. for one (phrase) – used to emphasize that a particular person holds a specific opinion, even if others may not share it.
13. no longer (phrase) – not any more.
14. willing (adjective) – ready, prepared, inclined, agreeable, accommodating, compliant, in the mood.
15. concede (verb) – admit, acknowledge, accept, agree.
16. fig leaf (noun) – (figuratively) something that is used to hide an embarrassing situation or problem; disguise, camouflage, cover-up, shield, facade, veneer.
17. actor (noun) – participants (in an action).
18. state actor (noun) – a state actor is a person who is acting on behalf of a governmental body.
19. non-state actor (noun) – an individual or organization that has significant political influence
20. the state (noun) – the government, the regime, the adminstration.
21. ongoing (adjective) – going on, under way, continuing, happening, existing. 
22. strategic (adjective) – relating to achieving long-term or overall goals.
23. manifest (verb) – indicate, show, reveal, exhibit, present, express, represent, display, demonstrate.
24. surgical strike (noun) – the military attack aimed to cause damage on a particular target with small/no collateral damage to surroundings.
25. air strike (noun) – air attack.
26. engage (with) (verb) – deal with, participate in, take part in, take part in, join in, become involved in, involve (a talk/discussion).
27. diplomatically (adverb) – tactfully, sensitively; in a way that involves ambassadors/diplomats between countries.
28. emanate (verb) – originate from, derive from, arise from, stem from, come from.
29. make clear (phrase) – explain, describe, illustrate, elucidate, clarify, shed light on.
30. stay the course (phrase) – continue doing something in spite of difficulties; to continue doing something till the end even though it is tough/challenging; work hard till the end to accomplish the task.
31. Indus Water Treaty (IWT) (noun) – Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was signed on September 19, 1960, between India and Pakistan to share waters from the Indus system of rivers.
32. join issue with (phrase) – get into controversy or debate; to argue with one another over any issue.
33. claim (noun) – affirmation, assertion, contention, profession, declaration.
34. administration (noun) – government, regime.
35. broker (verb) – settle, arrange, negotiate, pull off, mediate (an agreement). 
36. understanding (noun) – agreement, deal, settlement, treaty.
37. categorical (adjective) – definitive, decisive, certain, clear-cut, conclusive, concrete, definite, unequivocal.
38. assertion (noun) – affirmation, claim, contention, profession, declaration.
39. interest (noun) – common concerns (in politics/business).
40. course of action (noun phrase) – plan of action, procedure, process, approach, technique.
41. move (noun) – act, action, activity, step, measure.
42. S-400 (Triumf) missile defence system (noun) – Developed by Russia, the S-400 (Triumph/Triumf) air defence system integrates a multifunction radar, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers, and command and control centre. It is capable of firing three types of missiles to create a layered defence. The S-400 is capable of destroying incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones within a range of up to 400 km. It has a tracking capability of nearly 600 km.
43. disprove (verb) – deny, disprove, prove wrong, prove false, invalidate, negate, contradict, quash.
44. hit (verb) – strike (a target); damage, ruin, affect badly.
45. face off (noun) – fight, conflict, clash, encounter, confrontation.
46. that said (phrase) – regardless of what has just been told; nevertheless.
47. insulate (verb) – save, protect, safeguard, defend, guard, secure, shield.
48. populist (adjective) – relating to the politicians who claim that they are representing the common/ordinary people.
49. sloganeering (noun) – an act of using slogans (mostly for political reasons).
50. prime time (noun as modifier) – the peak viewing time on television, when advertising rates are the highest.
51. TRP (abbreviation) – TRP can stand for Television Rating Point or Target Rating Point; It shows what percentage of a programme’s target audience viewed it. It is the metric used by the marketing and advertising agencies to evaluate this viewership.
52. (high) stakes (noun) – (high-risk) competition, contest, battle, challenge.
53. hostage (noun) – a person captured or held as security for the fulfilment of certain conditions/terms.
54. held past tense of hold (verb) – keep, take, detain, confine.
55. hold hostage (phrase) – to capture and keep (someone) as a hostage.
56. design (noun) – plan, intention, target, purpose.
57. of course (phrase) – certainly, definitely, absolutely, by all means.
58. quiet diplomacy (noun) – it is a way of conduct of international relations (through the interaction of official representatives of governments or groups) to create conditions in which parties feel comfortable to act, in particular allowing parties calmly to evaluate positions and interests, to weigh options and consider independent and impartial advice.
59. covert (adjective) – confidential, secret, unrevealed, undisclosed, hidden; underground, undercover, surreptitious, stealthy, conspiratorial.
60. in the pursuit of (phrase) –  in order to achieve (something); aspiration for, quest for, search for.
61. unsettled (adjective) – worried, troubled, anxious, nervous, tense, edgy, upset, shaky.
62. sabre-rattling (noun) – the display of military force; aggressive/belligerent, warmongering.
63. take the lead with (phrase) – to initiate something; to be the first to do something; to be most active in doing something.
64. far too (phrase) – excessively, inordinately, wildly, much too, way too; extremely, seriously, severely hugely.
65. cognisant (adjective) – aware, well informed about, familiar with.
66. interference (noun) – intervention, involvement, meddling, intrusion.
67. position (noun) – status, stance, policy, point of view, standpoint, attitude, perspective, approach 
68. established (adjective) – accepted, traditional, entrenched, official, well known, esteemed, recognized, familiar.
69. blackmail (noun) – intimidation, threat, compulsion, coercion.

Note : 

1. Click each one of the words above for their definition, more synonyms, pronunciation, example sentences, phrases, derivatives, origin and etc. from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/.

2. Definitions (elementary level) & Synonyms provided for the words above are my personal work and not that of Oxford University Press. Tentative definitions/meanings are provided for study purposes only and they may vary in a different context.  

3. This word list is for personal use only. Reproduction in any format and/or Commercial use of it is/are strictly prohibited.

The Hindu Editorial (Prime message) – May 14, 2025: