The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary– Aug 25, 2021; Day 125

The importance of reading editorials of reputed newspapers is not hidden from anybody. What causes obstruction are difficult words which act like speed-breakers forcing you to either refer to a dictionary for its meaning or simply guess it. While getting the meaning from the dictionary is the best way to understand it, sometimes a dictionary is not within your reach. Also, a number of aspirants get confused when they see more than one meaning next to a word in a dictionary. It becomes a difficult process for them to pick the relevant meaning.

We at PracticeMock understand this and that’s why we have come up with a series of Editorials’ Difficult Words where we shortlist the important editorials of the day and pick the difficult words/ phrases therein. Next to the word, we put only the contextual sense of the word/ phrase so that you don’t get confused. Now let’s go through today’s editorial.

Difficult Word/ Phrase	Contextual Sense
Free fall	the process of failing or losing value or strength quickly and continuously
On the brink of	about to experience something
Meltdown	a disastrous event
Default	fail to fulfill an obligation, especially to repay a loan
Aggravate	make (a problem, injury, or offense) worse or more serious
Reel under	To struggle to deal with some oppressive or difficult burden or responsibility
Depleted	Reduced
Faction	a small organized dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics
Bloc	a combination of countries, parties, or groups sharing a common purpose
Elite	a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society

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In free fall (the process of failing or losing value or strength quickly and continuously): On Lebanon and its sectarian politics

Unless Lebanon sets aside sectarian politics, it will be unable to have a stable government

Lebanon, which has been battling multiple crises for the last couple of years, is on the brink of (about to experience something) an economic collapse. The meltdown (a disastrous event) that forced the country to default (fail to fulfill an obligation, especially to repay a loan) on its bonds in 2019 for the first time since its independence in 1943 was aggravated (make (a problem, injury, or offense) worse or more serious) by last year’s Beirut port blast. The explosion that killed over 200 people and wounded about 7,000 others on August 4, 2020 is estimated to have caused damage worth $15 billion. The blast has also deepened the country’s political crisis as Lebanon has been ruled by a caretaker government ever since. The Mediterranean country is now reeling under (To struggle to deal with some oppressive or difficult burden or responsibility) a severe economic downturn, medicine, food and fuel shortages and rising crimes. Recently, its central bank stated that it could no longer finance fuel imports at subsidised rates citing depleted (reduced) reserves. Fuel shortages have led to chaotic scenes across the country. Last week, at least 28 people were killed in the country’s north when a fuel tank exploded while locals were scrambling for its fuel. UNICEF has warned that millions of Lebanese are facing a severe water shortage. The economic crisis has pushed more than half the population into poverty, while the currency value has fallen by 90%. According to the World Bank, Lebanon’s GDP per capita fell by 40% in dollar terms between 2018 and 2020, while real GDP contracted by 20.3% in 2020. The Bank assesses that even with quick reforms, it will take years before the economy gets back to its pre-crisis size.

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Since the Beirut blast, President Michel Aoun appointed three Prime Minister-designates. Two of them stepped down after having failed to form a government. According to Lebanon’s Constitution, the President should be a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister a Sunni, and the Parliament Speaker a Shia. Political parties are divided largely along sectarian lines. The PM-designates, who were Sunni politicians or technocrats, often failed to bring together the country’s different political factions (a small organized dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics), including that of President Aoun. In late July, former Prime Minister Najib Mikati was tasked with forming the next government. He is yet to conclude talks with other political blocs (a combination of countries, parties, or groups sharing a common purpose). With the country facing a severe fuel shortage, Hezbollah, the powerful Shia militia-cum-political party, has moved to import fuel directly from Iran. Hezbollah says it is trying to ease the country’s fuel situation while its opponents say the move is aimed at drawing Lebanon further into the Iranian orbit and could be counterproductive as oil deals with Iran could attract sanctions from the U.S. Lebanon’s politicians have sought fresh loans from the IMF, but the fund will release money only if the government commits itself to reforms. For that, Lebanon has to form a government first. Lebanon’s political elites (a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society) should realise that the country is facing a once-in-a-century crisis, set aside their sectarian politics, and come together to form a stable government. If not, nothing can stop the country’s free fall.

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Hope you got to know some new words/phrases which will definitely be useful in the English section of upcoming competitive exams. Wishing you all the best for your preparation!

Want to improve your vocabulary further? Download the Lists of Word-Meanings of Previous Months here.