Grammar Clinic

Not easily upset or excited; calm and steady Example: Even as Monica rained insults on her; Adanma’s demeanour remained placid, she gave nothing about how she was feeling away.

Not able, wanting, or allowed to communicate with other people Example: Ever since Amarachi travelled to the UK, she has remained incommunicado; no call, no message, no mail, and I thought we were best friends.

Doubleness of thought, speech, or action, usually with the aim to trick someone Example: I cannot stand Ayoka’s duplicity; if she tells you something is white, she tells another person it’s black, and to yet another, red!

To destroy or wreck Example: Despite Thomas Edison’s plan to scuttle Nikola Tesla’s work, his alternating current system remains the global standard in electricity transmission.

A piece of writing, a cartoon, or other work that mocks or makes fun of a well-known person or thing Example: It is not uncommon for newspaper cartoonists to lampoon famous politicians for their errors.

To make someone pleased or less angry by giving or saying something desired; to appease Example: To propitiate for his error of calling Sumbo a liar, Anthony promised to help her write her notes for a week.

To make (someone) very angry or annoyed; to irritate intensely Example: Hearing him make loud noises with his mouth as he ate was exasperating to say the least!

To keep following someone and not leave them alone, especially in order to get something from them or ask them questions Example: I really wish Mobolaji would stop hounding me for my phone number and social media details, I’m just not interested!

Thinking carefully about possible risks before doing or saying something Example: He was a bit circumspect about telling the Police of his father’s whereabouts, because he wanted to protect him.

The start or beginning of something Example: From the outset, I knew he couldn’t be trusted; hence the onset of his thievery didn’t catch me unawares.