Know your English

In-laws; boarding and lodging (Murali Narayanan, Pilani)

The plural of a brother-in-law is brothers-in-law. Sisters-in-law, mothers-in-law, fathers-in-law. But we say ‘in-laws’ and not ‘ins-law!’ ‘In-laws’ are one’s relatives by marriage, especially father-in-law and mother-in-law. The hotel sign ‘boarding and lodging’ is common in India. In British English, it is ‘board and lodging.’ But you say ‘boarding house,’ ‘boarding school.’ A boarding house is a ‘private lodging house, not a hotel, that supplies meals.’ A boarding school is one where children not only learn but live and are provided board and lodging. The room where the directors of a company hold meetings is a board room.

Perjury (Ujagar Singh, Chandigarh) ‘Perjury’ is a lie told on purpose, especially in a court of law.

He committed perjury.

When it is used as a verb, it is followed by the reªexive pronoun.

He perjured himself to protect her.

The judge was convinced that she had perjured herself.

‘Perjury’ is a legal term. A perjurer is a person who commits perjury.

Nadir (T. S. Lyndoh, Shillong)

It means ‘the lowest point in one’s fortunes; a time of deep despair.’

Losing my job at the age of 30 was the nadir of my life.

‘Nadir’ is from the Arabic ‘nadir assamt,’ which means ‘opposite to the zenith.’ Literally, it means ‘the part of the celestial sphere which is directly under the observer.’ From this, we get the meaning ‘lowest point.’ We get ‘zenith’ from the Arabic ‘samt,’ ‘over the head.’ Figuratively ‘zenith’ means ‘the peak,’ ‘the highest point in one’s life.’ He is at the zenith of his career. The ‘a’ in ‘nadir’ is pronounced like the ‘a’ in ‘take’ or in

‘bat,’ and ‘dir’ like ‘dear.’ The stress is on the rst syllable.

Veto (B. Ramanatha Rao, Bangalore) ‘Veto’ is Latin for ‘I forbid.’ It is ‘the constitutional right to reject a legislative enactment,’ ‘the right of a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council to reject a resolution.’ The Soviet Union used the veto to reject the resolution. It is also used as a verb.

The President vetoed the Bill.

The V is pronounced like ‘ee’ in ‘feel’ and ‘to’ like ‘toe.’ The stress is on the rst syllable.

Benefactor, bene ciary (Pritam Singh, Bombay)

A benefactor is one who helps another with money or materials. He may help an individual or institution. A bene ciary is one who receives ‘a bene t or advantage, especially of money or property.’ In law, a ‘bene ciary’ is one who ‘is left a legacy under someone’s will.’ A legacy is ‘money or property left to someone in a will.’

Published in The Hindu on October 15, 1991