Let's Learn New Words - Vocabulary Enhancement

Read the text in Unit I carefully and find the word ‘dislike’ in it. In this word ‘dis-’ is a prefix.

A prefix is a group of letters added before a word to change its meaning and form a new word.

‘Dis-’ means not, or the opposite of.

‘Dis-’ in the word ‘dislike’ means to not like something or someone.

dis + like = dislike

In Column A are given some words with the prefix ‘dis-’. Draw lines to connect them with

their meanings in Column B. One example has been done for you.

Column A -----Column B

1. dislike -----a. separate

2. disobey ----b. find/ learn of

3. dismount ---c. not like

4. discover -----d. refuse to carry out rules or commands

5. disjoin----- e. prove to be false or wrong

6. disprove ------f. get off from something one is riding

--------------------------------------

you came across the phrase ‘winging its way’. It means ‘to move quickly’. Given

below are some more ‘wing’ phrases, and their meanings.

1. take wing - to take flight; fly away, depart quickly

2. under one’s wing - under one’s protection; in one’s care

3. spread one’s wings – extend one’s activities and interests; start new activities or interests; begin to be independent

Exercise 1

Fill in the blanks with the correct phrase from those given above. Change the tense of the verb as required.

1. Ever since Anita’s parents died in a car crash, her uncle and aunt took her

_____________.

2. Vimal owned a small but successful restaurant in Delhi. He decided to ____________ and opened two more, one in Mumbai and another in Chennai.

3. Raja spotted an unusual insect in his garden but when he went closer, it___________.

Exercise 2

Look up a dictionary and find the meaning of the following phrases.

1. waiting in the wings

2. wing it

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