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 Relax, Refresh your English knowledge 31

151. What is the difference between ‘kitchen' and ‘pantry'?

Most dictionaries define ‘kitchen' as a place where food is prepared (vegetables cut, rice washed, dough kneaded, etc) and cooked. It is also the place where the dishes are washed. The word comes from the Latin ‘coquere' meaning ‘to cook'. A ‘pantry', on the other hand, is a small room, usually adjoining the kitchen, where food items, crockery, cutlery, and small appliances are stored. In India, we usually refer to such a room as a ‘store room'. A cupboard in the kitchen in which cutlery and crockery are kept can also be called a ‘pantry'. The word comes from the French ‘panetrie' meaning ‘bread room'. Originally, this was the room in which bread and other food items were stored.

152. How is the word ‘debutante' pronounced?
The ‘e' sounds like the ‘e' in ‘set', ‘wet', and ‘get', the following ‘u' is pronounced like the word ‘you'. The final ‘tante' rhymes with the words ‘want' and ‘font'. The word is pronounced ‘DEB-you-tant' with the stress on the first syllable. It is used to refer to a young woman belonging to the upper class who makes an appearance at a number of social events for the first time. This ‘coming out party' enables her to meet the young people of the same social class.

153. Which is correct ‘cognizant about' or ‘cognizant of'?
It is always ‘cognizant of' and not ‘cognizant about'. When you are ‘cognizant of' something, you are aware of it or have knowledge of it. This expression is mostly used in formal contexts.

154. What is the meaning of ‘I'm game'?
The expression is mostly used in informal contexts to mean that you are willing to participate. When someone asks you if you wish to go with them to a movie, and you reply, ‘I'm game', it implies that you are willing to accompany them. In this case, you are saying ‘yes' not because you feel compelled to, but because you want to. You are excited to be going out with them and you are looking forward to the event. ‘Game' comes from the Old English ‘gamen', meaning pleasure or joy.
*Why don't you ask Revathi? She's always game for a movie and dinner.
*My friends asked if I was game, and I promptly replied that I was.

155. What is the difference between ‘ex' and ‘former'?
Our English news channels seldom make a distinction between the two words — and this often irritates the careful users of the language. There is a subtle distinction between them; the word ‘ex' is mainly used to refer to the immediate past incumbent. Dr. Abdul Kalam is the ex-President of India. Those who preceded him are all ‘former' Presidents. Zail Singh, V.V. Giri, Dr. Radhakrishnan are all former Presidents of India. When Ms. Pratibha Patil leaves office, she will be the ex-President, and Dr. Kalam will be referred to as the former President.

A collection from the Open Page Supplement of The Hindu Newspaper 
Courtesy: Sri Upendra, the writer of the above