unfuddle

Un is a prefix that negates the meaning of the word it's prefixed to. Unable means not able, unabashed means not abashaed, unworthy means not worthy, understand means not, uh.... understand is an exception. :)

So, by the normal token, unfuddle means the opposite of fuddle, which means this:



Unfuddle is not in the dictionary. Yet. But, it's already in the market. Unfuddle is the name of a software application that reduces the fuddlement in software project teams.



Apt name for a project management software, don't you think?

gruntle

Gruntle does not exist in the dictionary - well, not Oxford's anyway. Words such as prepone and lungi have inserted themselves into the venerable English tome while gruntle, coined by a true-blue Brit, hasn't. What exists in the dictionary is the word in its adjectival form: gruntled.



The first known use of this word is this (but it's debated):

I could see that, if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled. - The Code of the Woosters, P.G.Wodehouse

The following news items, while not making me actually disgruntled, makes me far from gruntled.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/rahul-gandhi-gets-out-of-car-helps-accident-victim-87253

The fourth estate displaying servility to the second creates an ill wind that bodes no good. A disgusting wind.

gay paradigm

No one knows the meaning of paradigm, I was told recently, which is when I realised I don't either. I mean, I think I know what paradigm means but am not sure. So, I reached out for my dictionary (Oxford, of course).



Yes, that's somewhat close to what I thought the meaning was - a paradigm is a framework or an example of something.

It also occurs to me that for the word to make some sense, it should not occur alone but be always teamed with another noun, like this: society's paradigm, Darwinian paradigm, gay paradigm.

Which brings us to gay.

Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Nodding their heads in sprightly dance;
The waves beside them danced, but they...outdid the sparkling waves in glee;
A poet could not but be gay in such a jocund company.

What a gay, happy scene. Sprightly, dancing, nodding, jocund scene. Guaranteed to warm the cockles of a poet's heart. Turn it gay.

And then, there was a paradigm shift in what gaity stood for. Gay no longer means gay. Thanks to a paradigm shift, now gay means gay.

engage

(Source:Oxford dictionary)

In the sense of meaning #2, one can engage in two ways:

• Sit with a computer, get on to Twitter, and pontificate on any issue. All utterances during the course of this engagement are either sarcastic or preachy.


• Roll up one's sleeves and do something every time one sees something like this:

Those who can, do. Those who cannot, twitter.

exile

(source: Oxford dictionary)

Exiles can deal with their situations in two ways:

• Like the Tibetans in exile in India. They stay together, keep themselves away from the Indian mainstream, go about their business every day after reminding themselves of their homeless situation, nurture their anger, and build up a very effective international lobby in their favour.  They stand united for a single cause - Free Tibet.


• Like the Kashmiri Hindus in India. They stay dispersed in the metros, blend in with the Indian mainstream, doff their jeans and suits and go to work daily.  Every now and then, they remember the home they left behind, sigh, and then whine - mostly on social networks. They stand divided - both on who they are (Kashmiri Pandits or Kashmiri Hindus) and what they want (go back to existing Kashmir or create a separate Panun Kashmir).