1. How is the word ‘statute’ pronounced?
(Radha, Coonoor)

The ‘a’ in the first syllable is like the ‘a’ in ‘cat’, ‘bat’, and ‘rat’, and the ‘t’ that follows sounds like the ‘ch’ in ‘chat’, ‘chop’, and ‘chips’. The ‘u’ is pronounced like the ‘oo’ in ‘cool’ and ‘pool’, and the final ‘te’ is like the ‘t’ in ‘tip’, ‘tap’, and ‘tin’. The word is pronounced ‘STA-choot’ with the stress on the first syllable. This is one way of pronouncing the word. A ‘statute’ is a law which has been formally approved and written down by a law-making body. The rules that govern educational institutions are usually referred to as ‘statutes’.



2. What is the meaning of ‘pet peeve’?
(H. Anuradha, Pune)

‘Peeve’ rhymes with ‘leave’ and ‘weave’, and it means ‘to annoy’. When you refer to some activity or behaviour as being your ‘pet peeve’, what you mean is that you don’t like the activity or behaviour at all. You, in fact, hate it. It is something that you complain about quite frequently. It is also possible to say, ‘pet hate’.

*Students coming late to class. It’s Meera’s pet peeve.



3. Is it okay to say ‘disabuse something’?
(N. Bharathi, Thrissur)

No, it isn’t. The expression you have in mind is ‘disabuse someone of something’. When you attempt to ‘disabuse someone of something’, you try to tell the person that the thing he believes in is not true. You are trying to persuade him that he is mistaken.

*My new boss thinks he’s doing a great job. I’m planning to disabuse him of that notion.



4. What is the meaning of ‘profundity’?
(Sant Sarovar, New Delhi)

Before dealing with the meaning, let’s deal with the pronunciation. The ‘o’ and the ‘i’ are like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The second syllable sounds like the word ‘fund’, and the final ‘y’ is like the ‘i’ in ‘it’, ‘pit’, and ‘sit’. The word is pronounced ‘pre-FUN-de-ti’ with the stress on the second syllable.

When you talk about the profundity of a statement, you are implying that the meaning of the statement runs deep; the person who has made the remark has a clear and deep understanding the problem.



5. What is the difference between ‘harbour someone’ and ‘house someone’?
(S. Leya, Bangalore)

The two nouns, ‘house’ and ‘harbour’ can be used as verbs as well. When you ‘house’ someone or something, you are providing shelter to the person or thing.

*It’s not possible to house all your relatives in this small flat of ours.


Unlike ‘house’, the word ‘harbour’ when used as a verb has a negative connotation. When you harbour someone, you are performing an illegal act. You are providing shelter to someone who is wanted by the law. Fugitives and criminals are harboured.

*Harish didn’t know that he was harbouring a terrorist.



6. Is it okay to say, ‘He returned back home’?
(L. Revathi, Chennai)

In India, it is common to hear people say, ‘He returned back the book to the library’ and ‘She returned back from Mumbai yesterday.’ The word ‘return’ means to ‘go/come back’. Therefore, there is no need for you to say ‘return back’: the word ‘back’ is redundant in this case. It is okay to say ‘come back’, ‘turn back’, and ‘get back’, but not ‘return back’.

*Please return the book to the library by this evening.


“Society, my dear, is like salt water, good to swim in but hard to swallow.” — Arthur Stringer



S. UPENDRAN


upendrankye@gmail.com