Council = (noun) a formally constituted body of people meeting for administrative or advisory purposes; governing body; legislative body etc.

• Their party won the majority of seats to the local council elections.
• The municipal council awarded special privileges to the school buses for children up to 5th standard.
• The United Nations Security Council.
• The council is planning ways of controlling plastic waste left on roadsides by travellers.

Counsel = (noun, verb) guidance, advice, instruction etc especially that given formally.

• Experts have come forward to counsel the people of Kerala affected by the worst ever flood.
• His job involves counselling young married couples as to how they should lead a happy married life.
• He didn’t heed his father’s wise counsel and lost a major part of his assets in the unexplored business.
• we approached a leading advocate for legal counsel on the sale of our landed property.
• (2) advocate, barrister.
• Her counsel told the jury that the charges were false.

Related words: 1. counsellor  2. counselling.

Bond = friendship, relationship, attachment etc

• The two girls have forged a close bond.
• I have a bond with the people of my village Mala.
• We cannot measure the subtle bond between a child and mother.

Bondage = servitude, enslavement, slavery.

• The slaves spent their lives in bondage until their death.
• Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in America that set free the slaves from bondage.

Enclave =  a group of people who are different from the people living in the surrounding area.

• A Tamil speaking enclave in London.
• Vatican city is an example of an enclave in Rome.
• The central part of Thrissur city is a Christian enclave.
• That territory is an American enclave inside Afghanistan.

Conclave = Conference, convention, session etc.

• The annual conclave of newspaper publishers.
• The Young Women’s Leadership Conclave held at Thrissur at the initiative of Prof.Philip Sabu evoked tremendous response from the public.

(2) conclave = a confidential or secret meeting.

• A conclave of political leaders.
• The conclave of cardinals elected the new Pope.

Belonging = attachment, connection, fellowship;  affinity for a place or situation.

• Our club holds occasional cultural programmes of the members in order to maintain a sense of belonging among the members.
• If you have a sense of belonging to the family, you will be prepared to sacrifice your personal comforts for the benefits of other members.

Belongings = the things that a person owns, especially those that can be carried;  possessions.

• He had some personal belongings in his bag when he went for the training.
• During the recent flood in Kerala , many people fled their homes leaving their personal belongings.

Discovery = the process of finding information , a place or an object for the first time.(something that is already existing)

• The timely intervention of the police led to the discovery of the stolen jewellery.
• The discovery of oil made many gulf countries rich.
• The discovery of the body helped the police to sort out the complicity of the accused.

Invention = creation, development, introduction etc.( something that is not already existing).

• The invention of radio revolutionised the dissemination of news and information.
• The invention of new devices in agriculture increased the agricultural productivity.
• The invention of printing technology made a major breakthrough in the educational field.
• The invention of computers made rapid growth of information technology that led to what is called information explosion.

Commend = compliment, congratulate ; praise formally or honour officially.

• We should commend her for her commitment and compassion towards the under-privileged and down-trodden.
• Securing the first rank is a commendable achievement in his academic pursuits.
• The fishermen from Thiruvanathapuram received letters of commendation from the authorities for their brave and selfless services rendered during the floods in Kerala.

Comment = remark, observation ,opinion, criticism etc.

• The auditor signed his Report with some comments on the overall performance of the company.
• The DEO commented that the teachers should devote a little more time for self-study in order to make teaching more effective.
• The inspectors commented on the quality of the food served in primary schools at the cost of the public exchequer.

Respondent = a person who replies to something, especially one supplying information for a questionnaire.

• The majority of respondents were of the opinion that there was no chance for an early poll.
• Some of the respondents were not willing to give more details about the controversial issue.

Correspondent = a person employed to report for a newspaper or broadcasting organisation;  reporter, journalist etc.

• A football correspondent.
• He was a war correspondent.
• Their foreign correspondent passed on more information regarding the outcome of the election.

Kind = (adjective) generous ,helpful and thinking about other people’s feelings/problems/difficulties etc.

• A kind person/action.
• She’s very kind to animals.
• It was very kind of you to visit me.

Kindly = (adverb) 1.  in a kind way.

• She spoke kindly to the old man.
• They treated me kindly.

(2) – (esp.used to show annoyance) = please

• Will you kindly put that book back?
• (OR) Kindly put it back.
• Would you kindly explain the matter a little more clearly.

(3) ;( adjective -formal) friendly, pleasantly or generous , especially to those who are younger, weaker or less important than oneself.; warm , kindhearted.

• A kindly uncle/smile.
• She was a kindly old lady.
• He is a kindly old professor.

Red tape =  Excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules; bureaucratic hindrance.

• There is a great deal of red tape involved in getting a work permit.
• Red-tape is the main reason why contractors are reluctant to undertake government contract works.

Be in the red = If you or your bank accounts are in the red, you owe money to the bank.

• I can’t afford a holiday this year.  I am 500 pounds in the red.
• we’re back in the red because sales are way down this quarter.
• The state is already rupees fifty crore in the red this year.
• opposite – be in the black.

Blue collar worker = a working class person who performs manual labour.

• The blue collar workers are on strike, but the office staff are still working.

In the heat of the moment = without thinking because they are angry or excited.

• Don’t say anything in the heat of the moment.
• He didn’t mean it ; he said it in the heat of the moment.
• We all do things in the heat of the moment which we then regret.

Set the world on fire = to do something wonderful or exciting things ; to be extremely popular/famous.

• As a girl, Janet dreamed of setting the world on fire as a famous actress.
• A:  I am not very ambitious .  I don’t want to set the world on fire.
• B:  You don’t have to set the world on fire.  Just do a good job.

Make waves = (1) create significant impression.

• He has already made waves as a sculptor.
• She has a history of making waves.  She is the first woman in India to get the first place in IAS exams.