What does equanimity mean?
Word: Equanimity
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Equanimity means the ability to stay calm and even-tempered, especially when things go wrong.
How do you spell equanimity?
Syllables: e - qua - nim - i - ty
Tricky part: The opening letters are the ones to watch. Students write equinimity, as if the word began like equinox, but the vowel after the q and u is an a.
Watch out for: equinimity, equanimmity, ekwanimity
Memory tip: A calm mind treats good days and bad days as equal, so start the word just as equal starts.
Equanimity in a sentence
Example 1: Meenakshi took the low mark with equanimity and started revising again.
Example 2: A long queue at the station cannot shake my father's equanimity.
Example 3: The hikers accepted the rain with equanimity and unpacked their raincoats.
Fun Fact
The idea behind the word sits above the players' entrance to Wimbledon's Centre Court: Kipling's lines about meeting triumph and disaster and treating those two impostors just the same.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The young captain accepted the umpire's doubtful decision with remarkable equanimaty and walked back to the pavilion without a word.
a) doubtful
b) remarkable
c) pavilion
d) equanimaty
Show answer
d) equanimaty. Between the n and the final ty, both vowels are i.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
Even with three exams in one week, Farah kept her iyqnaetmiu and slept soundly every night.
a) enmity
b) equanimity
c) unanimity
d) equality
Show answer
b) equanimity. The q and the n must both appear, and no other option holds the pair.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word equanimity as used in the sentence:
Grandfather faced the sudden power cut in the middle of his favourite match with his usual equanimity.
a) laziness
b) pride
c) agitation
d) composure
Show answer
d) composure. He kept his composure; agitation is the opposite.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. equanimity 2. fortitiude 3. serenety 4. resilliance
a) the state of being peaceful and untroubled
b) courage shown in pain or difficulty
c) a steady temper that stays level in hard times
d) the power to recover quickly after a setback
Show answer
c) a steady temper that stays level in hard times. The right forms are serenity, fortitude and resilience, which leaves one word standing.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A student who shows equanimity after losing a debate would most likely ____.
a) shake hands and prepare for the next round
b) refuse to speak to the judges afterwards
c) blame teammates for every single mistake
d) storm out of the hall before the results
Show answer
a) shake hands and prepare for the next round
2. Which setting tests a person's equanimity the most?
a) a relaxed lunch with close old friends
b) a holiday morning with nothing to do
c) a quiet walk in a garden at sunset
d) a long flight delay with tired children
Show answer
d) a long flight delay with tired children
