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March 29 & 30, 2003 buffet (BUF it) The verb buffet means to be repeatedly struck or blown by something. With a second day of severe sandstorms buffeting Iraq, renewed air strikes hit the capital. Helicopters could not fly in the buffeting winds. Several Asian countries were buffeted by the economic crisis and the social unrest it caused. The senator, buffeted by criticism over his failure to cooperate with committee members, had to fight hard to keep the chairmanship. March 28, 2003 liberate (LIB ur eit) The verb liberate means to free people or a place from the military or political control of another country or group. Iraq's second city Basra, originally meant to be "liberated", has now earned "enemy city" status. The generals promised to fight until they had liberated the entire country. Many Arabs believe the only way to liberate Palestine is through guns. Burning coal liberates radioactive elements in quantities higher than a properly operated nuclear power plant. March 27, 2003 exhort (ek ZORT) The verb exhort means to try very hard to persuade or encourage a person to do something. The noun form is exhortation (ek sor TAY shun). President Saddam Hussein exhorted Iraq's tribal and clan chiefs to step up the fight against the invaders. The generals promised to fight until they had liberated the entire country. President Bush called Sharon and exhorted him to allow a meeting between his foreign minister and Arafat. The public was exhorted to avoid panicking. Not even the exhortations of his most trusted advisors could change the young prince's mind. March 26, 2003 potent (PO tunt) The adjective potent means to be very effective and powerful. The Iraqis were apparently keeping their significantly depleted but still potent Air Force out of the action. Natural gas is largely methane and if unburnt, it is a potent greenhouse gas. Investigators have found that the strain of anthrax in the letter mailed to the senator was extremely potent. There is speculation that the White House and Air Force One, two potent symbols of the US presidency, were the intended targets of the suicide bombers. March 25, 2003 inflict (in FLIKT) The verb inflict means to force someone to experience something unpleasant or painful. The adjective self-inflicted refers to damage that you do to yourself. One direct hit inflicted heavy damage on a three-storey building in a compound where the Iraqi flag was still flying. An 80-year-old woman died from hundreds of stings inflicted by swarms of bees. The ministry told a parliamentary committee that the damage inflicted by high inflation would be worse than that from high interest rates. Rock musicians wear earplugs to avoid self-inflicted deafness. March 24, 2003 seal The verb seal (often seal off) means to close off completely in order to prevent something from flowing out or escaping. This can be done by covering something with some kind of material or by placing guards in an area to prevent anyone from leaving. Seal can also mean to do something to bring an event or process to a final conclusion. Israel yesterday sealed off the Palestinian territories amid fears of an attack during the Jewish festival of Purim. Many of the documents in the case have been sealed by court order. The alliance was sealed in a dramatic 4am phone call. Even though the envelope was sealed, it did not protect the postal workers from the anthrax inside. Click here to see our words in the news for the previous week. Return to our home page | Comments to Terry F. at terryfrd@ksc15.th.com | |© The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. All rights reserved 2003 | Last modified: March 31, 2003