Words in the news

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May 10 & 11, 2003

compatriot (kum PEY tri ut)
The noun compatriot refers to a person who comes from the same country as another person.

    Trezeguet's compatriot, defender Lilian Thuram, agreed that their goal could prove to be vital in the second leg on May 14.
    Dolan's compatriot, Erik Vendt, took second place to complete a dominant night for the Americans in one of the toughest events.
    There is no shortage of talented compatriots who would dearly love to follow in the footsteps of the Zimbabwean musicians.
    They missed by minutes the train that took 800 of their compatriots out of the country.

May 9, 2003

prey
The verb prey means to take advantage of or harm people in an unfair way, especially people who are unable to protect themselves. Prey also means to hunt animals for food. As a noun prey means to be a victim or an animal that is eaten for food.

    The minister said that stern action would teach fraudulent jewellers preying on tourists a lesson.
    The group has consistently opposed the use of poisons to kill the coyotes who prey on calves.
    About twenty car theft rings are known to prey on vehicles in Bangkok and its suburbs.
    Usually once a tokay catches prey it retreats back into the dark to eat it.

May 8, 2003

limbo (LIM bo)
The noun limbo refers to a situation of uncertainly where taking action is not possible, especially because it depends on a decision to be made by someone else.

    The controversial bill has been in limbo since 1996 with successive Indian governments resisting the increased role of women in politics.
    Half of the estimated 800,000 highlanders live in limbo, colourful curiosities in tourist brochures, but deprived of the rights promised to them under the new constitution.
    Until the racing commission makes its final decision, the English driver has been left in an uncomfortable state of limbo.
    The period of political limbo may be extended if the Election Commission decides to call large numbers of by-elections.

May 7, 2003

swathe (sweith) also: swath
The noun swathe refers to a long strip of land, especially one where plants or crops have been cut. It also often refers to a path of destruction, especially one which has been left by a storm or a fire.

    The series of storms and high winds left a swathe of destruction 400 metres wide.
    The seizure of a swathe of land near the highway put the troops within ten kilometres of Baghdad.
    The park protects the large swath of wilderness east of the Rocky Mountains.
    In the 1970s, fire cut a swath through the community several miles wide.

May 6, 2003

litigation (li ta GEY shun)
The noun litigation refers to the fighting (prosecuting) and defending of a case in a court of law. The verb form is litigate (LIT a gait).

    Jadet Pornchaiya, director-general for criminal litigation, said the defendant's release on bail should not affect the case as most prosecution witnesses had already testified.
    Several of those suspected to be involved in the company's failure have fled abroad rather than risk litigation and imprisonment.
    US officials have left open the possibility of bringing a legal case to the WTO, which, after lengthy litigation, could result in embarrassing penalties being imposed on Europe.
    Lawyers said the case was likely to be litigated at the state level rather than the national level.

May 5, 2003

remand (ri MAND)
The verb remand means to hold someone who has been accused of a crime in police custody until a trial takes place or to temporarily release that person on bail until the trial takes place.

    A court in Karachi has remanded two suspects to seven days' custody after their arrests on Friday when they were caught with explosives and weapons.
    The former boxing champion was one of four men remanded in custody for a week in connection with the riot.
    The nine men arrested were later remanded on bail by the judge on charges ranging from assault to threatening behaviour.
    A remand prisoner was found hanged in his cell, police announced yesterday.

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Last modified: May 12, 2003