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June 21 & 22, 2003 shriek The verb shriek refers to a short, very loud cry because of surprise, pain, excitement or laughter. The noun form is also shriek. The David and Victoria Beckham phenomenon touched down at Narita Airport in Tokyo on Wednesday to the shrieking of a thousand girls, fans of the soccer player. The girls shrieked uncontrollably at the joke. A frog jumped on her and she shrieked and sprang to her feet. There was a loud shriek from the man behind. June 20, 2003 obsolete (ob sa LEET) The adjective obsolete means to be out of date or no longer useful or no longer in use because something better is available. The panel had suggested four measures to control gambling activities, including amending obsolete gambling laws. The country's oil industry was plagued by obsolete equipment and the lack of needed investment. One of the biggest environmental headaches faced by the computer industry is how to dispose of obsolete products. As technology creates new jobs, it makes others obsolete. June 19, 2003 haze The noun haze normally refers to a fog which is caused by water, smoke, dust or heat and which prevents things from being seem clearly. However, it can also refer to something which makes it difficult to remember or understand. The adjective form is hazy. Clouds of thick haze caused by forest fires on the Indonesian island of Sumatra have blanketed much of Satun and Trang provinces, raising health and safety concerns in the southern region. Smoke filled the stairwell and the haze got thicker as the people descended. By Saturday, a haze of conflicting reports had settled over the situation. It was so hazy on the golf course that they had to wait until the ball landed to see where it had gone. June 18, 2003 indecent (in DEE sunt) The adjective indecent means to be shocking, offensive or morally improper. The noun form is indecency and the adverbial form is indecently. Comedian-turned-director Mum Jokmok has been charged with indecent exposure for running naked on a Bangkok street during the shooting of his first film. Such low wages are indecent for an industry that is so wealthy. The government's case charged that the two men were found in a public lavatory acting indecently towards each other. As a Muslim, he was disturbed by the indecency of the western culture. June 17, 2003 mire The noun mire means dirt or mud or it can refer to a very unpleasant situation. The adjective form is mired. A major operation to save a wild elephant mired in a mud hole in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Monday proved futile as the animal eventually died of exhaustion yesterday. The former prime minister's greatest achievement was considered to be pulling Israel out of the mire of Lebanon. Japan remains mired in recession. Many developing countries are mired in poverty and international trade rules bear part of the blame. June 16, 2003 spurn The verb spurn means to reject someone or something. Nepal's main parties, sidelined from the political arena when the king dissolved parliament last October, spurned a call by the country's prime minister to end their ongoing anti-monarchy protests. The former leader has repeatedly spurned offers to end his dispute with party officials. Maharana was one of many to spurn the advice. Mahathir is now winning praise for spurning western financial assistance during the economic crisis. 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: June 22, 2003