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August 9 & 10, 2003 hapless (HAP lus) The adjective hapless means very unlucky and usually unhappy. There was no good explanation for the treatment the hapless travelers received from government officials. The bombing was aimed at portraying Mr Saddam as a hapless leader. Some hapless climbers had been stuck for days waiting for the weather to improve. This is the river Xenophon and his hapless army of 10,000 followed in 400 BC while retreating from the Persian campaign. August 8, 2003 gruelling (GREW ling) or grueling (Am) The adjective gruelling means very difficult and tiring, requiring great effort, especially for a long time. The gold medallist hardly seemed winded after the gruelling race. Wrapping up a gruelling campaign, candidates worked throughout Saturday trying to win additional votes. Every Secret Service agent must complete gruelling courses at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centre. The planning reflects decisions reached earlier this year after a series of gruelling community planning exercises. August 7, 2003 flimsy (FLIM si) The adjective flimsy means very thin or weak. It is normally used to describe something which can be easily broken or destroyed. Many legal experts have said the evidence presented against him was flimsy. He shook it and it seemed rather flimsy. The house was made of flimsy boards stolen from a warehouse. Mrs Pedro, her husband and their two children spent four days on a flimsy platform with only muddy floodwater to drink before they were rescued by South African helicopter pilots. August 6, 2003 farce The noun farce refers to a ridiculous or meaningless situation or action. The adjective form is farcical (FAR sa kul). After the trial he immediately attacked the country's justice system as a crude farce. The last election was marked by a rare protest when a man distributed leaflets calling the event a farce. The movie ends as a good old-fashioned door-slamming farce. Unbelievably, the people who organised the farcical heavyweight title match are busy arranging a rematch. August 5, 2003 estranged (es TRAINJD) The adjective estranged refers to a relationship that is no longer friendly, often a marriage where the partners no longer live together. Chan has one son with his estranged wife. A distraught man threw three of his children over a sixth floor balcony after he apparently became upset during an argument with his estranged wife. The sources said Lin and Mr Jia were estranged and Mr Jia may have secretly divorced her last month. Mr Noppadol said he was obliged to continue with the trial if his estranged brothers and sisters insisted on exploiting their mother's will. August 4, 2003 dither (DITH er) The verb dither means to be uncertain or to be unable to make a decision about doing something. He said he had been walking, taking photos and dithering around as usual. Politicians have a nasty habit of dithering under pressure. I dithered about seeing a doctor, but finally the pain persuaded me that I had no choice. She dithered once too often in the deciding set. 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: August 12, 2003