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September 20 & 21, 2003 string The basic meaning of the noun string refers, of course, to a thin rope made of twisted threads. In the newspaper, however, a string often refers to a series of events which happen one after another. Hambali is thought to be a key figure in Jemaah Islamiyah, an Indonesian terrorist group with links to al-Qaeda and responsible for last October's Bali bombings, the recent JW Marriott hotel blast in Indonesia and a string of other attacks. The May production gain was the latest of a string of signs that the factory sector was finally improving. Russian nuclear submarines have been involved in a string of accidents in recent decades. The bundles of 100-dollar bills were tied with string and rubber bands. September 19, 2003 embrace (im BRACE) The basic meaning of the verb embrace is to hold someone or something tightly with both arms in a loving way. Embrace can also mean to accept something enthusiastically, like an idea or a set of beliefs, for example. Or it can mean to include something as an important part of something larger. "There might be a military risk, but I'm quite convinced that our humanitarian mission will be embraced and welcomed by the Iraqi people," Gen Thammarak said. The Chinese team embraced emotionally after their victory was assured. Muslim societies embrace a kind of natural law that is closely linked to the religion of Islam. The president explained the pardon, which embraced 280 people, included former leftist guerillas as well as military officers. September 18, 2003 brooding (BREW ding) TThe adjective brooding refers a feeling of worry and uneasiness over an unpleasant situation or about something bad that may happen. The verb form is brood. Johnny Cash, country music's "Man in Black", died yesterday, silencing a dark and brooding voice that for nearly 50 years sang sad tales of coal miners and sharecroppers, convicts and cowboys. On the first day, Karolyi looked like a caged animal, brooding in the stands as his team missed chance after chance and seemed in danger of being eliminated before the finals. Lake Erie is dark, brooding and uninviting when the sky is gray and the air cold. He decided it was silly to brood over old disagreements and that it was time to move on with his life. September 17, 2003 eligible (EL id ja ble) The adjective eligible means having the necessary qualities or fulfilling the necessary conditions to be able to do or receive something. The noun form is eligibility (el id ja BIL a ti). The adjective ineligible refers to not having the necessary qualifications to receive or do something. Eligible claimants for the payments include defendants who are acquitted of charges, people injured while being held hostage, families of murder victims and innocent victims of other crimes. Altogether more than 130 million people are eligible to vote throughout the vast country. One cost-cutting measure under consideration is the raising of the eligibility age for receiving government pensions. With few marketable skills and imperfect English he was ineligible for most jobs that paid more than the minimum wage. September 16, 2003 succumb (sa KUM) The verb succumb means to be affected or to die from an illness or injury. Succumb can also mean to do something you feel might be wrong because you have a strong desire to do it or other people want you to do it. Doctors battled through the night to save Lindh's life, but she succumbed to massive internal bleeding of the liver, a hospital statement said. Three others in the room succumbed to the smoke and died. Carlo Urbani, the scientist who discovered the first clue that a dangerous new microbe was beginning to spread around the world, succumbed yesterday in a Bangkok hospital to the frightening disease he had alerted the world to. He was constantly worried that one of his top managers would eventually succumb to a tempting offer from a competitor. September 15, 2003 cauldron (KAUL drun) The basic meaning of the noun cauldron is a very large, round pot used for cooking over a fire. However, cauldron can also refer to a very unstable or dangerous situation. After a routine win over Liechtenstein in the comfortable surrounds of Old Trafford, England will be plunged into a Turkish cauldron next month in their decisive Euro 2004 qualifier. Critics warned that going to war would turn the whole region into a cauldron. In the room's centre, pine wood burned in the fireplace where a large black cauldron hanging on a pool bubbled with stewed vegetables. The lighting of the Olympic cauldron is one of the most inspirational moments in sports. 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: September 19, 2003