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December 20 & 21, 2003 snap As a verb snap refers to a sudden break accompanied by a sharp cracking noise, or it can refer to the sharp sound made by moving the middle finger across the thumb. Snap is often used as an adjective, referring to a sudden action or decision. She snapped her fingers for the waitress. Iran has signed an additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty bowing to international pressure to allow snap UN inspections. With his popularity growing, the prime minister announced he would call a snap election in May. In 1976, 42 people died when the cable holding their cable car snapped. December 19, 2003 cyclone (SAI klown) The noun cyclone refers to a violent tropical storm in which the winds go round and round. At least 49 people died and millions of dollars worth of crops were damaged when a cyclone ripped through rice-growing villages on India's southeastern coast, officials said yesterday. The cyclone churned across the Bay of Bengal and hit the populous coast of the state of Orissa. Meanwhile, a cyclone that had threatened more rain was downgraded to a tropical depression. Cyclones are increasing in frequency and intensity in the Caribbean. December 18, 2003 vexed The adjective vexed means to feel annoyed, puzzled and frustrated. A second adjective form is vexing. The verb form is vex. Already vexed by its failure to find al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, Washington blamed Saddam for promoting some of the violence against its forces and put a $25 million price on his head. They were vexed with her for having deceived them. The 2-1 loss to Japan was especially vexing. The young lady sat horribly vexed, nervous and embarrassed as she waited for the police to arrive. December 17, 2003 constructive (kun STRUK tiv) The adjective constructive means to be useful and helpful. Damascus has now suggested it wanted "constructive dialogue" with Washington after President George W. Bush signed a law threatening diplomatic and economic sanctions. Schools offer a logical place for providing constructive activities for kids. He said he believed that constructive criticism had an important role to play. The President said he was willing to invest as many days as are appropriate and constructive in resolving the dispute. December 16, 2003 tyrant (TAI runt) The noun tyrant means a person who treats people they have authority over very cruelly and unfairly. The closely-related noun tyranny refers to a cruel and unfair government or to the use of power in a very cruel and unfair way. The adjective form is tyrannical (tai RAN a kul). "The tyrant is a prisoner," US administrator Paul Bremer said. He ordered his followers to rise up and destroy the tyrant. Many people have little patience with the opposition leaders who sat out the regime's tyranny in foreign capitals. The bandleader was often tyrannical with his musicians. December 15, 2003 loan shark A loan shark is a person who lends money to people at extremely high (and often illegal) interest rates. The borrowers are usually people who are unable to get loans from legitimate sources like banks. The Provincial Administration Department will not name the loan sharks who lent to poor people registered for state help, for fear of lawsuits. Increasingly, the slum dwellers were turning to loan sharks who offered money without even being asked for it. The man's knees had been smashed with a baseball bat after running afoul of a loan shark. Many rice farmers are in debt to both banks and loan sharks. 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: December 22, 2003