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April 24 & 25, 2004 adamant (AD a munt) The adjective adamant means to be determined not to change your mind or to be persuaded to do so. The adverb form is adamantly. The United States want to rejoin the global warming debate after rejecting the Kyoto Protocol but the world's largest polluter is adamant that its lone approach to environmental issues is a success. Policy-makers remained adamant that they would never allow one hundred percent property ownership by foreigners. Government officials were adamant that a devaluation was not under consideration. Sloane adamantly denied the rumours that she was present at the meeting. April 23, 2004 conduit (KON du it) The noun conduit normally refers to a small tunnel, pipe or channel through which water, electrical wires, etc. can go. But a conduit can also refer to a person, organisation or country that links two or more other people, organisations or countries. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has set up a committee to work out compensation for a university student who was seriously injured after a pipe intended as a conduit for electrical wiring fell on him. The shaft connects to a conduit through the dam into the river below. The Foreign Ministry was to become a conduit for other government agencies involved in international politics and economics. The former aide to Bin Laden was suspected of being a money conduit for terrorist attacks. April 22, 2004 inmate (IN mate) The noun inmate refers to someone held in prison or a mental hospital. Chinese guards have beaten and crippled a 72-year-old Christian, imprisoned for his religious beliefs, because he was trying to convert fellow inmates, a rights group alleged yesterday. Inmates at the Institute for Female Offenders will perform as part of a show at the Thailand Cultural Centre on April 25. Violent and non-violent inmates are not separated, so fights are frequent. He complained that today's average inmate is younger, smarter, and meaner. April 21, 2004 restive (RES tiv) The adjective restive means to be dissatisfied, impatient or bored. The noun form is restiveness. The adjective restive means to be dissatisfied, impatient or bored. The noun form is restiveness. US officials in Iraq laid plans to tame the restive city of Falluja in the wake of the brutal slayings of four American workers. In restive Aceh province, thousands fled their homes after a number of schools were burnt. The general faces growing restiveness among Islamist sympathisers in the army officer corps. April 20, 2004 catalyst (CAT a list) In chemistry, the noun catalyst refers a substance that makes a chemical reaction happen faster. But catalyst can also refer person or thing that causes a change. The former Malaysian diplomat was the catalyst for the landmark engagement between Burma's junta and Aung San Suu Kyi. Chemists have long known that improved catalysts would be useful in the production of specialty plastics. Some critics argue that free trade has not been an effective catalyst for poverty reduction. Methanol production requires high temperatures, high pressure and special catalysts. April 19, 2004 leak The noun leak normally refers to an unintended flow of a gas or liquid out of a hole or crack. But in the newspaper, leak often refers to disclosing secret information known The verb form is also leak. The higher education chief will finally testify before the House education committee today on the alleged leak of this year's university entrance exam papers. The mischievous leader once leaked a draft of final communique of an Arab summit before the conference even began. There was much speculation over the source of the leak. Do not drive a vehicle with a fuel system leak. Click here to see our words in the news for the previous week. Return to our home page |© The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. All rights reserved 2004 | Last modified: April 29, 2004