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May 29&30, 2004 endemic (en DEM ik) The adjective endemic refers to a disease, illness or problem that is frequently found in an area and that is difficult to deal with. The bird flu virus may have become endemic in the country, a WHO expert said yesterday. Foot and mouth disease remains endemic in many countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Central America. Removing the country's leader is likely to do little to wipe out endemic corruption. The opposition leader is promising to eradicate endemic housing and food shortages. May 28, 2004 in vain The expression in vain means to be unsuccessful in doing something. The Democrat party tried in vain to get half of the 21 hours set for House members to scrutinise the government's stated achievements. They waited, watching and listening in vain. The police have searched in vain for traces of the victim. The players argued in vain that the ball was last touched by an opposing player before it went out of bounds. May 27, 2004 leeway (LEE way) The noun leeway refers to the freedom someone has to take an action they want or to change their plans. The letter said the constitutional leeway that allowed government to conduct business was meant to serve national security, preserve public interest and allocate public utilities. Election officials are given very little leeway to depart from established rules. The central government said it had the leeway to cut interest rates because inflation was still low. Customers are unlikely to get much leeway from creditors. May 26, 2004 splinter (SPLIN tur) The noun splinter normally refers to a small thin sharp piece of wood metal, glass, etc. that has broken off a larger piece, but it can also refer to just about anything that breaks off from something larger, especially a small group that splits from a larger group. Both the verb and adjective forms are also splinter. The ICT minister blamed MPs of "splinter parties" for the low vote he received. Houses were leveled, trees were splintered and people were walking around in a daze. The bull smashed into the wall with an explosion of sound and flying wooden splinters. Everyone except for a few splinter groups wants this to happen, the president said. May 25, 2004 ram The verb ram means to crash into or push something with great force. Williams technical director Patrick Head denied that Montoya had deliberately rammed Schumacher's car off. Beijing accused the navy of deliberately ramming the boat while Manila insisted it was an accident. A man driving 80 miles an hour rammed his vehicle into a mosque. Unaware that a jetliner had rammed the building, Ms Doyle and dozens of co-workers headed straight for the stairs for the long trip down. May 24, 2004 fester (FES tur) The verb fester means to become worse, especially by becoming infected or because something is not be properly dealt with or taken care of. The adjective form is festering. The infant nation of East Timor celebrated the second anniversary of its independence yesterday with a ceremony overshadowed by a festering oil dispute with Australia. The cuts on his hands began to fester. He said it was very good that they made a quick decision rather than let the issue fester. The US diplomat played a key role in defusing the tensions that had been festering since the attack on the Indian parliament. 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: May 28, 2004