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November 6&7, 2004 dormant (DOR munt) The adjective dormant means to be someone or something that is inactive or not growing at the present time, but which may become active again at some time in the future. Army chief Gen Prawit Wongsuwan has reactivated nearly 3,000 officers who were left dormant after being put in inactive posts. The seeds of desert plants can lie dormant for years until a soaking rain enables them to germinate and bloom. The volcano came back to life in 1994 after lying dormant since 1927. The generators were dormant but ready to be productive again. November 4, 2003 traumatise (TRAU ma taiz) The verb traumatise means to shock and upset someone very much, often enough to cause psychological damage. The adjective form is traumatised. Iraqis traumatised by violence largely ignored the US presidential election yesterday as rebels mounted fresh attacks. A young woman is dead and another is testifying that this event has traumatised her for life. The eastern part of the country is still traumatised by the killings. A group of almost 4,000 severely traumatised refugees reported being shot at by ordinary civilians as they tried to leave the area. November 3, 2004 puncture (PUNKT chur) The verb puncture normally means to make a small hole in something but puncture can also mean to make someone's feelings, beliefs or hopes seem to be wrong. The noun form is also puncture. Israel beefed up security in Tel Aviv yesterday after a suicide bombing in its commercial capital punctured hopes that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's absence could slow the cycle of violence. Thailand's financial sector was several battered by the baht devaluation and the subsequent recession which punctured its economic bubble. Nothing seems able to puncture the country's confidence in its leaders. There were able to quickly locate the puncture and repair the tube. November 2, 2004 adjoining (a JOIN ing) The adjective adjoining refers to something that is very near, next to or touching something. A member of the State Department's diplomatic security unit was killed when a rocket or mortar round landed in a US military base adjoining the Baghdad airport early Sunday. The plan would see the adjoining running track and cricket ground moved elsewhere in the town. Five families have been taken to safety in Brecon after a fire ripped through a street of adjoining houses. A temporary 30mph speed limit will be imposed along the A415 and adjoining side roads within the location. November 1, 2004 infiltrate (IN fil treyt) The verb infiltrate means to secretly become part of a group in order to get information or to influence how the group thinks or behaves. Infiltrate can also mean to secretly enter an area in order to gain information or to cause harm. The fact that the insurgents were able to strike at so many unarmed soldiers in such a remote region suggested that the guerrillas, having infiltrated the security services, may have had advanced word. The prosecutor said Mr Rupert had infiltrated the dissident Irish republican movement at the FBI's request. Israeli soldiers killed three Palestinian militants who infiltrated a Jewish settlement in the southern Gaza Strip. Two students from Oxford University are facing disciplinary action after infiltrating the university's computer systems. 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: November 8, 2004