Daily Wordlist 03-Dec-09

	03-Dec-09 Daily Wordlist miscreant [ MIS-kree-uh'nt ]   [ noun, adjective ]   MEANING :   1. (n.) a villain 2. (n.) a depraved person 3. (adj.) villainous or depraved   USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :   The miscreants stoned the shop and made off after breaking the glass showcase.   USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :   They wear their pants below their behinds in solidarity with their friends, brothers, uncles or fathers who aren't allowed belts while incarcerated, though perhaps the low-hanging pants are a defiant gesture to society at large for continually presuming them to be miscreant. CNN, Obama, race and my arrest, Jeffrey Wright, 24 October 2009.   besiege [ bi-SEEJ ]   [ transitive verb ]   MEANING :   1. to surround with hostile forces 2. to hem in or harass 3. to cause to be distressed   USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :   The famous rock star was besieged by fans seeking autographs.   USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :   As the defenders of a besieged Bosnian town prepared to retreat, the prisoners of war held captive in the local jail feared the worst. CNN, Geneva Conventions 'still relevant but better compliance needed', Simon Hooper, 12 August 2009.   disburse [ dis-BURS ]   [ transitive verb ]   MEANING :   1. to pay out cash, as from a fund 2. to expend 3. to spread out or scatter   USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :   At the end of the day money was disbursed to the labourers.   USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :   The UK government sees itself as a leading player in international climate diplomacy. In June, Prime Minister Gordon Brown proposed setting up a fund to raise and disburse $100bn (£60bn) annually for climate protection and adaptation. BBC, Climate deal is 'in the balance', Richard Black, 8 September 2009.   unfledged [ uhn-flejd ]   [ adjective ]   MEANING :   1. not having enough feathers for flight 2. inexperienced or untried   USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :   The troupe of performers consisted of unfledged young dancers.   USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :   Paul is the Head of Radio Entertainment and is responsible for all in-house comedy and entertainment programmes on BBC national radio, from established favourites such as Just A Minute to developing the talents of unfledged performers and writers. BBC, Show me the funny, Paul Schlesinger   conformist [ kuh'n-FAWR-mist ]   [ noun, adjective ]   MEANING :   1. (n.) one who complies or is in agreement with 2. (n.) a person who acts in accordance with certain customs 3. (adj.) characterized by acting in agreement   USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :   He was a conformist and did exactly what was expected of him.   USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :   They have accused the festival - which was once regarded as counter-cultural - of becoming conformist in its apparent wish to acknowledge modern diversity. BBC, Church festival draws criticism, John McManus, 28 August 2009.   Spelled Pronunciation Key Stress marks: [ CAPS ] indicates the primary stressed syllable, as in newspaper [NOOZ-pey-per ] and information [ in-fer-MEY-shuh' n ] CONSONANTS [b] boy, baby, rob [d] do, ladder, bed [f] food, offer, safe [g] get, bigger, dog [h] happy, ahead [j] jump, budget, age [k] can, speaker, stick [l] let, follow, still [m] make, summer, time [n] no, dinner, thin [ng] singer, think, long [p] put, apple, cup [r] run, marry, far, store [s] sit, city, passing, face [sh] she, station, push [t] top, better, cat [ch] church, watching, nature, witch [th] thirsty, nothing, math [th'] this, mother, breathe [v] very, seven, love [w] wear, away [hw] where, somewhat [y] yes, onion [z] zoo, easy, buzz [zh] measure, television, beige   VOWELS [a] apple, can, hat [ey] aid, hate, day [ah] arm, father, aha [air] air, careful, wear [aw] all, or, talk, lost, saw [e] ever, head, get [ee] eat, see, need [eer] ear, hero, beer [er] teacher, afterward, murderer [i] it, big, finishes [ahy] I, ice, hide, deny [o] odd, hot, woffle [oh] owe, road, below [oo] ooze, food, soup, sue [oo'] good, book, put [oi] oil, choice, toy [ou] out, loud, how [uh] up, mother, mud [uh'] about, animal, problem, circus [ur] early, bird, stirring   FOREIGN SOUNDS [a*] Fr. ami [kh*] Scot. loch, Ger. ach or ich [œ] Fr. feu, Ger. schön [r*] Fr. au revoir, Yiddish rebbe [uh*] Fr. oeuvre [y*] Fr. tu, Ger. über   SAMPLE NASALIZED VOWELS [an*] Fr. bien [ahn*] Fr. croissant [awn*] Fr. bon [œn*] Fr. parfum [in*] Port. Principe