Daily Wordlist 21-Jan-10

	21-Jan-10 Daily Wordlist homeostasis [ hoh-mee-uh'-STEY-sis ]   [ noun ]   MEANING :   1. the tendency or ability of an organism to maintain internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes 2. the state of psychological equilibrium attained when tension has been reduced or eliminated   USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :   The diagnosis was that he suffered from metabolic abnormalities which were caused by impaired homeostasis.   USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :   It should be classified as a separate category among headaches attributed to "disorders of homeostasis." The Telegraph, Space 'causes disabling headaches in astronauts', 3 June 2009.   moratorium [ mawr-uh'-TWAR-ee-uh'm ]   [ noun ]   MEANING :   1. an authorization to a debtor permitting the temporary delay or suspension of payments 2. a period of delay agreed to by parties who are in the process of negotiating 3. a suspension of the ongoing performance of an obligation   USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :   The finance minister sought a moratorium from the World Bank so that the money could be diverted and spent on disaster management instead.   USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :   They say the current moratorium, which does not apply to East Jerusalem or 3000 homes already under construction, is insufficient. The Telegraph, Israel draws up plans to demolish settlements, Rob Crilly, 20 December 2009.   feline [ FEE-lahyn ]   [ noun, adjective ]   MEANING :   1. (adj.) pertaining to or belonging to the cat family 2. (adj.) catlike 3. (n.) an animal of the cat family or Felidae   USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :   She got the chance to play cat woman because of her feline gait.   USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :   Andrew Lloyd Webber's star West End musical Cats has strutted its way on to the stage at Norwich Theatre Royal, striking as much admiration and affection in reviewer Lyn McKinney's heart as her own feline companions. BBC, Review: Cats at Norwich Theatre Royal, 29 December 2009.   archaic [ ahr-KEY-ik ]   [ adjective ]   MEANING :   1. marked by the characteristics of an ancient period or primitive 2. not current or applicable any longer 3. relating to words and language that were once in regular use but are now rarely used and are suggestive of an earlier style   USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :   The town's council was in the process of doing away with the archaic rules of governance that were no longer relevant.   USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :   Instead of the archaic society, in which the leaders think and make decisions for everyone, we will become a country of intelligent, free and responsible people. CNN, Medvedev wants Russia to go hi-tech, Maxim Tkachenko, 12 November 2009.   betroth [ bi-TROHTH, -TRAWTH  ]   [ transitive verb ]   MEANING :   1. to promise to give in marriage 2. (tr. v.) to promise to marry 3. (tr. v.) to arrange for the marriage of   USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :   He was happy to be betrothed to the only daughter of a rich industrialist.   USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :   Cultured, charming Italian Captain, more dove than hawk, who carries a torch for the already-betrothed Pelagia, resident of an occupied Greek island. The Telegraph, Romantic heroes: here's to you, Mr Rochester, Penny Vincenzi, 15 October 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