juggernaut [ JUHG-er-nawt, -not ]
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| [ noun ]
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| MEANING :
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| 1. a relentless, massive object or force that destroys all in its path
2. one that requires or exacts blind faith or cruel sacrifice
3. (also known as Jagannath) an idol of Lord Krishna, at Puri in Orissa, India, that is drawn annually on a huge cart under the wheels of which devotees are believed to have thrown themselves in order to be crushed
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| USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
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| The aircraft carrier USS George Washington was a Juggernaut of the American navy.
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| USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :
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| After 18 weeks of dominating the Saturday night television schedules, entertainment juggernaut The X Factor comes to its glitzy conclusion tonight.
The Herald, What's the story with ... The X Factor? Marisa Duffy, 13 December 2008.
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coy [ koi ]
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| [ adjective ]
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| MEANING :
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| 1. coquettish, shy or modest
2. reluctant or hesitant towards a commitment
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| USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
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| She wanted to portray the coy little girl look and so wore a dress that was grand but not flashy.
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| USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :
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| In this country, we tend to be a bit coy about discussing matters of the wallet and the purse.
The Herald, Our values are judged by how we spend, Ron Ferguson, 27 April 2009.
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dissemble [ di-SEM-buh’ l ]
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| [ intransitive verb, transitive verb ]
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| MEANING :
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| 1. (tr.v.) to disguise or conceal or hide behind a false appearance
2. (tr.v.) to feign or simulate
3. (intr.v.) to feign or hide behind a false appearance
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| USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
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| The boisterous behaviour of the youth was dissembled by his innocent face.
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| USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :
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| It should be apparent that a regime which would declare the election to be free and fair is precisely the sort to string us along in fruitless negotiations and dissemble about its current behavior and future aspirations.
The Washington Post, Tongue-Tied on Tehran, Howard Kurtz, 16 June 2009.
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unilateral [ yoo-nuh’-LAT-er-uh’ l ]
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| [ adjective ]
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| MEANING :
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| relating to or involving only one side
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| USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
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| The threat to impose unilateral economic sanctions are pressure tactics used to coerce cooperation from unfriendly countries.
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| USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :
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| Speaking at the G8, the prime minister made clear the government's position on maintaining Trident had not changed and he ruled out any unilateral cuts in either submarines or Britain's 160 warheads.
BBC, PM suggests possible Trident cuts, 10 July 2009.
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zeal [ zeel ]
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| [ noun ]
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| MEANING :
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| enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal or goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance
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| USAGE EXAMPLE 1 :
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| He played football with great zeal as it was his favourite sport.
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| USAGE EXAMPLE 2 :
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| Critics fear the nationwide zeal to save jobs now could make companies inefficient later by keeping too many people on the payroll and not providing flexibility to react to global market forces.
CNN, Stimulated: Does S. Korea offer hope for bailouts? 24 April 2009. |
