2008年8月5日星期二

argumentative, arguable, solidarity, level off (AMOUNT), obstetrician, Caesarean section

-->"近些年來「arguably（毋庸置辯地）」成了口頭語。但是起初人們難免納悶是怎麼回事；「詞典」指出動詞argue 和形容詞arguable與debate和debatable一樣兼有正負兩層含義，無奈約定俗成──也可以說以訛傳訛──副詞形式從「爭論性的」一變而成正面的意思了：「可以證明地，毋庸置辯地，不成問題地。」"重看「最新通俗美語詞典」莊信正　(20080806)

Obstetrician found not guilty over death after childbirth

FUKUSHIMA--In a case watched closely by the medical community, a court Wednesday acquitted an obstetrician charged with professional negligence resulting in the death of a woman after a Caesarean section 人工剖腹 in 2004.(August 20) [more]

ob・ste・tri・cian

━━ n. 産科医.
⇒obstetric, obstetrical

Great Firewall of China Silences iTunes

China may be upset about a 'Tibet Solidarity' album that's being downloaded, says blogger Frederik Balfour

Plus: Palm Goes Pro

Solidarity Grows Among Chinese People After Earthquake

Almost two weeks after the devastating earthquake in south-west China,
hopes are fading to find people alive under the rubble of collapsed
houses, schools and office buildings.

The DW-WORLD Article
http://newsletter.dw-world.de/re?l=evyhy2I44va89pI1

With Oil Demand Down, Prices Are Leveling Off

level off (AMOUNT) phrasal verb
If a rate or amount levels off, it stops rising or falling and stays at the same level:
House prices now seem to be levelling off after the steep rises of the last few years.
Unemployment rose to 10% and then levelled off.

solidarity
noun [U]
agreement between and support for the members of a group, especially a political group:
The situation raises important questions about solidarity among member states of the UN.
The lecturers joined the protest march to show solidarity with their students.

sol・i・dar・i・ty

━━ n. 団結, 連帯.

arguable

The adjective has 2 meanings:
Meaning #1: capable of being supported by argument
Meaning #2: open to argument or debate
Synonyms: debatable, disputable

argument (DISAGREEMENT)
noun [C or U]
a disagreement, or the process of disagreeing:
The children had an argument about/over what game to play.
He got into an argument with Jeff in the pub last night.
A decision was finally made after some heated argument.

argumentative
adjective DISAPPROVING
often arguing or wanting to argue:
Don't be so argumentative.

argumentatively
adverb

argument (REASON)
noun [C or U]
a reason or reasons why you support or oppose an idea or suggestion, or the process of explaining them:
Now that we've heard all the arguments for and against the proposal, shall we vote on it?
[+ that] Her husband was not convinced by her argument that they needed a bigger house.
I don't think that's a very strong/convincing/powerful argument.
The central argument (= main point) of the book is that some of the plays were not written by Shakespeare.
They were engaged in argument for hours.

(from Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)