Tibetan Situation Getting Sticky

Tibetan Situation Getting Sticky Tibetan Situation Getting Sticky Tibetan Situation Getting Sticky By Maeve Maddox I was startled to read the following in an article by Associated Press writer Christopher Bodeen: But China has angrily rejected all calls for dialogue, and Tibets hardline Communist Party chief [Zhang Qingli ] was quoted Wednesday in a particularly viscous attack on the Dalai Lama The quotation left me picturing His Holiness covered with something like tar, awaiting the application of feathers. Bodeen probably meant vicious. vicious [vishus] bad, villainous, reprehensible, mean, depraved, noxious, savage Vicious comes from the Latin word Latin vitiosus, meaning full of faults, bad, corrupt. The word viscous, on the other hand, comes from a Latin word viscosus, meaning full of birdlime. viscous [viskus] viscid, gelatinous, gluey, sticky. Syrup is viscous. Oil is viscous. (No oil in Tibet.) While were at it, birdlime is a sticky substance smeared on a surface with the intention of catching birds. It was usually made of holly bark, but mashed up mistletoe berries work. The lime in birdlime comes from a Latin verb meaning to smear. The Bodeen article goes on to say that the Chinese government regularly insults the Dalai Lama as a matter of policy: Critics say China fuels such anger [as provoked the recent demonstrations] through harsh restrictions on Tibetan culture and Buddhism - including routine vilification of the Dalai Lama, who is deeply revered by most Tibetans. Which brings us to another V word. vilification The action of vilifying by means of abusive language. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Types of LanguageWhen to Form a Plural with an ApostropheEbook, eBook, ebook or e-book?