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taboo." Harold H. Owen, Jr., The Motion Picture

tacit

"There is a tacit agreement in a civil conversation that each avoid making of it a monologue." Rebecca West, "There Is No Conversation"

tainted

"The defense argued that poor police procedures had tainted the evidence." Newsday, 6/19/98

tangible

"I hated it, not because of our one overcrowded closet, but because of intrusions and discomforts of a far less tangible nature." Mary Ellen Chase, "A Room of My Own"

tantalized

"We were tantalized by a glimpse of a brown bear and her cubs in the wood." Travel and Leisure, 10/97

tantamount

"Opponents of the proposed agreement claim it is tantamount to a surrender of holy land." USA. Today, 1/13/00

taut

"His face grew taut as he was questioned about his use of illegal drugs in his youth." New York Post, 8/19/99

technology

"Mr. Greenspan noted that 'history is strewn' with miscalculations about technology developments." Richard Stevenson, "Fed Chief on New-Age Economy," New York Times, 6/15/99

temerity

"In the first month of his service in the House, the young Congressman had the temerity to challenge his party's Speaker; it was a mistake." Blanche Kassell, Up on the Hill

tenable

"He took the tenable position that lawyers should never cross examine a witness without knowing the answer before asking the question." Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

tenacious

"Their talent and tenacious actions on the court will at last reward them." Darcy Frey, The Last Shot

termagant

"This book deals with the matrimonial adventures of an extremely rich and bullying termagant." Saturday Review, 11/99

terminate

"A continuation of such chronic lateness may lead us to terminate your employment." Regulations of the NYC Board of Education's Office of School Food & Nutrition Services

terse

"The mayor sent a terse letter to the school's chancellor over his cancellation of a meeting." New York Times, 8/5/99

therapy

"He will have to undergo long-term therapy before considering playing baseball again." The Washington Post, 7/9/99

throng

"When the throng had mostly streamed into the porch, the sexton began to toll the bell." Nathaniel Hawthorne, "The Minister's Black Veil"

thwarted

"The man who made up the name for flies must have been thwarted in a life-long desire to have children, and at last found that outlet for his suppressed baby-talk." Robert Benchley, "The Lure of the Road"

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tortuous

"The tortuous descent down the mountain resulted in one additional fatality, this time a sure-footed Sherpa guide." Winston Adair, "Everest Takes Its Toll"

tradition

"The town had a century-old traditionan eight-hour canoe race." Brenda Flock, "The Race"

tranquil

"Over this house, most tranquil and complete, Where no storm ever beat, She was sole mistress." Phyllis McGinley, "The Doll House"

transient

"City championships and national tournaments, however thrilling, are transient moments." Darcy Frey, The Last Shot

tremulous

"'Will Pa get hurt?' asked Jane in a tremulous voice." Jessamyn West, "Yes, We'll Gather at the River"

trenchant

"Mr. Salinger's views on celebrity are often funny and trenchant." Clyde Haberman, "A Recluse Meets His Match,"

New York Times, 6/18/99

trend

"We should make every effort to reverse the trend in popular music towards violent lyrics." Portland Oregonian, 8/12/99

trivial

"In the study of past civilizations, nothing is considered as a trivial discovery." Brian Fagan, Time Detectives

truncated

"It will be much harder if their state (Palestine) is so truncated, so cut up, that it is not viable." Anthony Lewis, "The Irrelevance of a Palestinian State," New York Times, 6/20/99

turbulent

"Up to the turbulent surface came a peculiar-looking craft, risen from the calm but dangerous depth of the ocean." Lt. Don Walsh, "Our Seven-Mile Dive to the Bottom"

turpitude

"The government must be held responsible for these acts of moral turpitude resulting in so many civilian casualties." TIME, 8/25/98

tussle

"It often doesn't pay to tussle with your child to take music lessons." Working Mother, 5/96

tyro

"The computer training center will soon turn a tyro into a successful user." Senior News, 9/99 U

ubiquitous

"Che Guevera has become ubiquitous; his figure stares out at us from coffee mugs and posters, pops up in rock songs and operas." Ariel Dorfman, "Che," TIME, 6/14/99

ultimate

"The ultimate possibility for hero and chorus alike is stated in Father Mapple's sermon, and it is to become a saint." W. H. Auden, "The Christian Tragic Hero"