Monday, July 31, 2006

The Language at the End

terminal
adjective
1. Of, at, relating to, or forming a limit, boundary, extremity, or end.
2. Botany. Growing or appearing at the end of a stem, branch, stalk, or similar part.
3. Of, at, relating to, or being the end of a section or series; final.
4. Relating to or occurring in a term or each term.
5. Causing, ending in, or approaching death; fatal.
[Middle English, from Latin terminālis, from terminus, boundary.]
"terminal." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Answers.com 31 Jul. 2006. http://www.answers.com/topic/terminal

palliative
adjective
1. Tending or serving to palliate.
2. Relieving or soothing the symptoms of a disease or disorder without effecting a cure.
"palliative." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Answers.com 31 Jul. 2006. http://www.answers.com/topic/palliative