English

“These are not delinquents or hoods,” one reporter wrote, “ but cleancut American boys who are being harassed by a monolithic school system.”

1. delinquent [dɪˋlɪŋkwənt] (n.) someone, especially a young person, who behaves in a way that is criminal or antisocial

    (adj.) behaving in a way that is criminal or antisocial

    (adj.) a delinquent account or tax bill has not been paid on time

2. harass  [ˋhærəs] (v.) to annoy or upset someone repeatedly, for example by criticizing them, attacking them, or treating them in a way that is offensive to them: to trouble, torment

    Example: The men were trying to harass the terrified refugees.

    sexually harass sb ( = treat them in a way that is sexually offensive )

    Example: John is alleged to have sexually harassed three women at the conference.

    (v.) to attack an enemy army repeatedly

    harassed (adj.) upset and confused because you don't have enough time or energy to do all the things you need to do

    Example: a harassed mother with two screaming children

    harassment (n.) annoying or unpleasant behaviour towards someone that takes place regularly, for example threats, offensive remarks, or physical attacks +of

    Example: The UN cannot tolerate the continuing harassment of peacekeeping soldiers.

    torment [ˋtɔr͵mɛnt] (v.) to make someone suffer severe physical or mental pain, often deliberately

    Example: She was tormented by her memories.

    (v.) to annoy someone, especially for fun

    Example: The bigger kids keep tormenting him.

A caustic editorial referred to the school's dicision as arbitrary and inane.

3. arbitrary  [ˋɑrbə͵trɛrɪ] (adj.) not based on any particular plan or done for any particular reason: based on whim, dictatorial 隨意的；隨心所欲的

    Example: an arbitrary decision

    Example: The selection of the 100 participants was completely arbitrary.

    (adj.) used about actions that are considered to be unfair 肆意的；武斷的；專斷的

    Example: This is a country where arbitrary arrests are commonplace. 這個國家的公民遭到肆意逮捕是司空見慣的事。

    arbitrarily (adv.)

    arbitrate (v.) to officially try to settle a disagreement by considering all the facts and opinions 裁決

    arbitration (n.) the official process of trying to settle a disagreement between two people or groups by considering all the facts and opinions

    go to arbitration ( = use arbritration )

    Example: Some salary claims will go to arbitration.

    arbitrator (n.) someone who is officially chosen to hear both sides of an argument and to make a dicision about what should be done

    dictatorial  [͵dɪktəˋtorɪəl] (adj.) telling people what to do and refusing to listen to their opinions

    Example: I don't like his dictatorial tone.

    (adj.) used about someone who takes and keeps power in a country by force

    Example: a dictatorial government

    dictator  [ˋdɪk͵tetɚ] (n.) someone who uses force to take and keep power in a country

    Example: a military dictator

    (n.) someone who tells people what to do and refuses to listen to their opinions

    dictatorship  [dɪkˋtetɚ͵ʃɪp] (n.) government by someone who takes power by force and does not allow elections

    (n.) a country controlled by someone who takes power by force and does not allow fair elections

A false story even circulated about the boys being rock-’n-roll performers whose indigent families needed their salaries.

4. circulate (v.) if information or ideas circulate, one person talks or writes about them to another, so that more and more people start to know about them

    Example: Rumours began to circulate that the chairman was going to resign.

    (v.) to send something to all the members of a group of people

    circulate sth to sb

    Example: The letter has been circulated to shareholders(股東).

    (v.) to move around continuously inside a system or area, or to make something do this

    Example: a machine designed to circulate warm air

    (v.) to move around at a party or social occasion, talking to different people

    circulation (n.) the continuous movement of blood around your body

    Example: She suffers from poor circulation.

    Example: Exercise will increase muscle strength and improve your circulation.

    (n.) the continuous movement of liquid, air etc inside a system or area

    (n.) [ singular ] the number of copies of a newspaper or magazine sold each day, week etc

    Example: a newspaper with a daily circulation of more than 2 million

    (n.) the process by which something such as money passes from one person to another

    in circulation

    Example: a law designed to reduce the number of guns in circulation

    put sth into circulation

    Example: When was the 100-franc note put into circulation?

    be out of circulation to temporarily not be involved in your usual public or social activities

    Example: I was out of circulation for two months after the accident.

    circulatory (adj.) relating to the movement of blood around your body

    Example: circulatory problems

 After the fray, the feuding families agreed to patch up their differences.

5. patch up ( phrasal vb ) to become friends with someone again after a disagreement

    Example: The meeting was intended to patch up relations between the two sides.