terri-

The use of biological agents for terrorism.

The term bioterror is often used loosely to describe nuclear, biological, and/or chemical (NBC) terrorism.

The U.S. government is especially worried about the Big Six bioterrorism threats: anthrax, smallpox, plague, tularemia, botulism toxin, and viral hemorrhagic fevers (like the Ebola virus).

While less well-known than the other diseases, tularemia and botulism toxins could conceivably be aerosolized, causing severe respiratory illness and paralysis, respectively.

Terrorist acts involving the use of harmful agents and products of biological origin; such as, disease-producing microorganisms or toxins: "Bioterrorism involves the use of biological agents, such as pathogenic organisms or agricultural pests, for terrorist purposes."

A terrorist who uses biological weapons: "Not only water supplies are susceptible to such deliberate contamination; so, too, is much of the air we breathe."

"Skyscrapers, tunnels, subways, and their requisite heating and air-conditioning systems provide targets and also ways of attack for would-be bioterrorists."

1. To discourage or to restrain someone from taking action or to prevent something from happening; especially, by making a person feel afraid or anxious: The government hoped that the new law would deter advertisers from making false claims about their products.
2. To prevent, to check, to stop; to block or to bring to a standstill: Jim's father was determined to deter his son from driving during the storm.
3. Etymology: from Latin deterrere, "to frighten from, to discourage from"; composed of de-, "away" + terrere, "to frighten". © ALL rights are reserved.

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1. A restraint that makes people decide not to take a certain action when they realize that something unpleasant would happen to them.
2. Using military strength as a way to defend a country or to retaliate strongly enough to prevent an enemy from attacking.

Descriptive of something that prevents or deters an action from taking place: Some deterrent customers will avoid buying certain products from the new store because of the high prices.

The deterrent weather is forcing a lot of people to stay in their homes instead of going shopping or even travelling to the places where they work.

© ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.

A reference to turning something or someone aside, to discourage, or to prevent someone from taking action which could be destructive and harmful.

1. The threat to use violent acts that would harm the quality of the environment in order to blackmail a group or society: "Ecoterrorism also includes the actual carrying out of the threats."
2. The sabotage of the activities of individuals or corporations; such as, industrial companies, considered to be polluting or destroying the natural environment.

Someone who performs acts of violence or sabotage against ecological, environmental, or animal rights causes.

1. Distressing; severe: "It was a terrible winter."
2. Extremely bad; horrible; extreme in extent or degree: "That was a terrible movie."
3. Exciting terror, awe, or great fear; dreadful; awful.
4. Causing great fear or alarm; dreadful: "During the storm there was a terrible bolt of lightning.
5. Formidably great: "She took on a terrible responsibility."

A quality of extreme unpleasantness.

1. Extreme in extent or degree: "Andrew was terribly injured in the car accident."
2. Informal: Extremely; very: "It's terribly late and I'm terribly sorry, but you will have to go now."
3. To a great extent; very much: "Would you mind terribly if we go home now?

1. Frightful; causing terror; terrifying; very bad or unpleasant.
2. Informal: Causing awe or amazement; extraordinarily great or intense.
3. Extremely good; wonderful: "We had a terrific vacation."
4. Etymology: from Latin terrificus, "causing terror or fear", from terrere, "fill with fear" plus root of facere, "to make".

Weakened sensed of "very great, severe"; such as, "I have a terrific headache" appeared in 1809. The colloquial sense of "excellent" began about 1888.

To a very high degree or very great extent; in an extreme way.

A cause of great fear.