儒琴今日英语单词选自日常用语，欧美报刊文章, 以及英语原文小说。每天坚持学习今日英语单词，有助于阅读和理解当今欧美主流媒体的新闻时事报道和英语文学作品；增强日常英语交流能力。
儒琴今日英语单词 Word of the Day
perfect storm
noun [ C, usually singular ]
an extremely bad situation in which many bad things happen at the same time
（许多糟糕的事情同时发生而）糟得不可更糟的局面 （Cambridge）
The modern world faces a perfect storm: the combination of a deadly and highly infectious virus, an emerging worldwide economic depression, the collapse of global governance, and an absence of coordinated and effective international response. Yet in this crisis there is also an opportunity.
internecine
adjective formal /ˌɪn.t̬ɚˈniː.sɪn/
Internecine war or fighting happens between members of the same group, religion, or country.
（战争或争斗）内部的
internecine war/warfare 内战 (Cambridge)
Exactly when and how this solution will be arrived at is difficult, if not impossible, to predict. But it is clear that the internecine political feuding that has consumed America and diverted its attention from dangerous threats must come to a halt. The costs have been enormous. (The National Interest)
culpability
noun [ U ] /ˌkʌl.pəˈbɪl.ə.t̬i/
the fact that someone deserves to be blamed or considered responsible for something bad:
After the accident, the company refused to accept culpability.
The Army denied any culpability, but later compensated owners. (Cambridge) 应受指责，应受处罚；有罪（行为）
However, the governments of the great powers should acknowledge their collective culpability for failing to identify global priorities and instead taking imprudent steps that diverted attention from issues of major global concern in favor of non-essential and outright cavalier pursuits. (The National Interest)
cavalier
adjective
disapproving /ˌkæv.əlˈɪr/
not considering other people’s feelings or safety
满不在乎的；漫不经心的
That’s a rather cavalier attitude. 那种态度真是太轻率了。(Cambridge)
In a remarkable change of tack, U.S. President Donald Trump this week completely discarded his earlier cavalier approach to the coronavirus pandemic and assumed the role of a leader in a “war” against an “invisible enemy,” seeking to resurrect his presidency in the face of a global public health crisis and fast-faltering economy with less than eight months to go before the election. (foreignpolicy.com)
shock absorber
noun [ C ] /ˈʃɑːk əbˌzɔːr.bɚ/
a device on a vehicle, especially a car or an aircraft, that reduces the effects of travelling over rough ground or helps it to land more smoothly
（尤指汽车或飞机上的）减震器 (Cambridge)
Institutions like the UN, World Trade Organization, and World Health Organization (WHO) are not a panacea for world ills. But they can provide useful, if limited, signals ahead of trouble and serve as shock absorbers for international disagreements. (The National Interest)
in tandem
1) at the same time
同时
The heart and lungs will be transplanted in tandem. 将同时移植心脏和双肺。
If two pieces of equipment, people, etc. are working in tandem, they are 2) 2) working together, especially well or closely.
协同地，联合地
I want these two groups to work/operate in tandem on this project. 我希望这两个小组联合做这个项目。(Cambridge)
As Henry Kissinger has eloquently expressed in the Wall Street Journal, “No country, not even the U.S., can in a purely national effort overcome the virus. Addressing the necessities of the moment must ultimately be coupled with a global collaborative vision and program. If we cannot do both in tandem, we will face the worst of each.” (The National Interest)
in passing
If something is said in passing, it is said while talking about something else and is not the main subject of a conversation.
顺便，附带地
When asked if he had told the police about the incident, Mr Banks said he had mentioned it in passing to a detective. 被问及是否已将此告诉了警察时，班克斯先生说他曾向一位侦探顺便提过。(Cambridge)
The 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the Intelligence Community, issued by President Donald Trump’s own Director of National Intelligence, warned “that the United States and the world will remain vulnerable to the next flu pandemic or large-scale outbreak of a contagious disease that could lead to massive rates of death and disability, severely affect the world economy, strain international resources, and increase calls on the United States for support.” However, none of these warnings developed any real political momentum in the United States or elsewhere. Instead, they were simply registered and discussed in passing. (The National Interest)
crowd sb/sth out
— phrasal verb with crowd verb [ T ] informal
to not allow a person or thing any space or opportunity to grow or develop
把…挤出；排挤；阻碍
Small local businesses have been crowded out by large multinationals. 当地的小公司已被大跨国公司排挤出局 (Cambridge)
Domestic problems also crowded out any space for action on this issue. Contrary to what George H.W. Bush said about America becoming a kinder, gentler nation, what we need is for it to become tougher and more focused. (The National Interest)
parochial
parochial adjective (LIMITED) disapproving /pəˈroʊ.ki.əl/
showing interest only in a narrow range of matters, especially those that directly affect yourself, your town, or your country
偏狭的，（尤指）地方观念的
a parochial view/opinion 狭隘的观点
Although it’s just a local paper, it somehow manages not to be too parochial in its outlook. 尽管这只不过是份地方性报纸，却设法避免了自己的观点过于狭隘。（Cambridge）
The irony was that in cavalierly treating these nations as adversaries, America made it difficult to work with them in international institutions to create a new and stable global framework. America became preoccupied with parochial pursuits at the expense of the issues which are truly essential for American prosperity and security. (The National Interest)
inimical
adjective formal /ɪˈnɪm.ɪ.kəl/
harmful or limiting
有害的；不利的；限制性的
Excessive managerial control is inimical to creative expression. 过度的管制不利于表现创造力。(Cambridge)
It was in this climate that existential global threats such as the current pandemic were left unaddressed in favor of the unilateral pursuit of short-term objectives and outright posturing, often producing results that proved inimical to America’s national interest. (The National Interest)
caprice
noun [ C or U ] /kəˈpriːs/
(the quality of often having) a sudden and usually silly wish to have or do something, or a sudden and silly change of mind or behaviour
异想天开；反复无常；突发奇想
The $300 million palace was built to satisfy the caprice of one man. 用3亿美元建这座宫殿就是为了满足一个人的心血来潮。(Cambridge)
As George Washington presciently asked in his farewell address, “Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor or caprice?” (The National Interest)
bereft
adjective [ after verb ] formal /bɪˈreft/
not having something or feeling great loss
缺乏…的；感到失落的
Alone now and almost penniless, he was bereft of hope. 他现在孤身一人，又几乎不名一文，对生活已不抱一丝希望。
After the last of their children had left home the couple felt utterly bereft. 最后一个孩子离家之后，这对夫妇感到一无所有了。（Cambridge）
As a candidate, Trump correctly identified the fundamental deficiencies of America’s European alliances, which are based on pretenses of moral superiority and are bereft of a strategic vision. (The National Interest)