Tuesday 3 December 2013

Lacerated...and then Recused!

Two words that occupied prime-time news on TV and front-page articles in newspapers last fortnight albeit for controversial reasons. They were: Lacerate and Recuse. Not many may have used these expressions in their day to day communication. Of course now the entire English-speaking population of the country would be familiar with the words. Here's what they mean:
Recuse is often used in judiciary where a judge or a magistrate withdrawing from her or his position of adjudicating in a matter in order to avoid bias is said to have 'recused' herself or himself from the case. Someone challenging the judge leading to her/his disqualification on account of conflict of interest is also referred to as an act of recusation.
Lacerate means to tear something roughly or deeply cut into the skin. It also stands for emotional or mental torture.