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A.Word.A.Day--stalemate

Pronunciation RealAudio

stalemate (STAYL-mayt) noun

1. A position where no other pieces can move and king cannot move without going into check.

2. A deadlocked situation.

verb tr.

To bring into a stalemate.

[From Middle English, from Anglo-Norman estale (a fixed position) + -mate.]

"`We can again resort to lobbying in case we fail to avoid a stalemate,' Latief said." Wiranto Elected Chairman of Team to Elect President, The Jakarta Post (Indonesia), Oct 28, 1997.

This week's theme: words from chess.

X-Bonus

Inside my empty bottle I was constructing a lighthouse while all the others were making ships. -Charles Simic

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