Ten Words Many Politicians and Reporters Hope You Do Not Understand

Fact: 2 a thing that has actually happened or that is really true; thing that has been or is 3 the state of things as they are; reality; actuality; truth [fact as distinct from fancy]

Theory: 3 a systematic statement of principles involved [the theory of equations in mathematics] 4 a formulation of apparent relationships or underlying principles of certain observed phenomena which has been verified to some degree

Opinion: 1 a belief not based on absolute certainty or positive knowledge but on what seems true, valid, or probable to one's own mind; judgment 2 an evaluation, impression, or estimation of the quality or worth of a person or thing

Source: 3 a) any person, place, or thing by which something is supplied [a source of pleasure] b) a person, book, document, etc. that provides information [to consult various sources ]

Hearsay: something one has heard but does not know to be true; rumor; gossip

True: 2 reliable; certain [a true indication] 3 in accordance with fact; that agrees with reality; not false 4 a) conforming to an original, pattern, rule, standard, etc. b) exact; accurate; right; correct 7 a) real; genuine; authentic [a true diamond] b) conforming to the ideal character or having all the basic characteristics of such; rightly so called [a true scholar]

False: 1 not true; in error; incorrect; mistaken [a false argument] 2 untruthful; lying; dishonest [a false witness] 4 deceiving or meant to deceive; misleading [a false scent] 5 not real; artificial; counterfeit [false teeth] 6 not properly so named; deceptively resembling [false jasmine] 7 based on wrong or mistaken ideas [false pride]

Mislead: 1 to lead in a wrong direction; lead astray 2 to lead into error (of judgment); deceive or delude 3 to lead into wrongdoing; influence badly

Reason: 1 an explanation or justification of an act, idea, etc. 2 a cause or motive 3 the ability to think, form judgments, draw conclusions, etc. 4 sound thought or judgment; good sense 5 normal mental powers; a sound mind; sanity

Logic: 1 the science of correct reasoning; science which describes relationships among propositions in terms of implication, contradiction, contrariety, conversion, etc.: see also SYMBOLIC LOGIC 3 correct reasoning; valid induction or deduction [the lack of logic in his scheme] 5 the system of principles underlying any art or science 6 necessary connection or outcome, as through the working of cause and effect [the logic of events]

�Webster's New World Dictionary, 3rd College Edition, 1994.� Compton's Reference Collection on CD, 1996.

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