Word of the Day — August 30, 2011

Pre-emptively — PREE-EMP-tive-ly — serving or intended to preempt or forestall something stark — STARK — grim, godforsaken, bleak, unmitigated

Example: "According to a N.Y. Times article, "Hurricane Irene is likely to be remembered by New Yorkers more for what did not happen than for what did: Window in skyscrapers did not shatter. Subway tunnels did not flood. Power was not shut off pre-emptively. And the rivers flanking Manhattan did not overrun their banks. However, across the river, in New Jersey, the storm's wrath was grim.'"