Difference between revisions of "Veto"
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While the word '''veto''', whether a [[noun]] or a [[verb]], is most commonly found in political or legal contexts, it is sometimes used outside these contexts, often rather jocularly, to describe one person’s forbidding another from taking a particular course of action, as in ‘His parents '''vetoed''' John’s plan to keep a pet tarantula in his bedroom’ or ‘William’s wife has issued a '''veto''' against his riding a motorcycle: it’s too dangerous at his age, she says’. | While the word '''veto''', whether a [[noun]] or a [[verb]], is most commonly found in political or legal contexts, it is sometimes used outside these contexts, often rather jocularly, to describe one person’s forbidding another from taking a particular course of action, as in ‘His parents '''vetoed''' John’s plan to keep a pet tarantula in his bedroom’ or ‘William’s wife has issued a '''veto''' against his riding a motorcycle: it’s too dangerous at his age, she says’. | ||
| − | The English word '''veto''', which is pronounced with the first [[syllable]] as a long ‘ee’ sound {{IPA|vi: təʊ}}, is (a descendant of) the [[Latin]], ''veto'', meaning ‘I forbid’, though the first [[syllable]] of this latter has a short ‘e’ sound, {{IPA| ɛ}}. | + | The English word '''veto''', which is pronounced with the first [[syllable]] as a [[long vowel - short vowel|long ‘ee’ sound]] {{IPA|vi: təʊ}}, is (a descendant of) the [[Latin]], ''veto'', meaning ‘I forbid’, though the first [[syllable]] of this latter has a short ‘e’ sound, {{IPA| ɛ}}. |
For a little about the use of the '''veto''' in ancient Rome see [[Tribune]]. | For a little about the use of the '''veto''' in ancient Rome see [[Tribune]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 12:48, 1 April 2020
A veto is the power to prohibit, restrain, or restrict: it is typically exercised by an official, official body, or institution to prevent or put obstacles in the way of another official, official body, or institution acting in a particular way. For example, under Article 27 of the United Nations Charter, each of the five permanent members of the Security Council (viz., the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France) has a veto, i.e., the power to block or invalidate any of the Council’s decisions (apart from those on procedural matters).
The noun veto is also used to mean ‘the exercise of a veto’, as in ‘Yesterday’s veto in the Security Council by the United States was criticised by the Secretary General’. And there is a verb, ‘to veto’, meaning ‘to exercise a veto’, as in ‘The United States vetoed the Russian proposal’.
While the word veto, whether a noun or a verb, is most commonly found in political or legal contexts, it is sometimes used outside these contexts, often rather jocularly, to describe one person’s forbidding another from taking a particular course of action, as in ‘His parents vetoed John’s plan to keep a pet tarantula in his bedroom’ or ‘William’s wife has issued a veto against his riding a motorcycle: it’s too dangerous at his age, she says’.
The English word veto, which is pronounced with the first syllable as a long ‘ee’ sound IPA: /vi: təʊ/, is (a descendant of) the Latin, veto, meaning ‘I forbid’, though the first syllable of this latter has a short ‘e’ sound, IPA: / ɛ/.
For a little about the use of the veto in ancient Rome see Tribune.
