Gene Weingarton - Fatal Distraction: Forgetting a Child in the Backseat of a Car Is a Horrifying Mistake. Is It a Crime?

1)The room was a sepulcher
sep·ul·cher (spl-kr)
n.
1. A burial vault.
2. A receptacle for sacred relics, especially in an altar.

2)He was virtually catatonic,
cat·a·to·ni·a (kt-tn-)
n.
An abnormal condition variously characterized by stupor, stereotypy, mania, and either rigidity or extreme flexibility of the limbs. It is most often associated with schizophrenia

3)the worst day so far in the worst year so far in a phenomenon that gives no sign of abating.
a·bate (-bt)
v. a·bat·ed, a·bat·ing, a·bates
v.tr.
1. To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity; lessen. See Synonyms at decrease.
2. To deduct from an amount; subtract.
3. Law
a. To put an end to.
b. To make void.
v.intr.
1. To fall off in degree or intensity; subside.
2. Law To become void.

4)Each instance has its own macabre signature.
ma·ca·bre (m-käbr, m-käb, -käbr)
adj.
1. Suggesting the horror of death and decay; gruesome: macabre tales of war and plague in the Middle Ages. See Synonyms at ghastly.
2. Constituting or including a representation of death.

5)as he discovered his son's body, a calliope tootled merrily beside him
The Muse of epic poetry.
A musical instrument fitted with steam whistles, played from a keyboard

6)public servant is trying to do his best with a Solomonic dilemma.
The Judgment of Solomon is a metaphorical expression referring to a wise judge who uses a stratagem to determine the truth, tricking the parties into revealing their true feelings. Specifically, the judge pretends that he will destroy the subject matter of a dispute, rather than allowing either disputing party to win at the expense of the other.



7)painfully austere beginnings.
aus·tere   /ɔˈstɪər/ Show Spelled[aw-steer] Show IPA
–adjective
1. severe in manner or appearance; uncompromising; strict; forbidding: an austere teacher.
2. rigorously self-disciplined and severely moral; ascetic; abstinent: the austere quality of life in the convent.
3. grave; sober; solemn; serious: an austere manner.
4. without excess, luxury, or ease; simple; limited; severe: an austere life.
5. severely simple; without ornament: austere writing.
6. lacking softness; hard: an austere bed of straw.
7. rough to the taste; sour or harsh in flavor.


8)There is an almost pugnacious matter-of-factness about Lyn Balfour that can seem disconcerting

dis·con·cert   /ˌdɪskənˈsɜrt/ Show Spelled[dis-kuhn-surt] Show IPA
–verb (used with object)
1.to disturb the self-possession of; perturb; ruffle: Her angry reply disconcerted me completely.
2.to throw into disorder or confusion; disarrange: He changed his mind and disconcerted everybody's plans.


pug·na·cious   /pʌgˈneɪʃəs/ Show Spelled[puhg-ney-shuhs] Show IPA
–adjective
inclined to quarrel or fight readily; quarrelsome; belligerent; combative.


9)In one particularly egregious instance, a mother used her locked car as an inexpensive substitute for day care
e·gre·gious   /ɪˈgridʒəs, -dʒiəs/ Show Spelled[ih-gree-juhs, -jee-uhs] Show IPA
–adjective
1.extraordinary in some bad way; glaring; flagrant: an egregious mistake; an egregious liar.
2.Archaic. distinguished or eminent

10)second-degree murder was a preposterous charge in a case lacking even the faintest whisper of intent
pre·pos·ter·ous   /prɪˈpɒstərəs, -trəs/ Show Spelled[pri-pos-ter-uhs, -truhs] Show IPA
–adjective
completely contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd; senseless; utterly foolish: a preposterous tale.

11) It helps her survive, but it can seem off-putting
off-put·ting   /ˈɔfˌpʊtɪŋ, ˈɒf-/ Show Spelled[awf-poot-ing, of-] Show IPA
–adjective
provoking uneasiness, dislike, annoyance, or repugnance; disturbing or disagreeable

12)Humans, Hickling said, have a fundamental need to create and maintain a narrative for their lives in which the universe is not implacable and heartless,
im·plac·a·ble   /ɪmˈplækəbəl, -ˈpleɪkə-/ Show Spelled[im-plak-uh-buhl, -pley-kuh-] Show IPA
–adjective
not to be appeased, mollified, or pacified; inexorable: an implacable enemy.


13)Balfour's laywers petitioned the court to get the record of her prosecution expunged
ex·punge   /ɪkˈspʌndʒ/ Show Spelled[ik-spuhnj] Show IPA
–verb (used with object),-punged, -pung·ing.
1.to strike or blot out; erase; obliterate.
2.to efface; wipe out or destroy.


14)Just before the tragedy, she had two dreams that seem to her, in retrospect, like foreboding

   /ˈrɛtrəˌspɛkt/ Show Spelled[re-truh-spekt] Show IPA
–noun
1.contemplation of the past; a survey of past time, events, etc.
–verb (used without object)
2.to look back in thought; refer back (often fol. by to): to retrospect to a period in one's youth.
–verb (used with object)
3.to look back upon; contemplate retrospectively.
—Idiom
4.in retrospect, in looking back on past events; upon reflection: It was, in retrospect, the happiest day of her life.

fore·bod·ing   /fɔrˈboʊdɪŋ, foʊr-/ Show Spelled[fawr-boh-ding, fohr-] Show IPA
–noun
1.a prediction; portent.
2.a strong inner feeling or notion of a future misfortune, evil, etc.; presentiment.