None of the Knicks who spoke today voiced a discouraging word about Sprewell.

And we certainly are not allowed to say a discouraging word about the birth of Iowa's "magnificent seven."

For a time, balagan was the most discouraging word in my vocabulary.

He met on Friday with a delegation from the Democratic Movement and reportedly had no discouraging words.

That is one reason Posada, who never uttered a discouraging word while accepting his reserve role last year, is emphasizing his intention to be the new starter.

There certainly had been no "discouraging words" that day.

To their rival trainers and jockeys, the names Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez have been the most discouraging words at Saratoga Race Course this summer.

But Sterling is not put off by her discouraging words - or the deliberate languor, verging on sullenness, with which she waits on customers.

"Marilyn--" "I've met him," Crouder announced before Bolan could frame a discouraging word.

The stock market tech bubble burst last spring, well before he muttered a discouraging word, and it's hard to see how his and Mr. Cheney's poor-mouthing have hurt the economy since.