New_learner  +  121685 Wed, 27 Jul 05 03:49 AM 1. lapsed I have no idea what "lapsed" mean in the following: lapsed smoker lapsed hypertensive lapsed Catholic .... Can anyone help? Thanks New_learner Joined on Wed, Jul 27 2005 New Member 02

	Clive  +  121693 Wed, 27 Jul 05 05:51 AM Hi, 'Lapsed' describes a person who used to have a belief, usually religious or philosophical, but has now given it up. A good example is a lapsed Catholic. This means someone who was a Catholic but no longer believes in or follows his religion. It sounds a little odd to say a lapsed smoker because smoking is not really a matter of belief. hypertensive is an adjective describing a person with high blood pressure or emotional tension, so again, lapsed does not sound right with this. Best wishes, Clive   Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,630 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	New_learner  +  121813 Wed, 27 Jul 05 02:58 PM Clive, thanks for the explanation about lapsed Catholic. Hypertensive is also a noun (dictionaries). ".....nurses .... to carry out home visits on lapsed hypertensives....." (a textbook I am reading at the moment)   New_learner Nouns