Superfund

/ˈsupərfʌnd/ noun

Definition

A US federal program for cleaning up hazardous waste sites, or the fund that finances such cleanup.

Etymology

Compound of 'super-' (Latin prefix meaning 'above, beyond') and 'fund' (Latin fundus 'bottom, foundation'). Created in 1980 with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).

Kelly Says

Superfund represents how environmental consciousness creates new compound words - combining the Latin 'beyond' with 'foundation' to suggest resources that go beyond normal cleanup capabilities. The name itself suggests the extraordinary nature of industrial pollution problems.

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