Thursday December 15, 2005
Terminal, terminus, terminate
IN response to Penangite (Dec 9), I would like to point out that there are three terms important to understand when it comes to describing the beginning and end of a bus, train, or boat service.
They are:
1. terminal (n);
2. terminus (n);
3. terminate (v).
“Terminal” is a large building or a set of buildings where train, bus, or boat services start or finish. “Terminus” (plural: termini/terminuses) refers specifically to the last station where the services end. “Terminate” refers to the action of ending the services.
Therefore, when it comes to the KLIA Express train service, it is correct to say “the train will terminate here” if the announcement refers to either the KLIA Station or KL Sentral Station as each of these two stations is the terminus for the service.
It is not correct to say “terminate”, though, if it refers to Putrajaya or Salak Selatan Station as each of these two is not the end point of the service but merely a stopover. – Mahid bin Masseluang, Labuan
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