omerta (o-MER-tah) noun

   Secrecy sworn to by oath; code of silence.

[Italian.]

   "Roth wrote that Congress should take further steps to make sure IRS
   employees aren't held to a mafia-like omerta, code of silence, so they
   can `share information necessary for appropriate oversight and reform.'"
   Senator: IRS targeting whistle-blowers, Las Vegas Review - Journal,
   Mar 23, 1999.

This week's theme: words from the Italian language.

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In order to form an immaculate member of a flock of sheep one must, above
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Pronunciation:
http://wordsmith.org/words/omerta.wav
http://wordsmith.org/words/omerta.ram