Their reckless issuance of AAA ratings in combination with their quasi official status fueled the permissive atmosphere that led to an explosion in the issuance of worthless mortgage backed securities - perhaps the most immediate single cause of our financial system meltdown.
This acquired quasi-religious status after his emergence unscathed from a plane crash in 1974.
A promenade of heroes confers quasi-military status on uniformed personnel.
And Auden's stanzas in particular quickly took on a quasi-scriptural status.
Such is Mandela's quasi-religious status that questions on the subject are almost taboo.
President Sarkozy was referring to his quasi-official status as Liberator of Libya.
The iron masters became revered craftsmen and were accorded a quasi-religious status.
Alison Steadman, Mr. Leigh's wife at the time, acquired quasi-legendary status in that role.
Though almost wholly owned by its customers, Grameen has a special, quasi-public status.
Balthus in Rome had quasi-ambassadorial status and lived in a great palazzo whose garden Velázquez had painted.
Its anomalous, quasi-colonial status has played havoc with Puerto Ricans' social stability, economic fate and national identity.
