-/* waits required interval for termination signal
- * returns 1 if received,
- * 0 otherwise */
-int timed_thread_test(timed_thread *p_timed_thread);
+/* waits required interval (unless override_wait_time is non-zero) for
+ * termination signal returns 1 if received, 0 otherwise. should also return 1
+ * if the thread has been asked kindly to die. */
+int timed_thread_test(timed_thread *p_timed_thread, int override_wait_time);