Wordly Wise Lesson 8 Word List

congested

adj. filled with fluid "My sinuses get congested when the pollen count is high."

throng

n. a large number of people gathered together; a crowd "A throng of supporters cheered the president's arrival in Seattle."

smolder

v. to burn slowly without bursting into flame "Hot ashes smolder long after the flames have died down."

inevitable

adj. bound to happen, unavoidable "A certain amount of wear on even the best tires is inevitable with normal use."

negligent

adj. failing to take proper care of or to give proper attention to "You were negligent in failing to lock the car doors."

lax

adj. not strictly enforced; undemanding; careless "Frequent inspections are designed to ensure that airline safety procedures have not become lax."

lax

adj. not tight; loose "When I felt the rope go lax, I knew that my partner had dropped the other end."

congested

adj. overcrowded, filled too full "We take the subway during rush hour to avoid the congested city streets."

acrid

adj. sharp, irritating, or bitter to the sense of taste or smell "Burning rubber gives off acrid fumes."

stringent

adj. strict; severe "The stringent rules state that no exceptions can be made."

irate

adj. very angry, furious "Irate citizens demanded that the chemical company stop polluting the lake."

headlong

adj. with great speed or force; reckless "The crowd made a headlong rush for the best seats as soon as the doors were opened."

headlong

adv. recklessly; without time for careful thought "Its foolish to rush headlong into a dispute that doesn't concern you."

casualty

n. a person killed or injured in a war or accident "There were many casualties of the 2005 tsunami, or tidal wave, that struck South Asia."

impediment

n. an obstacle, something that gets in the way "Poor roads are an impediment to travel."

initiation

n. the act of beginning "The initiation of the new traffic plan has been delayed until the road is repaired."

initiation

n. the ceremony or process that makes one a member "A celebration followed the initiation of new members into the San Francisco Film Society."

congestion

n. the condition of being filled with fluid "Most cold remedies claim to relieve congestion for at least eight hours."

congestion

n. the condition of being overcrowded "The congestion inside the furniture store is due to the 'Going Out of Business' sale."

negligence

n. the quality, state, or act of being negligent "When I went on vacation, my houseplants died because of my roommate's negligence."

smolder

v. to exist in a hidden state before bursting into the open "A desire for freedom smoldered in the hearts of the people who left Cuba for Miami."

throng

v. to gather or move in large numbers "Fans thronged into the ballpark for the first game in the World Series."

impede

v. to get in the way of; to interfere with the movement of "An overturned truck impeded the flow of traffic."

cope

v. to manage problems or difficulties successfully "Extra police were on duty to cope with the large crowds expected for the parade."

hurtle

v. to move with great force and speed "A snowball hurtled past my ear."

initiate

v. to put into effect; to bring into use "The school initiated a new dress code on September 6."

initiate

v. to take in as a member "The National Honor Society initiated thirty new members last evening."