Page 145 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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Essential Vocabulary
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inflammatory (in FLAM uh TAW ree) adj. 1. causing or likely to cause anger,
excitement, violence, etc.; 2. of or characterized by redness as a reaction by the
body to some irritant
• The revolutionary’s speech was inflammatory and was calculated to incite
the crowd to action.
• Poison ivy is inflammatory to the skin of anyone who is allergic to it.
[inflammatorily adv.]
influence (IN floo INS) n. 1. the ability of a person(s) or thing(s) to affect oth-
ers as evidenced by the effect; 2. the power of persons of wealth or high status to
cause immediate change —vt. to effect the behavior, development, nature, etc. of
others
• Harold’s influence was evident in Marcy’s choice of chocolate layer cake.
• Billionaire Vilo Kvetch used his influence to get a No Parking sign installed
in front of his Park Avenue mansion.
• It is easy to see sunlight influence the direction in which day lilies face as
they follow it across the sky.
[-d, influencing] [Syn. power]
information (IN foer MAY shin) n. 1. a telling of or being told something; 2.
something learned; news; intelligence; 3. facts; data; lore
• Iris just got the latest information from the travel agent.
• The more information you have on a subject, the easier it is to make an
intelligent choice.
• Telephone information can be obtained (for a fee) by dialing one of several
sources.
inhibit* (in HIB it) vt. 1. to restrain or hold back from some action; 2. to keep
back; keep in check
• Smoking cigarettes tends to inhibit one’s ability to participate in strenuous
sports.
• Fear of needles inhibits many people from volunteering to donate blood.
[-ed, -ing, -ion n.] [Syn. restrain, retard]
innocuous (in AHK yoo is) adj. 1. that does no harm or injury; harmless; 2. not
controversial or oppressive; innocent; uninspiring and dull
• The butterfly is an innocuous insect that hurts neither plant nor animal.
• The president’s speech was innocuous, treading on nobody’s toes and gener-
ally boring the audience to sleep.