| basis |
something that supports and is needed by all the other parts; starting point or foundation. |
| blackmail |
money demanded from someone by another person who threatens to give out information that would harm that person. |
| challenge |
to invite to enter into a fight or contest of skill; dare. |
| curse |
a statement of a wish that something bad will happen to someone or something. |
| exploration |
the act of investigating or examining. |
| faint |
weak or slight. |
| guffaw |
a burst of loud or boisterous laughter. |
| insurance |
a protection against certain accidents that is provided by a company in return for payment of a fee. |
| local |
having to do with a particular place such as a neighborhood or town. |
| pneumonia |
a serious disease in which the lungs become swollen and painful and fill with liquid. Pneumonia is caused by viruses or bacteria. |
| postpone |
to put off until later. |
| skim |
to remove from the surface of a liquid, or to clear the surface of by removing fat or other floating matter. |
| slop |
to cause to spill or splash. |
| span |
the stretch or reach between two points. |
| worthy |
deserving (often followed by "of"). |