Webster Essential Vocabulary

L

lame(LAYM) adj.1. disabled or crippled, especially in one or both legs;

2. stiff and painful; 3. weak; unconvincing; ineffectual
   
   
   • When Lucy fell off the horse and hurt her leg, there was a danger that she
     might be lamefor life.
   
   
   • While running the bases, Sebbie came up lameand had to limp off the
     field.
   
   
   • “The dog ate my homework” is universally recognized as a very lame
     excuse.
     [lamer, lamest, lamely adv.]
     languid (LANG wid) adj.1. lacking vitality; drooping; weak; 2. lacking interest;
   
   
   
   


3. indifferent; sluggish
   
   
   • After his bout with mononucleosis, Jim was languidfor a number of weeks.
   
   
   • Ian’s interest in mathematics is lacking and can best be described as
     languid.
   
   
   • Kathy was unprepared for her trip to Quebec because of her languid
     attempts to learn enough French.
     [languidly adv., languidness n.]
     latent (LAY tint) adj.hidden; present but not visible; inactive —n. a fingerprint
     left at a crime scene
   
   
   • Brown-eyed Jose carries a latentblue eye color gene.
   
   
   • Ali has a latentdesire to dress like a fireman.
     [-ly adv.,latency n.] [Syn. potential, quiescent]
     lavish(LA vish) adj.1. very generous in spending or giving; 2. more than
     enough; abundant —vt.to give or spend abundantly on
   
   
   
   

•A lavishamount of green paint was used to cover the brown front lawn.

• Jim’s friend Shaila was lavishin her gifts to him.


• All the wedding guests lavishedattention on the new bride.
  [-ed, -ing, -ly adv.,-ness n.] [Syn. profuse]
  legislation(LEJ is LAY shin) n.1. the act or process of making a law; 2. the law
  itself


• Congress is currently considering legislationto require all citizens to keep
  physically fit.


• The process of legislationusually takes a fairly lengthy amount of time.


• There is no legislationrequiring that all children be fed ice cream for
  dessert, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea.
  legislator(LEJ is LAY tir) n.one who makes laws; a member of a legislative
  body, such as an assemblyman, a congressman, or a senator


• Legislatorsare elected for a specific length of time.


• A U.S. senator has the longest term of any American legislator,namely 6
  years.
  [Syn. lawmaker]

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