Lesson 16 Vocabulary

Infamous

• Having a bad reputation; notorious; famous for bad things.

Jack the Ripper is only well known because of his infamous deeds.

O.J. Simpson is better known for his infamous court case than his football career.

Infest

• To spread or swarm in or over; to live in or on as a parasite.

There was a infestation of sharks in the swamp water.

Mosquitos seem to infest our town during summer months.

Inflammation• Bodily response to injury; redness, heat and

painfulness as a result of an injury.

The doctor to the athlete to take ibuprofen to deal with the inflammation in his knee.

My elbow is inflamed due to the injury.

Influential

• Having or exerting influence; powerful; having effect

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remains highly influential years after his death.

The SGA President is one of the most influential students in the school.

Initiative

• The first step or movement toward something; ability to think or act without urging.

She wanted better grades, so she took the initiative to stay for tutoring.

I admired him very much for having such initiative; he completed the task before being asked.

Instigate

• To urge on, to stir up; to provoke

The girl tried to instigate an argument between the two friends.

ESPN instigated a controversy after the footballs were found to be deflated.

Intact

• Whole, with no part missing, untouched, undamaged.

After the strong storm surge, the dock on the ocean managed to stay intact.

The dinosaur skeleton was found intact, despite centuries of being buried.

Intensive

• Marked by special effort; dedicated; highly concentrated.

Pre-med students take intensive courses even before medical school.

Intensive therapy is often prescribed for serious injuries.

Intervention

• An act of coming between in order to stop, settle, or change; interference

The family planned an intervention to keep the young man from continuing to make bad decisions.

Intervention is held during the school day in order to keep students from having bad grades.

Intimate

• Characterizing one’s deepest nature; very close association; very personal; a close friend.

The couple had an intimate dinner on their private patio.

She was a very intimate friend, I told her all my secrets.