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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. measles
    a contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots
    Olivia, my eldest daughter, caught measles when she was seven years old.
  2. unconscious
    lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception
    In an hour, she was unconscious.
  3. tragedy
    an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
    On the other hand, there is today something that parents can do to make sure that this sort of tragedy does not happen to a child of theirs.
  4. reliable
    worthy of being depended on
    I was unable to do that for Olivia in 1962 because in those days a reliable measles vaccine had not been discovered.
  5. vaccine
    injection of weakened or dead microbes to create antibodies
    I was unable to do that for Olivia in 1962 because in those days a reliable measles vaccine had not been discovered.
  6. compulsory
    required by rule
    In America, where measles immunisation is compulsory, measles like smallpox, has been virtually wiped out.
  7. virtually
    in essence or in effect but not in fact
    In America, where measles immunisation is compulsory, measles like smallpox, has been virtually wiped out.
  8. wipe out
    eliminate completely and without a trace
    In America, where measles immunisation is compulsory, measles like smallpox, has been virtually wiped out.
  9. obstinacy
    resolute adherence to your own ideas or desires
    Here in Britain, because so many parents refuse, either out of obstinacy or ignorance or fear, to allow their children to be immunised, we still have a hundred thousand cases of measles every year.
  10. ignorance
    the lack of knowledge or education
    Here in Britain, because so many parents refuse, either out of obstinacy or ignorance or fear, to allow their children to be immunised, we still have a hundred thousand cases of measles every year.
  11. infection
    the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms
    At least 10,000 will develop ear or chest infections.
  12. incidentally
    by the way (used to introduce a new topic)
    Incidentally, I dedicated two of my books to Olivia, the first was James and the Giant Peach.
Created on Sun Jan 12 20:10:10 EST 2020 (updated Sun Jan 12 20:11:46 EST 2020)

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