Context Clues

Front

Definition of 'deteriorate' in context: Days later, people would ask why climbers on the upper mountain did not heed the signs as the weather began to deteriorate.

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worsen

Front

Definition of 'innocuous' in context: clouds looked innocuous, wispy, insubstantial.

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harmless

Front

Definition of 'notorious' in context: 'I arrived at the notorious Hillary Step...a spot that does require a fair amount of technical maneuvering.'

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widely known

Front

Definition of 'benign' based on context: mist wrapping at Everest's summit.

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harmless

Front

Definition of 'apex' in context: my compadres were dallying, memorializing their arrival at the apex of the planet with photos and high-five.

Back

summit

Front

Definition of 'crucial' in context: Weathers' decision to wait for Groom was a crucial one.

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extremely important

Front

Definition of 'speculate' in context: Hall talked Hansen into returning to Everest, suggesting he wouldn't deny him the chance to summit.

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guess

Front

Definition of 'traverse' in context: Hall and Hansen took over 12 hours to traverse a ridge usually crossed in half an hour.

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cross

Front

Definition of 'jeopardize':

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endanger

Front

Definition of 'tenuous' in context: I sat in the snow, trying to get a grip on what had happened.

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flimsy