| Term | Definition |
| accelerate | (v.) to speed up, cause to move faster; to bring about more quickly |
| bystander | (n.) one who looks on or observes, a person present but not taking part |
| casual | (adj.) happening by chance or on an irregular basis; showing little concern; informal |
| downtrodden | (adj.) treated unfairly and cruelly, oppressed |
| erode | (v.) to wear away gradually, eat away |
| flounder | (v.) to thrash about in a clumsy or ineffective way |
| graphic | (adj.) lifelike, vivid; relating to the pictorial arts |
| gruesome | (adj.) horrible, revolting, ghastly |
| persist | (v.) to continue steadily in a course of action, refuse to stop or be changed; to last, remain |
| puny | (adj.) of less than normal strength and size; of no importance |