lifeline: line thrown from a vessel that people can cling to in order to save themselves from drowning
entity: that which is perceived or known or inferred to have its own distinct existence (living or nonliving)
charcot-marie-tooth disease: a form of neuropathy that can begin between childhood and young adulthood; characterized by weakness and atrophy of the muscles of the hands and lower legs; progression is slow and individuals affected can have a normal life span; inheritance is X-linked recessive or X-linked dominant