| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| coir |
the fiber made from coconut husks, used for matting, rope, or the like. |
| conduction |
the transmission or transfer, as of heat, electrical charges, or nervous impulses, through a medium. |
| contumely |
contemptuous insolence; rudeness. |
| dearth |
a shortage or scarcity of something; lack. |
| declivity |
a downward or descending slope. |
| devolve |
of a duty or the like, to be passed on to someone else. |
| guru |
in a cult or religious movement, a spiritual guide or leader, sometimes believed to be divine. |
| immiscible |
not able to be mixed or blended. |
| lanugo |
fine, soft hair, especially that with which a human fetus or newborn is covered. |
| misfeasance |
a normally lawful act performed in an unlawful way. |
| obtrude |
to thrust or force (oneself, one's concerns, or one's opinions) on another or others without being asked. |
| phlegmatic |
not given to shows of emotion or interest; slow to excite. |
| requite |
to retaliate for; strike back on account of. |
| shunt |
to turn or move aside or out of the way; divert. |