| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| baneful |
causing or leading to death, destruction, or ruin; harmful or deadly. |
| blatant |
completely obvious or undisguised, sometimes offensively so. |
| cantankerous |
irritable, stubborn, and quarrelsome. |
| conversant |
familiar; acquainted; practiced (usually followed by "with" or "in"). |
| derelict |
failing to fulfill one's responsibilities or obligations; remiss. |
| engender |
to create or give rise to. |
| lachrymose |
weeping, tending to weep readily, or being on the point of tears; tearful. |
| lanugo |
fine, soft hair, especially that with which a human fetus or newborn is covered. |
| lattice |
a flat framework made with strips of wood or other material. The strips cross each other and have open spaces in between. A lattice is often used as a screen on a porch or in a garden. |
| magnum opus |
a great work of art, literature, or music, especially a particular person's masterpiece. |
| neologism |
a new word, phrase, or usage. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| somatic |
of or pertaining to the body itself; corporeal. |
| tummler |
an entertainer or social director who encourages participation by guests or audience. |