| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| arrant |
complete; unmitigated; downright. |
| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| contumely |
contemptuous insolence; rudeness. |
| decedent |
in law, one who has died. |
| disencumber |
to remove burdens or hindrances from. |
| euphoria |
a strong feeling of well-being or elation, sometimes unrealistic or unwarranted, and able to be induced by certain drugs. |
| humanism |
a doctrine or mode of thought that gives highest importance to human dignity, values, potentials, and achievements. |
| idiosyncrasy |
a characteristic of temperament, habit, or physical structure particular to a given individual or group; peculiarity. |
| lien |
a legal claim on a piece of property when the current owner is in default on a debt or obligation. |
| louche |
of questionable decency, morality, or taste; shady; disreputable. |
| malaise |
a state or condition of feeling generally unwell, mentally depressed, sluggish, or uneasy. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| parvenu |
a person who has suddenly acquired wealth or status, without acquiring the tastes, manners, customs, or the like of his or her new station. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |