| aggregate |
a sum, combination, or composite of separable elements. |
| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| cantankerous |
irritable, stubborn, and quarrelsome. |
| consummate |
of the highest order or degree. |
| deposition |
a sworn statement, usually in writing, for use as testimony by an absent witness in a court of law. |
| discountenance |
to embarrass or disconcert. |
| erratic |
not expected or predicted; not regular. |
| fracas |
a noisy disturbance or quarrel. |
| gadfly |
a persistent critic, especially of established institutions and policies. |
| indurate |
to make hard in texture; harden. |
| inveigle |
to entice or ensnare by clever talk or flattery. |
| kismet |
destiny, fortune, or fate. |
| oblivious |
not conscious or paying attention; unknowing or unaware (usually followed by "to" or "of"). |
| topography |
the shape of the earth's surface across an area or region. The topography of an area includes the size and location of hills and dips in the land. |
| veneration |
a feeling of great respect; awe; reverence. |