| antecedent |
an event, circumstance, or thing coming before another. |
| detractor |
one who criticizes or disparages an idea, cause, or person to undermine support or popularity. |
| grapple |
to grasp, twist, or wrestle in close combat. |
| hegemony |
predominance of one country or social group over others by virtue of leadership or influence. |
| interminable |
endless or seemingly endless; monotonously long. |
| lackadaisical |
lacking energy, determination, or enthusiasm; listless or lazy. |
| lobbyist |
one who attempts, on behalf of a special interest group, to influence the way legislators vote. |
| marginal |
barely above a minimum standard of quality. |
| meander |
to wind back and forth. |
| nuance |
a subtle quality or difference in tone, meaning, color, or the like; shade. |
| parochial |
narrow or limited in scope or viewpoint; provincial. |
| resplendent |
full of splendor; radiant; shining. |
| rhapsody |
a musical composition having an irregular form suggesting improvisation. |
| shard |
a piece of a broken object, especially a fragment of pottery or glass. |
| unguided |
without someone to lead or escort. |