| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| apotheosis |
a perfect or ideal example; epitome. |
| attune |
to adjust so as to be harmonious. |
| canard |
a deliberately false story or rumor, usually defamatory to someone. |
| deadeye |
an expert shooter. |
| demarcate |
to set apart or separate, as if with boundaries. |
| diatribe |
a bitter, abusive attack in speech or writing. |
| disaffection |
an absence or loss of good will, faith, or loyalty, especially toward a government, principle, or the like. |
| guru |
in a cult or religious movement, a spiritual guide or leader, sometimes believed to be divine. |
| imprecation |
a curse, uttered or thought of. |
| macrocosm |
a large unit or entity that represents on a large scale one of its smaller components. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| occlude |
to close or obstruct (a passage or opening, one's vision, or the like). |
| parturient |
giving birth or about to give birth; in labor. |
| Saturnalia |
an occasion of unrestrained revelry. |