| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| fealty |
faithfulness or loyalty. |
| fixation |
an obsession, especially one that interferes with normal functioning. |
| glabrous |
having no hair or fuzz; bald; smooth. |
| heinous |
extremely wicked or despicable; atrocious. |
| immaculate |
not dirty; completely clean. |
| ineptitude |
incompetence; lack of skill. |
| jubilate |
to feel joyful; rejoice; exult. |
| laconic |
using very few words; succinct; terse. |
| neologism |
a new word, phrase, or usage. |
| oblique |
not direct or straightforward in intent, means, or achievement; indirect or devious. |
| prerogative |
an exclusive right or privilege derived from one's office, position, age, citizenship, birth, or the like. |
| reconnoiter |
to go through or over (an area) so as to gain information about it, as for military or engineering purposes. |
| stentorian |
extremely loud and powerful. |