| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| bilge |
the rounded part of a ship's hull between the bottom and the sides. |
| crass |
lacking in sensitivity or refinement; crude. |
| epicure |
a person who has cultivated tastes, as in food or wine; connoisseur. |
| foment |
to encourage the development of; instigate or foster. |
| fracas |
a noisy disturbance or quarrel. |
| glabrous |
having no hair or fuzz; bald; smooth. |
| harbinger |
someone or something that signals or foreshadows a later arrival or occurrence; herald; forerunner. |
| homily |
any discourse offering moral advice or admonitions. |
| incredulous |
not able to believe something. |
| lenitive |
mitigating pain, discomfort, or distress; soothing. |
| nonplus |
to cause (someone) to be unable to think of what to say, do, or decide; perplex; bewilder. |
| ontogeny |
the process of biological growth and development of a particular living organism. |
| recidivism |
chronic return to bad habits, especially criminal relapse. |
| risible |
provoking laughter; laughable or funny. |