| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| atavism |
the recurrence or reappearance of a particular trait, style, attitude, or behavior that seemed to have disappeared, or that which has recurred or reappeared after such an absence. |
| castellated |
constructed with turrets and battlements like a castle. |
| cognoscente |
someone who has exceptional knowledge in a given area, especially of fashion, literature, or the fine arts; connoisseur. |
| disingenuous |
not candid or sincere. |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| guru |
in a cult or religious movement, a spiritual guide or leader, sometimes believed to be divine. |
| idiosyncrasy |
a characteristic of temperament, habit, or physical structure particular to a given individual or group; peculiarity. |
| indolence |
the tendency to avoid exertion or effort; laziness. |
| nonfeasance |
in law, failure to perform a required duty, as by a public official. |
| parlous |
full of dangers or risks; perilous. |
| perilous |
causing or involving great danger; risky; hazardous. |
| pusillanimous |
shamefully timid; cowardly. |
| putrefaction |
the act or process of rotting or decomposing. |
| untoward |
unexpected and unfortunate. |