| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| appellative |
a descriptive name or title, as "Terrible" in "Ivan the Terrible". |
| austerity |
a tightened or stringent economy, as when there are high taxes, frozen wages, and shortages of consumer goods. |
| cravat |
a scarf or band of cloth tied loosely about the neck. |
| cyst |
a small pouch within body tissue that is filled with fluid or air. Some cysts are connected with serious disease, but most are not harmful at all. |
| debouch |
to advance out of a confined or narrow space such as a canyon into open country. |
| demulcent |
an oily or sticky substance used especially to soothe irritation in mucous membranes. |
| élan |
enthusiasm or vigor. |
| maladroit |
not skillful; clumsy; tactless. |
| noisome |
offensive or disgusting, especially in smell; foul. |
| opiate |
something that induces relaxation, calm, or stupor. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| prolix |
wordy and boringly long. |
| reprise |
repetition of a musical phrase or theme in an identical or slightly altered way. |
| schadenfreude |
(often capitalized) pleasure derived from the misfortune of others. |