| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| coir |
the fiber made from coconut husks, used for matting, rope, or the like. |
| cynosure |
a thing or person that is the center of attention and admiration. |
| denigrate |
to deny the worth of; sneer at; belittle. |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| gambit |
a tactic or maneuver designed to gain an advantage, especially one that involves some sacrifice on one's part. |
| indistinct |
not clearly perceived or perceiving. |
| inveigle |
to entice or ensnare by clever talk or flattery. |
| invidious |
tending to arouse feelings of resentment or animosity, especially because of a slight; offensive or discriminatory. |
| limn |
to paint or draw. |
| macrocosm |
a large unit or entity that represents on a large scale one of its smaller components. |
| malfeasance |
an illegal act or wrongdoing, especially by a public official. |
| mélange |
a mixture, usually of very dissimilar elements. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |
| proselytize |
to convert or try actively to convert (others) to one's own beliefs or religion. |