| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| disheveled |
not neat; messy. |
| facsimile |
an exact copy or duplicate of something printed or of a picture. |
| fixation |
an obsession, especially one that interferes with normal functioning. |
| heinous |
extremely wicked or despicable; atrocious. |
| impute |
to ascribe or attribute to a source or cause. |
| kismet |
destiny, fortune, or fate. |
| loll |
to hang down loosely; dangle. |
| luminary |
a famous, important, or inspirational person. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |
| sagacious |
possessing or characterized by good judgment and common sense; wise. |
| schadenfreude |
(often capitalized) pleasure derived from the misfortune of others. |
| seminal |
of critical importance; essential. |
| supine |
lying with the face upward. |