| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| apposite |
fitting; pertinent; appropriate. |
| atonement |
the act of making reparation for a sin, crime, error, or the like. |
| cavalier |
carefree and offhand; nonchalant. |
| commodious |
comfortably spacious; roomy. |
| discomfit |
to upset or confuse. |
| Draconian |
(often lower case) harshly cruel or rigorous. |
| emulous |
filled with the desire to equal or surpass. |
| gullible |
believing almost anything; easily tricked. |
| inculcate |
to cause to accept an idea or value; imbue. |
| innocuous |
not capable of causing damage; harmless. |
| kismet |
destiny, fortune, or fate. |
| laureate |
one honored for achievement in a particular field or by a particular award, especially in the arts or sciences. |
| paroxysm |
a sudden strong outburst of feelings or actions. |
| shibboleth |
a slogan, phrase, or belief that characterizes or is held devotedly by a group. |