| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| comity |
mutual courtesy and respectful treatment among people or nations. |
| emote |
to express or simulate feelings, especially in an exaggerated or theatrical manner. |
| epistemology |
the branch of philosophy dealing with the origin, nature, and limits of human knowledge. |
| extrinsic |
not inherent or essential; extraneous. |
| guru |
in a cult or religious movement, a spiritual guide or leader, sometimes believed to be divine. |
| imbricate |
overlapping in an even sequence, as roof tiles or fish scales. |
| mélange |
a mixture, usually of very dissimilar elements. |
| modular |
designed with standardized units that may be arranged or connected in a variety of ways. |
| obviate |
to prevent or eliminate in advance; render unnecessary or irrelevant. |
| oligarchy |
a government or state in which only a relatively few people or members of a family have real power. |
| pliant |
easily flexed; supple. |
| raffish |
carelessly unconventional or disreputable, sometimes appealingly so. |
| sere1 |
dried up or withered. |
| unadulterated |
unmixed with or undiluted by additives or extraneous elements; pure; complete. |