| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| bellicose |
easily incited to quarrel or fight; belligerent. |
| daunt |
to lessen the determination of; intimidate; discourage. |
| demulcent |
an oily or sticky substance used especially to soothe irritation in mucous membranes. |
| frangible |
easy to break; breakable; fragile. |
| gadfly |
a persistent critic, especially of established institutions and policies. |
| guru |
in a cult or religious movement, a spiritual guide or leader, sometimes believed to be divine. |
| hagiography |
an admiring and uncritical biography of anyone. |
| mahatma |
(sometimes capitalized) in Buddhism and theosophy, any of a class of persons revered for their wisdom and love of humanity. |
| parsimonious |
excessively frugal; stingy. |
| prerogative |
an exclusive right or privilege derived from one's office, position, age, citizenship, birth, or the like. |
| reconnaissance |
the act or process of examining an area, especially to gain militarily useful information. |
| somatic |
of or pertaining to the body itself; corporeal. |
| travesty |
something so grotesque or inferior as to seem a parody. |
| tummler |
an entertainer or social director who encourages participation by guests or audience. |