| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| boudoir |
a woman's private sitting room or bedroom. |
| Byzantine |
characterized by complexity and intrigue. |
| commodious |
comfortably spacious; roomy. |
| demotic |
of or relating to the common people; popular. |
| duress |
intimidation or coercion. |
| erratic |
not expected or predicted; not regular. |
| idiosyncrasy |
a characteristic of temperament, habit, or physical structure particular to a given individual or group; peculiarity. |
| invidious |
tending to arouse feelings of resentment or animosity, especially because of a slight; offensive or discriminatory. |
| obviate |
to prevent or eliminate in advance; render unnecessary or irrelevant. |
| pretentious |
assuming or marked by an air of importance or superiority that is unwarranted. |
| putrefaction |
the act or process of rotting or decomposing. |
| remonstrate |
to say in opposition, protest, or objection. |
| seminal |
of critical importance; essential. |
| tummler |
an entertainer or social director who encourages participation by guests or audience. |