abscess
a localized collection of pus surrounding some inflamed tissue
aguardiente
literally, firewater. The national drink of Colombia, an anise-flavored liqueur derived from sugar cane.
assignation
a secret lovers' meeting
atavism
the return of a trait or the recurrence of a behavior after some time of absence
austerity
lack of excess, adornment, or ornamentation; sternness
brazier
a metal container for hot coals, used for warmth or for cooking
cadaver
a dead body, especially one that is meant for dissection in medical studies
cataclysm
an event (usually negative) that brings about great transformations
centenarian
a person at least 100 years old
climacteric
critical, crucial
conjugal
relating to marriage
convalescent
relating to the return to health after an illness
courtesan
a high-class prostitute or mistress, usually associated with a single powerful man
crinoline
a stiff fabric
demijohn
a large bottle, often for wine, with a short, narrow neck
despondency
depression of spirits; lack of confidence, hope, or courage
diaphanous
delicate to the point of transparency
discordant
sounding unpleasant
dissolute
indulging in physical pleasure to an extent considered immoral or harmful
Divine Providence
the sovereign guidance and control of God, generally to man's advantage
fancier
breeder of a particular animal or plant (in this case, pigeons)
fastidious
very difficult to please due to concern for details
fornicator
someone who commits adultery or, more accurately, engages in nonmarital sex
guileless
naive and trusting
hapless
luckless, unfortunate
hermeticism
living isolated and protected from outside influence
imperturbable
not easily worried or agitated; consistently calm
impetigo
a contagious skin infection
impetuous
impulsive and passionate
indigenous
natural or inborn
innocuous
harmless, insipid
intransigence
the refusal to compromise, give up an extreme position, or refrain from a criticized action
irremediable
impossible to remedy or make right
landau
a four-wheeled carriage with front-seat and back-seat passengers facing each other
latrine
a toilet
liveried
wearing a uniform of a male servant
mausoleum
a large tomb or a large gloomy room or building
miasmic
of a stench caused by atmospheric pollution
milieu
surroundings that someone lives in and is influenced by
mulatta
a female born to one white parent and one black parent
multitudinous
existing in a great multitude
opulent
characterized by a lavish display of wealth
palliative
a medicine that treats symptoms only
pauper
a very poor person
penitent
repentant; feeling or expressing regretful sorrow for sins
Pentecost Mass
Sunday Mass held fifty days after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles as described in the New Testament
peon
laborer or low-paid worker
peregrination
a journey, often on foot
pestilence
an epidemic disease, usually with a high death rate
petate
a Central American woven carpet used as a bedroll
plenipotentiary
an ambassador or delegate invested with full power to act on behalf of a government
pontifical
relating to or characteristic of a pope or a bishop
posthumous
occurring or continuing after one's death
premonitory
foreboding, indicative of something to happen
presentiment
a premonition; a hunch that something is about to happen
propitious
presenting favorable circumstances
putrefaction
decomposition of organic matter, resulting in a very foul smell
recumbent
lying; reclined
renunciation
a rejection of something, usually for moral or religious reasons
rotogravure
a process of printing involving intaglio plates
sentinel
one who keeps guard
sinuous
full of bends and curves; serpentine
syncopate
to modify a rhythm by accenting the weak beat
tantamount
equivalent to a particular thing in effect; the same as
tertian fever
fever caused by Malarian parasites
troupial
a kind of bird indigenous to South America
