gastronome- a gourmet or epicure
autodidact- self-taught person
monism- doctrine that reality is one
in medias res- in the middle of things
lycanthrope- werewolf
circumambient- surrounding
transmogrify- change form
reify- treat as real
au contraire- to the contrary
vivacious- lively
circumvent- get around
heliotropic- sun-following
exculpate- free from blame
introspective- inward looking
