lede

lede
noun: the introductory section of a story; "it was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter" [syn: lead]

from dictionary.com

tenebrous

ten·e·brous /ˈtɛnəbrəs/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ten-uh-bruhs]
–adjective dark; gloomy; obscure.

from dictionary.com

pusillanimous

pu·sil·lan·i·mous /ˌpyusəˈlænəməs/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[pyoo-suh-lan-uh-muh s]

–adjective

1.	lacking courage or resolution; cowardly; faint-hearted; timid.

2.	proceeding from or indicating a cowardly spirit.

---

[Origin: 1580–90; <>pusillanimis petty-spirited, equiv. to L pusill(us) very small, petty + -anim(is) -spirited, -minded (anim(us) spirit + -is adj. suffix); see -ous]

from dictionary.com

disquisition

dis·qui·si·tion /ˌdɪskwəˈzɪʃən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[dis-kwuh-zish-uhn]

–noun

a formal discourse or treatise in which a subject is examined and discussed; dissertation.

---

[Origin: 1595–1605; <>disquīsītiōn- (s. of disquīsītiō), equiv. to disquīsīt(us) (ptp. of disquīrere to investigate; dis- dis-¹ + quaerere to seek, ask) + -iōn- -ion]

from dictionary.com

antediluvian

an·te·di·lu·vi·an /ˌæntidɪˈluviən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[an-tee-di-loo-vee-uhn]

–adjective

1.	of or belonging to the period before the Flood. Gen. 7, 8.

2.	very old, old-fashioned, or out of date; antiquated; primitive: antediluvian ideas.

–noun

3.	a person who lived before the Flood.

4.	a very old or old-fashioned person or thing.

---

[Origin: 1640–50; ante- + L dīluvi(um) a flood, deluge + -an]

from dictionary.com

valetudinarian

valetudinarian-
1.an invalid.
2.a person who is excessively concerned about his or her poor health or ailments. –adjective
3.in poor health; sickly; invalid.
4.excessively concerned about one's poor health or ailments.
5.of, pertaining to, or characterized by invalidism.

from dictionary.com