sculpture (skŭlp'chər)

1. The art or practice of shaping figures or designs in the round or in relief, as by chiseling marble, modeling clay, or casting in metal.
2. 1. A work of art created by sculpture.
   2. Such works of art considered as a group.

optimism (ŏp'tə-mĭz'əm)

1. A tendency to expect the best possible outcome or dwell on the most hopeful aspects of a situation: “There is a touch of optimism in every worry about one's own moral cleanliness” (Victoria Ocampo).
2. Philosophy.
   1. The doctrine, asserted by Leibniz, that this world is the best of all possible worlds.
   2. The belief that the universe is improving and that good will ultimately triumph over evil.

vandalism (văn'dl-ĭz'əm)

Willful or malicious destruction of public or private property.

wreckage (rĕk'ĭj)

1. The act of wrecking or the state of being wrecked.
2. Something wrecked.
3. The debris of something wrecked.

mannerism (măn'ə-rĭz'əm)

1. A distinctive behavioral trait; an idiosyncrasy.
2. Exaggerated or affected style or habit, as in dress or speech. See synonyms at affectation.
3. Mannerism An artistic style of the late 16th century characterized by distortion of elements such as scale and perspective.

heroism (hĕr'ō-ĭz'əm)

1. Heroic conduct or behavior.
2. Heroic characteristics or qualities; courage.

moisture (mois'chər)

1. Diffuse wetness that can be felt as vapor in the atmosphere or condensed liquid on the surfaces of objects; dampness.
2. The state or quality of being damp.

capitalism (kăp'ĭ-tl-ĭz'əm)

An economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned and development is proportionate to the accumulation and reinvestment of profits gained in a free market.

realism (rē'ə-lĭz'əm)

1. An inclination toward literal truth and pragmatism.
2. The representation in art or literature of objects, actions, or social conditions as they actually are, without idealization or presentation in abstract form.
3. Philosophy.
   1. The scholastic doctrine, opposed to nominalism, that universals exist independently of their being thought.
   2. The modern philosophical doctrine, opposed to idealism, that physical objects exist independently of their being perceived.

postage (pō'stĭj)

1. The charge for mailing an item.
2. The stamps, labels, or printing placed on an item to be mailed as evidence of payment of this charge.