In this week’s episode of “The Gilded Age,” Agnes warns another character that a man who seems nice is actually an “adventurer.”

The meaning is clear enough from context: He’s no good. Watch out.

But I vaguely remembered that “adventurer” had a specific meaning in the Gilded Age, and it’s been bugging me since we watched the show Wednesday night. I finally looked it up on Merriam-Webster this morning, and found this as the second definition of adventurer: “somewhat old-fashioned : one who seeks unmerited wealth or position especially by playing on the credulity or prejudice of others.” Which is, clearly, exactly what Agnes intended to say.