| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| condign |
well-deserved or fitting, especially of punishment or reprimand. |
| debouch |
to advance out of a confined or narrow space such as a canyon into open country. |
| exceptionable |
likely to be objected to; objectionable. |
| gloaming |
late evening; dusk; twilight. |
| harrow |
to go over or break up with a harrow. |
| magnum opus |
a great work of art, literature, or music, especially a particular person's masterpiece. |
| mésalliance |
marriage with someone of lower social standing than oneself. |
| modus operandi |
a method of accomplishing something; way of working. |
| recrudesce |
to become active again or break out anew, as a disease or harmful condition. |
| redoubtable |
inspiring fear; formidable. |
| solipsism |
the self-centered habit of interpreting and judging all things exclusively according to one's own concepts of meaning and value. |
| spurn |
to reject, refuse, or treat with scorn; disdain; despise. |
| syntax |
the word order or pattern of word order in a sentence. |