| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| baneful |
causing or leading to death, destruction, or ruin; harmful or deadly. |
| burgeon |
to start to grow; send forth shoots, leaves, buds, or the like (often followed by "out" or "forth"). |
| epistolary |
established or continued through letters. |
| forbear |
to keep or abstain from (an action or utterance). |
| garrulous |
given to talking excessively. |
| lapidary |
an expert on or dealer in gemstones. |
| liminal |
of or at the threshold of a physiological or psychological response or change of state. |
| mahatma |
(sometimes capitalized) in Buddhism and theosophy, any of a class of persons revered for their wisdom and love of humanity. |
| malinger |
to pretend illness or injury, especially in order to be excused from duty or work. |
| pungent |
sharp and strong in taste or smell. |
| reconnoiter |
to go through or over (an area) so as to gain information about it, as for military or engineering purposes. |
| seminal |
of critical importance; essential. |
| uxorial |
of, pertaining to, or befitting a wife. |
| veneration |
a feeling of great respect; awe; reverence. |