| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| avow |
to assert or affirm. |
| boudoir |
a woman's private sitting room or bedroom. |
| Byzantine |
characterized by complexity and intrigue. |
| cloture |
in U.S. parliamentary procedure, a method of ending debate and causing an immediate vote on the matter being discussed. |
| constrict |
to pull or squeeze in; make smaller or more narrow; tighten. |
| duress |
intimidation or coercion. |
| equivocal |
having at least two plausible alternative meanings, often intentionally so in order to deceive or avoid commitment; ambiguous. |
| festoon |
a decorative chain or strip of ribbons, flowers, leaves, or the like, suspended at the ends and hung in a curve. |
| fixation |
an obsession, especially one that interferes with normal functioning. |
| lattice |
a flat framework made with strips of wood or other material. The strips cross each other and have open spaces in between. A lattice is often used as a screen on a porch or in a garden. |
| lupine2 |
fierce; greedy. |
| pneumatic |
of, using, or concerning air or other gases. |
| recrudesce |
to become active again or break out anew, as a disease or harmful condition. |
| sartorial |
of or pertaining to tailors or tailored clothing, especially men's clothing. |