| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| apocryphal |
of dubious authorship or authority. |
| berate |
to reproach or scold severely. |
| corporeal |
having to do with a physical body; bodily. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| debouch |
to advance out of a confined or narrow space such as a canyon into open country. |
| descry |
to see or make out, especially something obscured or at a distance. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| iatrogenic |
caused by a physician or medical treatment, especially from drugs or surgery. |
| misanthrope |
someone who hates or distrusts humanity. |
| pusillanimous |
shamefully timid; cowardly. |
| quiescence |
a state of inaction, rest, or stillness; dormancy. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |
| sagacious |
possessing or characterized by good judgment and common sense; wise. |
| shibboleth |
a slogan, phrase, or belief that characterizes or is held devotedly by a group. |