| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| appellation |
a name, title, or other designation. |
| constrict |
to pull or squeeze in; make smaller or more narrow; tighten. |
| dearth |
a shortage or scarcity of something; lack. |
| Draconian |
(often lower case) harshly cruel or rigorous. |
| erudite |
having or showing a high level of scholarly knowledge; learned. |
| extirpate |
to get rid of completely, as if by pulling up the roots; root out. |
| ineluctable |
impossible to be avoided; inescapable. |
| ingenuous |
having or showing simplicity and lack of sophistication; artless. |
| innocuous |
not capable of causing damage; harmless. |
| nonpareil |
a person or thing whose excellence is unequaled; paragon. |
| pleonasm |
a redundant word, phrase, or expression. |
| pliant |
easily flexed; supple. |
| pronate |
to turn or rotate (the hand or forearm) so that the palm of the hand faces down or backwards. |