| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| condign |
well-deserved or fitting, especially of punishment or reprimand. |
| cravat |
a scarf or band of cloth tied loosely about the neck. |
| inanition |
a state of exhaustion caused by a lack of nourishment. |
| lambent |
glowing softly. |
| loll |
to hang down loosely; dangle. |
| meretricious |
appealing or attracting in a cheap, showy, or shallow way. |
| opiate |
something that induces relaxation, calm, or stupor. |
| oppugn |
to oppose, contradict, criticize, or call into question. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| pungency |
sharpness or bite in taste or smell. |
| requite |
to retaliate for; strike back on account of. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |
| supine |
lying with the face upward. |
| sylph |
a slender, graceful woman or girl. |