| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| argot |
the vocabulary or jargon characteristic of a specific group or class, especially of criminals. |
| cachet |
prestige. |
| dawdle |
to waste time; be slow. |
| despoil |
to forcefully take belongings or goods from; plunder. |
| germane |
having relevance to a given matter; pertinent; significant. |
| immaculate |
not dirty; completely clean. |
| intersperse |
to place or scatter among other things. |
| maladroit |
not skillful; clumsy; tactless. |
| malingerer |
one who pretends to be ill or injured, especially in order to avoid work or duty. |
| pelf |
money or wealth, usually regarded with disapproval or contempt. |
| preferment |
the act of promoting or being promoted to a higher position or office. |
| pungency |
sharpness or bite in taste or smell. |
| sartorial |
of or pertaining to tailors or tailored clothing, especially men's clothing. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |