| abeyance |
temporary suspension or cessation. |
| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| augury |
the art or practice or an instance of predicting the future or obtaining hidden knowledge by interpreting omens. |
| austere |
having only what is needed; very simple or plain. |
| condone |
to pardon, disregard, or overlook voluntarily or without condemning. |
| crass |
lacking in sensitivity or refinement; crude. |
| deterge |
to cleanse, wash, or wipe off. |
| disabuse |
to free (a person) from misconception or deception; set straight. |
| feckless |
weak or incompetent; ineffective. |
| gnomic |
short and pithy, as an aphorism. |
| halcyon |
tranquil; peaceful; calm. |
| luminary |
a famous, important, or inspirational person. |
| ontogeny |
the process of biological growth and development of a particular living organism. |
| parvenu |
a person who has suddenly acquired wealth or status, without acquiring the tastes, manners, customs, or the like of his or her new station. |
| recant |
to withdraw from commitment to (a former position or statement), especially publicly; retract. |