| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| berate |
to reproach or scold severely. |
| demulcent |
an oily or sticky substance used especially to soothe irritation in mucous membranes. |
| engender |
to create or give rise to. |
| feckless |
weak or incompetent; ineffective. |
| gloaming |
late evening; dusk; twilight. |
| hypocrisy |
the practice or an instance of stating or pretending to hold beliefs or principles that one does not actually live by; insincerity. |
| immaculate |
not dirty; completely clean. |
| invidious |
tending to arouse feelings of resentment or animosity, especially because of a slight; offensive or discriminatory. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| rapacious |
capable of capturing and eating live prey; predacious. |
| redoubtable |
inspiring fear; formidable. |
| splenetic |
ill-tempered or spiteful. |
| unabashed |
not feeling or showing embarrassment, uneasiness, or shame. |
| uxorial |
of, pertaining to, or befitting a wife. |