| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| appellative |
a descriptive name or title, as "Terrible" in "Ivan the Terrible". |
| exegesis |
a critical explanation or interpretive analysis, especially of religious texts. |
| extralegal |
not regulated or permitted by law; outside of legal authority. |
| flak |
(informal) irritating opposition, criticism, or dissent. |
| glean |
to gather or discover (facts, information, or the like) a little at a time. |
| idiosyncrasy |
a characteristic of temperament, habit, or physical structure particular to a given individual or group; peculiarity. |
| imbroglio |
a difficult, confused, or complicated situation, often involving a misunderstanding, disagreement, or quarrel. |
| irrefragable |
impossible to refute or dispute; undeniable. |
| kismet |
destiny, fortune, or fate. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| refulgent |
shining brilliantly; radiant. |
| stately |
dignified. |
| tamp |
to compress and pack tightly by repeated light taps. |
| vouchsafe |
to grant or give with condescension or as a special favor. |