| 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. |
| augury |
the art or practice or an instance of predicting the future or obtaining hidden knowledge by interpreting omens. |
| compunction |
uneasiness about the propriety or suitability of an action; qualm. |
| conclave |
a secret, private, or confidential meeting or gathering. |
| convoluted |
complex; intricate. |
| expostulate |
to argue earnestly with someone, usually against an intended action; remonstrate. |
| expound |
to discuss or explain in detail (usually followed by "on" or "upon"). |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| forbear |
to keep or abstain from (an action or utterance). |
| incursion |
a raid or sudden invasion. |
| insularity |
the condition of being closed to new ideas or outside influences; narrow-mindedness. |
| invidious |
tending to arouse feelings of resentment or animosity, especially because of a slight; offensive or discriminatory. |
| misfeasance |
a normally lawful act performed in an unlawful way. |
| phlegmatic |
not given to shows of emotion or interest; slow to excite. |