| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| canny |
difficult to fool or take advantage of; shrewd; wary; clever. |
| demarcate |
to set apart or separate, as if with boundaries. |
| epistolary |
established or continued through letters. |
| ersatz |
serving as a substitute, especially when of inferior quality. |
| extrinsic |
not inherent or essential; extraneous. |
| extrude |
to force out; expel. |
| fungible |
interchangeable. |
| imbroglio |
a difficult, confused, or complicated situation, often involving a misunderstanding, disagreement, or quarrel. |
| ligature |
a band or tie. |
| oligarchy |
a government or state in which only a relatively few people or members of a family have real power. |
| picayune |
having little value or significance; small; paltry. |
| shibboleth |
a slogan, phrase, or belief that characterizes or is held devotedly by a group. |
| stanch1 |
to cause (a liquid, especially blood) to stop flowing. |
| virago |
a shrewish, domineering woman; nag or scold. |