| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| appellation |
a name, title, or other designation. |
| conjoin |
to combine for a common purpose. |
| contumely |
contemptuous insolence; rudeness. |
| declivity |
a downward or descending slope. |
| eruct |
to belch forth. |
| flout |
to show scorn or contempt for, especially by openly or deliberately disobeying. |
| germane |
having relevance to a given matter; pertinent; significant. |
| hackneyed |
made trite or commonplace by overuse, as an expression or phrase. |
| homily |
any discourse offering moral advice or admonitions. |
| inchoate |
partially or imperfectly developed. |
| penury |
severe poverty; pennilessness. |
| pliant |
easily flexed; supple. |
| quiescence |
a state of inaction, rest, or stillness; dormancy. |
| tamp |
to compress and pack tightly by repeated light taps. |