| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| apotheosis |
a perfect or ideal example; epitome. |
| bereft |
deprived or stripped of something. |
| daunt |
to lessen the determination of; intimidate; discourage. |
| delectation |
enjoyment; delight; pleasure. |
| disabuse |
to free (a person) from misconception or deception; set straight. |
| entreat |
to beg for something, or to do something. |
| expostulate |
to argue earnestly with someone, usually against an intended action; remonstrate. |
| imprimatur |
any official permission or sanction. |
| lanugo |
fine, soft hair, especially that with which a human fetus or newborn is covered. |
| peroration |
the concluding part of a speech in which there is a summing up of the principal points. |
| pinchbeck |
false, sham, or counterfeit. |
| raffish |
carelessly unconventional or disreputable, sometimes appealingly so. |
| relict |
a plant, animal, or geological feature that has survived in a considerably changed environment. |
| spurn |
to reject, refuse, or treat with scorn; disdain; despise. |