| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| appose |
to place next to or side by side; juxtapose. |
| asceticism |
self-discipline and self-denial as a means of spiritual improvement. |
| burgeon |
to start to grow; send forth shoots, leaves, buds, or the like (often followed by "out" or "forth"). |
| disabuse |
to free (a person) from misconception or deception; set straight. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| encomium |
a formal expression of praise. |
| granulate |
to make into small particles or grains. |
| knurled |
having small ridges. |
| maunder |
to speak in an aimless or foolish way; babble. |
| munificent |
having or showing great generosity. |
| naturalism |
in literature, a method of depicting life that reflects a philosophy of determinism. |
| obtrude |
to thrust or force (oneself, one's concerns, or one's opinions) on another or others without being asked. |
| pastiche |
a work of visual art, music, or literature that consists mostly of materials and techniques borrowed from other works, sometimes done as an exercise to learn the technique of others. |
| transpose |
to exchange the position or order of (two things). |