| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| apposite |
fitting; pertinent; appropriate. |
| conclave |
a secret, private, or confidential meeting or gathering. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| emulous |
filled with the desire to equal or surpass. |
| encomium |
a formal expression of praise. |
| gambit |
a tactic or maneuver designed to gain an advantage, especially one that involves some sacrifice on one's part. |
| impinge |
to encroach. |
| inflection |
change that occurs in the form of words to show a grammatical characteristic such as the tense of a verb, the number of a noun, or the degree of an adjective or adverb. |
| kibbutz |
an Israeli farming settlement whose ownership is shared by those who live and work there. |
| ligature |
a band or tie. |
| obtrude |
to thrust or force (oneself, one's concerns, or one's opinions) on another or others without being asked. |
| pathos |
a quality in life or art that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |
| sotto voce |
in a low voice or undertone, so as not to be overheard; softly (often used as a musical direction). |