| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| arrant |
complete; unmitigated; downright. |
| bereft |
deprived or stripped of something. |
| convoluted |
complex; intricate. |
| disabuse |
to free (a person) from misconception or deception; set straight. |
| gadfly |
a persistent critic, especially of established institutions and policies. |
| idyllic |
charmingly simple and natural, as a scene or experience; suggestive of peaceful countryside. |
| immaculate |
not dirty; completely clean. |
| jeremiad |
a long complaint about life or one's situation; lamentation. |
| lien |
a legal claim on a piece of property when the current owner is in default on a debt or obligation. |
| luminary |
a famous, important, or inspirational person. |
| penumbra |
an indefinite, borderline area. |
| penury |
severe poverty; pennilessness. |
| quondam |
having been in the past; former. |
| scion |
an offspring or heir. |