| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| centripetal |
forced or moving inward toward a center point or axis. |
| conjoin |
to combine for a common purpose. |
| cynosure |
a thing or person that is the center of attention and admiration. |
| demulcent |
an oily or sticky substance used especially to soothe irritation in mucous membranes. |
| desideratum |
something that is needed or wanted. |
| emulous |
filled with the desire to equal or surpass. |
| epicene |
sharing the traits of both sexes. |
| exponent |
one that expounds or interprets. |
| fledge |
to grow flight feathers. |
| guttural |
articulated in the back of the mouth; velar. |
| idiosyncrasy |
a characteristic of temperament, habit, or physical structure particular to a given individual or group; peculiarity. |
| insouciant |
having no cares or anxieties; light-hearted; carefree. |
| omnibus |
concerning or including a large collection of things. |
| periphrasis |
an indirect or roundabout way of phrasing something; circumlocution. |