| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| bilge |
the rounded part of a ship's hull between the bottom and the sides. |
| canard |
a deliberately false story or rumor, usually defamatory to someone. |
| canny |
difficult to fool or take advantage of; shrewd; wary; clever. |
| desiccate |
to remove the moisture in (food) so as to preserve it. |
| deterge |
to cleanse, wash, or wipe off. |
| eruct |
to belch forth. |
| feckless |
weak or incompetent; ineffective. |
| fledge |
to grow flight feathers. |
| gullible |
believing almost anything; easily tricked. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| intransigence |
refusal to alter one's ideas or position in response to the wishes of others. |
| loll |
to hang down loosely; dangle. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |