| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| apocryphal |
of dubious authorship or authority. |
| ascertain |
to learn without question; determine. |
| austere |
having only what is needed; very simple or plain. |
| belabor |
to continue excessive efforts on or excessive discussion of. |
| curmudgeon |
an irritable or ill-tempered person. |
| Draconian |
(often lower case) harshly cruel or rigorous. |
| exponent |
one that expounds or interprets. |
| gambit |
a tactic or maneuver designed to gain an advantage, especially one that involves some sacrifice on one's part. |
| impediment |
an obstacle or hindrance. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| mirabile dictu |
(Latin) wonderful to say or relate. |
| parlance |
manner of speaking or writing, especially word choice; vernacular. |
| rebarbative |
tending to irritate or repel; forbidding or unattractive. |
| stative |
in grammar, of or designating a category of verbs that express state or condition. |