| alluvium |
sand, soil, gravel, or the like deposited by moving water, as along a river bed. |
| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| avow |
to assert or affirm. |
| conjoin |
to combine for a common purpose. |
| conversant |
familiar; acquainted; practiced (usually followed by "with" or "in"). |
| cravat |
a scarf or band of cloth tied loosely about the neck. |
| deracinate |
to pull up by or as if by the roots; uproot; isolate; exile. |
| extort |
to extract or obtain (money or the like) by force, threats, or abuse of authority. |
| foible |
a minor flaw or weakness in personality, character, or behavior. |
| granulate |
to make into small particles or grains. |
| jeremiad |
a long complaint about life or one's situation; lamentation. |
| nonplus |
to cause (someone) to be unable to think of what to say, do, or decide; perplex; bewilder. |
| panegyric |
a formal speech or piece of writing devoted to publicly praising a person or thing. |
| prerogative |
an exclusive right or privilege derived from one's office, position, age, citizenship, birth, or the like. |
| raffish |
carelessly unconventional or disreputable, sometimes appealingly so. |