| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| attune |
to adjust so as to be harmonious. |
| banal |
lacking originality or liveliness; disappointingly ordinary; commonplace; trite. |
| bathos |
a sudden descent from an exalted style or esteemed state to the commonplace. |
| contumacious |
stubbornly disobedient; insubordinate; rebellious. |
| dearth |
a shortage or scarcity of something; lack. |
| disallow |
to refuse to allow or admit; reject. |
| doyen |
the senior or highest-ranking male member of a group. |
| elide |
to leave out or slur, as a syllable or letter, in pronunciation. |
| facsimile |
an exact copy or duplicate of something printed or of a picture. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| imbricate |
overlapping in an even sequence, as roof tiles or fish scales. |
| lien |
a legal claim on a piece of property when the current owner is in default on a debt or obligation. |
| oblivious |
not conscious or paying attention; unknowing or unaware (usually followed by "to" or "of"). |
| sequester |
to remove into protection and isolation; seclude. |