| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| attenuate |
to cause to be thin, rarefied, or fine. |
| boudoir |
a woman's private sitting room or bedroom. |
| compunction |
uneasiness about the propriety or suitability of an action; qualm. |
| cravat |
a scarf or band of cloth tied loosely about the neck. |
| disallow |
to refuse to allow or admit; reject. |
| discomfit |
to upset or confuse. |
| Draconian |
(often lower case) harshly cruel or rigorous. |
| flummox |
(informal) to confuse or puzzle. |
| irrefragable |
impossible to refute or dispute; undeniable. |
| modus operandi |
a method of accomplishing something; way of working. |
| purvey |
to supply or provide (especially food, drink, or other provisions). |
| salacious |
excited by lust; lecherous. |
| stately |
dignified. |
| topography |
the shape of the earth's surface across an area or region. The topography of an area includes the size and location of hills and dips in the land. |