| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| bereft |
deprived or stripped of something. |
| calumny |
a harmful statement, known by the maker to be false. |
| cognomen |
a last name; surname. |
| diatribe |
a bitter, abusive attack in speech or writing. |
| diurnal |
occurring or active during, or belonging to, the daytime rather than nighttime. |
| eidetic |
pertaining to or designating the ability to recall images in almost perfect detail. |
| hirsute |
covered with hair or stiff hairs; hairy or shaggy. |
| incumbent |
currently holding an office or position. |
| minatory |
presenting a threat; menacing. |
| reconnoiter |
to go through or over (an area) so as to gain information about it, as for military or engineering purposes. |
| reprise |
repetition of a musical phrase or theme in an identical or slightly altered way. |
| rodomontade |
puffed-up boasting or bravado. |
| stately |
dignified. |
| stative |
in grammar, of or designating a category of verbs that express state or condition. |