| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| chary |
not dispensing freely. |
| convoluted |
complex; intricate. |
| epigraph |
a pertinent quotation or motto, especially found at the beginning of a literary work or of a chapter. |
| fealty |
faithfulness or loyalty. |
| harrow |
to go over or break up with a harrow. |
| idiosyncrasy |
a characteristic of temperament, habit, or physical structure particular to a given individual or group; peculiarity. |
| impute |
to ascribe or attribute to a source or cause. |
| laureate |
one honored for achievement in a particular field or by a particular award, especially in the arts or sciences. |
| maladroit |
not skillful; clumsy; tactless. |
| munificent |
having or showing great generosity. |
| savor |
to give an impression; hint (usually followed by "of"). |
| spurn |
to reject, refuse, or treat with scorn; disdain; despise. |
| stentorian |
extremely loud and powerful. |
| unadulterated |
unmixed with or undiluted by additives or extraneous elements; pure; complete. |