| aberration |
a deviation from what is considered normal or right; irregularity. |
| adamant |
unlikely to change in response to any request or argument; firmly decided or fixed; unyielding. |
| advert |
to direct the attention by comment or remark. |
| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| apocryphal |
of dubious authorship or authority. |
| deter |
to stop or discourage from some action by creating doubt or fear. |
| equivocal |
having at least two plausible alternative meanings, often intentionally so in order to deceive or avoid commitment; ambiguous. |
| expatiate |
to discuss something at great length; describe in great detail. |
| exponent |
one that expounds or interprets. |
| extenuate |
to reduce the magnitude or seriousness of (a fault or offense) by offering partial excuses. |
| heterodox |
deviating from an officially approved belief or doctrine, especially in religion. |
| incursion |
a raid or sudden invasion. |
| requite |
to retaliate for; strike back on account of. |
| sanctimony |
a pretense of righteousness or piety; feigned devotion or holiness. |
| stickler |
one who must observe or conform to something (usually followed by "for"). |