| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| beatify |
to admire or exalt as superior. |
| Byzantine |
characterized by complexity and intrigue. |
| calumny |
a harmful statement, known by the maker to be false. |
| despoil |
to forcefully take belongings or goods from; plunder. |
| extort |
to extract or obtain (money or the like) by force, threats, or abuse of authority. |
| glean |
to gather or discover (facts, information, or the like) a little at a time. |
| inveigle |
to entice or ensnare by clever talk or flattery. |
| lambent |
glowing softly. |
| lattice |
a flat framework made with strips of wood or other material. The strips cross each other and have open spaces in between. A lattice is often used as a screen on a porch or in a garden. |
| macrocosm |
a large unit or entity that represents on a large scale one of its smaller components. |
| parlous |
full of dangers or risks; perilous. |
| picayune |
having little value or significance; small; paltry. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| repine |
to express or feel unhappiness; complain; fret. |