| animus |
a feeling or attitude of enmity. |
| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| burgeon |
to start to grow; send forth shoots, leaves, buds, or the like (often followed by "out" or "forth"). |
| canard |
a deliberately false story or rumor, usually defamatory to someone. |
| canny |
difficult to fool or take advantage of; shrewd; wary; clever. |
| coddle |
to simmer in water that is almost at the boiling point. |
| contretemps |
an embarrassing or unfortunate happening; mishap; mischance. |
| imbricate |
overlapping in an even sequence, as roof tiles or fish scales. |
| indemnity |
insurance against damage, loss, or liability. |
| insouciant |
having no cares or anxieties; light-hearted; carefree. |
| maunder |
to speak in an aimless or foolish way; babble. |
| pedantic |
making or characterized by an excessive display of learnedness, or overly insistent on scholarly details and formalities. |
| remonstrate |
to say in opposition, protest, or objection. |
| rodomontade |
puffed-up boasting or bravado. |
| unabashed |
not feeling or showing embarrassment, uneasiness, or shame. |