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Abjure
To renounce under oath; to take back
Antebellum
Belonging to the period before a war, especially the American Civil War
Bowdlerize
To remove material that is offensive or objectionable
Circumlocution
The use of unnecessarily wordy & indirect language; evasiveness in speech or writing
Diffident
Lacking self-confidence; shy or timid
Equinox
The length of day and night are approximately equal (March & September)
Facetious
Playfully jocular; humorous
Filibuster
Use of tactics, especially long speeches, to delay legislative action
Hegemony
The predominant influence of a state, region, or group over others
Hypotenuse
The side of a right triangle opposite the right angle
Inculcate
To teach by frequent instruction or repetition; to indoctrinate
Jejune
Dull or not interesting; lacking maturity or childish
Lexicon
A dictionary; a set of terms used in a specific profession
Lurid
Characterized by vivid descriptions or explicit details that are meant to provoke or shock
Mantra
A word or phrase that is expressed repeatedly, as in reaffirming an idea or motivating someone
Misnomer
A name wrongly or unsuitably applied to a person or an object
Nouveau riche
Characterized by newly acquired wealth, especially when it is flaunted
Ostracize
To exclude from a group
Perfunctory
Done routinely and with little interest or care
Quid pro quo
Something given in return for something else or accepted as a reciprocal exchange
Rhetoric
Language that is intended to persuade, especially when viewed as lacking intellectual merit
Stoic
Seemingly indifferent to pleasure and pain; showing little or no emotion
Teetotaler
One who abstains completely from alcoholic beverages
Ubiquitous
Being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time
Vile
Loathsome; disgusting; morally depraved, or wicked
Note
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