AP Lit: Their Eyes Vocab

plume

a large, showy feather

pugnacious

quarrelsome and combative

dilate

to enlarge or expand in size

sanctum

a sacred or holy place

calyx

the sepals of a flower as a group

expound

to explain in detail

mien

air or bearing expressive of personality

percale

a closely woven cotton fabric

cow

to intimidate or make afraid

temerity

unreasonable contempt of danger

doleful

filled with or expressing grief

bray

to utter the loud, harsh cry of a donkey

fractious

unruly

hammock

a tract of land rising above a marsh

distended

abnormally expanded or increased in size

decorum

adherence to manners

coquetry

flirtation

hackles

a feeling of anger or animosity

dudgeon

an angry or indignant mood

stolidness

the quality of showing little or no emotion

pullet

a young hen usually less than one year old

scimitar

a curved Middle Eastern sword

temporize

to act to suit the time

newel

a vertical support of a spiral staircase

flivver

a cheap old car

insensate

lacking humane feeling

preempt

to take for oneself

disgorge

to vomit

supplication

a humble request for help made to someone in authority

fetid

having an offensive odor