Letter from Birmingham Jail Vocabulary Words

gainsaying

Deny or contradict

status quo

The existing state of affairs

elegy

a mournful poem

provincial

acting under the superior general of a religious order

repudiated

any connection is denied

relegating

authorizing subordinates to make certain decisions

cognizant

aware

affiliated

being joined in close association

forbearance

good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence

sublimely

grandly

incorrigible

impervious to correction by punishment

inextricably

in a way impossible to untangle

superficial

lacking in depth

commend

praise

complacency

self satisfied

spires

steeple

scintillating

stimulating, lively, glittering, flashing

moratorium

suspension of an ongoing activity

conversely

terms of the relation reversed

grapple

the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat

conscience

the voice in your head; the angel and demon on your shoulder

concur

to agree

harried

troubled persistently with annoyances

lamentably

unfortunate manner

affluent

wealthy