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A.Word.A.Day--antebellum antebellum (an-tee-BEL-uhm) adjective Relating to the period before a war, especially the American Civil War (1861-1865). [From Latin ante (before) + bellum (war). Some other words that have derived from Latin bellum are belligerent, rebel, postbellum, and duel.] "Historians enthusiastically describe Blandair as a treasure trove of Maryland farm life that reflects the last years of antebellum society." Susan DeFord; Howard Survivor Has Rosy Future; The Washington Post; Mar 9, 2003. "This charming antebellum mansion, built in 1854, remains one of the area's most famous landmarks and has achieved celebrity status since its purchase ten years ago." Loriann Hoff Oberlin; Tara Revisited; Saturday Evening Post (Indianapolis, Indiana); Jan 11, 1994. This week's theme: words with origins in war. X-Bonus Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world. -Percy Bysshe Shelley, poet (1792-1822)

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