The following words were stumbled upon while reading The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown and were defined by The New Oxford American Dictionary.

Allegory: "A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one." <special usage> -the genre to which such works belong. -a symbol."

Obeisance: "Deferential respect. <special usage> A gesture expressing deferential respect, such as a bow or curtsy."