Honors English 2 Definitions

circumscribe (v)

1) draw a line around

2) limit; restrict

proscribe (v)

condemn as harmful or illegal; prohibit; forbid

coalesce (v)

grow together; unite into one; join; combine

maladjusted (adj)

badly adjusted; out of harmony with one’s environment

assimilate (v)

1) make similar or like

2) take in and incorporate as one’s own; absorb

elucidate (v)

throw light upon; make clear; explain; clarify

autocracy (n)

government or country governed by one individual with self-derived, unlimited power

coherence (n)

state of sticking together; consistency; logical connection

pertinent (adj)

(literally “reaching through to”) connected with the matter under consideration; to the point; related; relevant

append (v)

(literally, “hang on”) attach; add as a supplement

profuse (adj)

(literally, “going forward”) well advanced in any subject or occupation; skilled; adept; expert

obviate (v)

1) make unnecessary; preclude

2) (literally, “get in the way of”) meet and dispose of; make unnecessary; forestall; avert

equanimity (n)

evenness of mind or temper under stress; emotional balance; composure; calmness; equilibrium

permeate (v)

pass through; penetrate; spread through; pervade

congenital (adj)

(literally, “born with”) existing at birth; inborn; innate

circumlocution (n)

roundabout way of speaking; use of excessive number of words to express an idea; verbiage; tautology

superimpose (v)

put on top of or over; attach as an addition

precocious (adj)

(literally, “cooked or ripened before its time”) showing mature characteristics at an early age

technocracy (n)

government or country governed by technical experts

irrevocable (adj)

not revocable; incapable of being recalled or revoked; unalterable; irreversible

metaphor

compares 2 different things with similar attributes or effect to help convey a message

can have different layers of meaning

juxtapose/juxtaposition

places 2 different things, reactions, or characters side by side to convey a message

logos

(reason, logic, facts)

the appeal to logic or reason using

• verified scientific facts

• historical evidence

• data

• clear explanation between cause/effect

ethos

(authority, trust, power)

the appeal of trust through the authority, trust worthiness, and power of the speaker/writer

• you NEED to convince the reader that you are a real/certified expert

pathos

(feelings, emotion, empathy, sympathy)

the appeal to the audiences/readers’ emotions or feelings towards a thing or issue

• negative → sadness

• positive → joy

• reactive→ anger/fear

kairos

(timelessness, current, “now is the right time”)

the appeal of saying the right thing at the right time to persuade people'

• refers to current events/tragedy to make readers take action

charged diction

effective and memorable choice of words or vocab used intentionally by the author to persuade the reader

repetition

the deliberate repeating of words to emphasize important and to call a specific

correlative conjunction

always used in pairs to connect words/sentences to show how they are similar in nature or attribute

• either…or

• neither…nor

• both…and

• not only…but also

coordinating conjunction

connects words and sentences to clarify similar/different relationships between clauses in a sentence

similarities:

• for, and, so, or

differences:

• while, whereas, but, however

motif

repeated/reoccurring idea or symbol that comes up during important moments in the story

• a symbolic noun repeated several times at key moments within the story

• symbolizes more than literal meaning

symbolism

any object, act, or thing that represents a deeper meaning beyond its literal/surface meaning

• deeper meaning of a symbol is usually related to the overall theme/ message of the story

allegory

(sum of all metaphors & symbols)

a literary device where the entire story is an extended metaphor meant to convey a moral lesson, hidden political message, or a parallel to a real world issue/problem

• combines symbolism and personification where non-human characters personify an abstract idea

ex. a tree signifies wisdom

allusion

a literary device where an author makes an indirect/direct reference to an object, person or idea in a work or event outside of the existing text

• historical

• literary

• biblical

• mythological

paradox

a literary device where a phrase is self-contradictory with 2 opposing ideas that can be proved true when explained/reasoned

key lines that reveal character/motivation (C.D.C.)

complex characters must have impactful lines

performs pivotal action (C.D.C.)

takes initiative, actions that create tension, and drives plot of the play

strengths and weaknesses (C.D.C.)

may not have perfect hamartia/ fatal flow that results in possible downfall or end of the play

power of influence (C.D.C.)

has a huge impact on other & inspired good actions or influences bad ones

changes for the better/worse (C.D.C.)

fluid, not static & capable of change throughout the play

the beast (D.V.C.)

uses violent destructive instincts to achieve immoral goals

• often uses physical violence and wouldn’t hesitate to kill for what they want

the bully (D.V.C.)

physical & psychological intimidation on weaker characters to get what they want

• this applies to villains that pick on characters whom they know can’t fight back

the mastermind (D.V.C.)

highly intelligent villain who uses & manipulates henchman

• uses people to commit crimes without doing any of the dirty work

• creates a masterplan for henchmen to follow

the henchman (D.V.C.)

carries out all the evil plans created by the mastermind/authority figures

• loyal to power, not people

the authority (D.V.C.)

figure in a position of power but craves more

• constantly thinks of ways to secure their position to be above others

the mirror (D.V.C.)

(arch-enemy/alter ego)

they are the exact opposite of the hero

• usually the ultimate villain the hero needs to defeat at the end (final boss)

the corrupted (D.V.C.)

tragic character that was once good but falls into temptation by choice, force, or tempted by a trickster/villain

the trickster (D.V.C.)

delights in tricking others & corrupting heroes to villains

• a manipulator and tempter that thinks its funny how easy it is to trick people into doing the wrong things

denotative

refers to the original, literal, and ambiguous dictionary meaning

connotation

refers to ideas, feelings, and emotions readers associated with a word beyond its original meaning

irony

a literary device in which events or statements contrast sharply from expectations

noun

a person, place, or thing

verb

a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

adjective

a word/phrase used to describe an attribute (commonly a noun)

clause

a group of words that conveys information about the subject

phrase

a group of words that form a grammatical component

adverb

words that describe a verb, adjective, or another adverb

• commonly ends in “ly” → “quietly walks”