ap lang 1-6 vocab 2nd semester

__abate__ – (v)

) to reduce in amount, degree, or intensity; lessen; to deduct from an amount;

__*bandy*__

(v) to toss, throw, or hit back and forth (like a ball), or to give and receive (like an idea) OR (adj) bowed or bent in an outward curve

__captious__

(adj) said of someone who finds and points out trivial faults

__decrepit__

(adj) said of something or someone that/who is weakened, worn out, impaired, or broken down by old age, illness, or hard use

__edify__

(v) to instruct especially to encourage intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement or, to inform or enlighten intellectually or spiritually

__felicity__

(n) great happiness, bliss; a cause or source of happiness, an instance of appropriate and pleasing manner or style

. __histrionic__

(adj) said of someone who is excessively dramatic or emotional, sometimes in an affected manner

__lachrymose__

(adj) said of someone one who is weeping or inclined to weep; OR said of the thing that causes the tears

__platitude__

(n) a trite or banal remark or statement, especially one expressed as if it were original or significant; it’s saying something that lacks originality

__prevaricate__

– (v) to stray from or evade the truth

__querulous__

(adj) said of someone who is given to complaining or who is peevish

__relegate__

(v) to assign to an obscure place, position, or condition

__sanguine__

(adj) said of someone who is cheerfully confident; optimistic

__stentorian__

(adj) said of someone who is extremely loud

__tenuous__

– (adj) said of something that is flimsy or has little substance; it is also about the consistency of a thing (thin, slim) or it’s about not having a firm grasp

__unequivocal__

(adj) said of someone who admits no doubt or possible misunderstanding; said of something that is clear and unambiguous

__uxorious__

(adj) said of a person who is excessively submissive or devoted to one's wife

__vertigo__

– (n) a confused or disoriented state of mind, also the sensation of dizziness; an instance of such a sensation

Abdicate

1\.    (V) – to relinquish an office or responsibility in a formal manner

*Bovine*

(ADJ) said of someone or something who/that is dull, sluggish, or stolid – as in cow-like OR (N) of or relating to animals in the *Bos* genius

*Carrion*

(N) – dead or decaying flesh OR (ADJ) – said of something that feeds on such flesh or comparing something to such flesh

Deference

(N) – submission or a courteous yielding to the opinion, wishes, or judgement of another

Empirical

(ADJ) – said of someone who is guided by practical experience and not theory, also said of someone or something which relies of information derived from observation or experiment

*Florid*

(ADJ) – said of someone (occasionally something) who (that) is flushed with rosy color

*Homily*

(N) an inspiration story, saying or platitude

*Languid*

(ADJ) – said of someone or something who/that lacks energy or vitality – weak – showing little or no spirit or animation

*Portend*

(V) to serve as an omen or a warning of (presage) or to indicate by prediction or forecasting

*Probity*

(N) complete and confirmed integrity, uprightness

*Quixotic*

(ADJ) said of someone who is idealist to an impractical degree

*Remonstrate*

(V) to plead in protest, to present an objection -OR- to reprimand severely or angrily

*Sanguinary*

(ADJ) said of someone or something that is eager for bloodshed or bloodthirsty

*Stolid*

(ADJ) said of someone having or revealing little emotion or anxiety – impassive

*Thrall*

(N) – one who is intellectually, morally, or literally enslaved

*Unkempt*

(ADJ) said of someone or something who/that is not properly maintained or who/that is untidy

*Vacillate*

(V) to sway from side to side (oscillate) -OR- (more likely) to swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another

*Vestige*

(N) a visible trace, evidence, or sign of something that once existed, but that exists no more

abeyance

the condition of being temporarily set aside – suspension

*Broach*

(V) – to begin to talk about – to announce – to lay the groundwork OR (N) – a tool used to shape or enlarge a hole

*Chagrin*

(N) – feelings of embarrassment or humiliation caused by failure, or disappointment OR (V – usually passive) – to cause feelings of embarrassment or humiliation

Derision

(N) – scoffing ridicule directed at someone or something -OR- the person or thing being scoffed at or ridiculed

Engender

(V) – to bring into existence, to be born, to be produced

Foible

(N) – minor weakness or failing of character – a small, but persistent personal fault

Idyll

(N) a scene or event of rustic simplicity -OR- a short poem describing a picturesque episode or scene of rustic life

Placate

(V) – to allay the anger, embarrassment, stress (any negative feeling, really) especially by yielding concessions

Pragmatic

(ADJ) – dealing with facts or actual occurrences; practical rather than contemplative

Proclivity

(N) – a natural propensity or inclination – predisposition

Recant

(V) – to make a formal retraction or disavowal of a statement or a belief previously committed to

Renegade

1\.    (N) – one who rejects his religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another OR (ADJ) said of someone who rejects his … OR (V) – this usage is odd and uncommon

Splenetic

(ADJ) – said of someone who is ill-humored and peevish, someone who is irritable

Sublimate

(V) – to modify the natural expression of in a socially acceptable manner – to improve and/or refine -OR- in science it’s to cause to change state without becoming a liquid

Torpid

(ADJ) – said of a person (or maybe a situation?) who is deprived of the power of motion or who is feeling benumbed – dormant, lethargic, apathetic

Untenable

(ADJ) – said of something this is not defensible

Vapid

1\.    (ADJ) – said of someone who is lacking life, spirit, or who is dull and tedious OR literally, it is lacking taste, zest or flavor

Vilify

(V) – to defame, denigrate and malign

Abstruse

(ADJ) – said of things (concepts) that are difficult to understand

Cajole

1\.    (V) – to coax, wheedle, it’s sort of like begging, but just a little bit more subtle

*Coffer*

(N/V) a strong box or the funds, treasury that would be housed in such a box

Diffident

(ADJ) – said of someone who is lacking in self-confidence, who is timid

Enigma

(N) – one that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable – an obscure riddle

Foment

(V) – to promote the growth of, stir up, instigate

Ignominious

(ADJ) said of someone who is deserving of or characterized by shame or disgrace

Placid

(ADJ) – said of something or someone that/who has an undisturbed surface (thing) or aspect (person)

Precarious

1\.    (ADJ) – said of something that is subject to chance or unknown conditions -OR- dangerously lacking in security

Prodigious

(ADJ) – said of something that is impressively great in size, force, or extent; enormous -OR- something extraordinarily marvelous

*Reciprocal*

1\.    ADJ) – concerning each of two or more people or things that are interchangeable – interchanged, given, or owed mutually or (NOUN) anything that is a converse with something else

*Requisite*

(ADJ) – required; absolutely needed – essential (like a pre-requisit) or (NOUN) a necessity – something absolutely necessary

Spurious

(ADJ) – said of something lacking authenticity or validity; counterfeit, false (a spurious claim, argument or excuse

*Succor*

1\.    (N/V) – assistance or help in times of distress; to offer relief

Transmute

(V) – to change (or transform) from one form, nature, substance or state into another

Upbraid

(V) to reprove (reprimand) sharply, scold or chide vehemently

*Vaunted*

(V) – to describe in boastful terms – to brag about OR (ADJ) said of something being boasted about or, occasionally, of someone who is a braggart

Virulent

(ADJ) said of something that is rapidly spreading and extremely poisonous or pathogenic

*Bombastic*

(Adj/N) – characterized by pompous speech or writing

Callow

(Adj) – said of someone or something who/that is immature or inexperienced

Discern

(V) to see things as they really/clearly are or, to perceived something which is obscured or concealed – to detect

Abrogate

(V) to abolish or annul by authority, to nullify something by someone who has the authority to do so

Anneal

(V) – to temper or harden, this can be literal or figurative

Archipelago

(N) – a large group of islands

Austere

(Adj) – said of a person who is stern in disposition or appearance, someone who is strict in moral discipline – it’s also said of a place that is lacking any comforts, providing only the bare necessities

Brigand

(N) – a robber, especially one member of a band of bandits

Cogent

(adj) – said of something that is forcibly convincing (like an argument)

Compunction

(N) – a strong uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt or remorse – a slight uneasiness or regret

Consternation

(N) – sudden confusion or amazement or frustration (negative)

Copious

1\.     (Adj) – said of something that yields or contains plenty, ample supply – large in quantity

 

Culpable

(Adj) – said of someone who is responsible for a wrong or an error

Discursive

(Adj) – said of something (often a conversation) that covers a wide range of subjects

Docile

(Adj) – said of someone or something thing who/that is capable of being trained

*Ephemeral*

(Adj/N) – said so something that lasts only a short amount of time, short-lived, transitory

Extol

(V) – to praise lavishly, to laud or eulogize

Flay

(N) – to fight, scuffle, a brawl, a heated dispute OR (V) – to unravel, wear away or tatter

*Harangue*

1\.     (N/V) – a long, pompous speech, especially one delivered before a gathering – a speech characterized by strong feeling of vehement expression

*Atrophy*

1. (n)      a wasting away or a decrease in size of a body organ, tissue, or part owing to

disease, injury, or lack of use -__OR__- (v) – to cause to wither or deteriorate

Denizen

(n) an inhabitant; a resident; one who frequents a particular place

Glean

(v) to collect bit by bit – in the most specific sense it’s to gather grain left behind by reapers

Abut

1. (v) to touch end to end or side to side; to border on or be next to

Antipodes

1. (n) any two places or regions that are on diametrically opposite sides of the earth *(used with a sing. or pl. verb)* – something that is the exact opposite or contrary of another        

Atoll

1. (n)  a ringlike coral island and reef that nearly or entirely encloses a lagoon

*Awry*

1. (adv)   in a position that is turned or twisted toward one side; askew -__OR__- (adj) – not functioning properly; turned or twisted toward one side

Canvass

1. (v)      to examine carefully or discuss thoroughly; scrutinize, or to conduct a survey, or to gather possible evidence -__OR__- (n) the results of the examination or discussion or collection of information

Collusion

(n) a secret agreement between two or more people or groups for a fraudulent, illegal, or deceitful purpose