AP Lang Vocab Definitions

intercede

• plead on behalf of someone else

• to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement

hackneyed

• used so often as to lack freshness or originality

approbation

• the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise

• official approval or sanction

innuendo

• hint, indirect suggestion or reference (often in a derogatory sense)

coalition

• combination, union or merger for some specific purpose

elicit

• to draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person)

hiatus

• a gap, opening, break (in the sense of having an element missing)

assuage

• make easier or milder, relieve

• to quiet, calm

• to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench

decadence

• decline, decay or deterioration

• condition or period of decline or decay

• excessive self-indulgence

expostulate

• attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning

simulate

• to make a pretense of, imitate

• to show the outer signs of

jaded

• wearied, worn-out, dulled (in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence)

umbrage

• foilage giving shade

• shade cast by trees

• an overshadowing influence or power

• offense, resentment

• a vague suspicion

prerogative

• special right or privilege

• special quality showing excellence

lurid

• causing shock, horror or revulsion

• sensational

• pale or sallow in color

• terible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint

transcend

• to rise above or beyond, exceed

provincial

• pertaining to an outlying area

• local

• narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited or backward

• of a simple, plain design that originated in the countryside

• a person with a narrow point of view

• a person from an outlying area

• a soldier from a province or colony

petulant

• peevish, annoyed by trifiles, easily irritated and upset

unctuous

• fatty, oily and pliable

• excessively smooth or smug

• trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity or piety

meritorious

• worthy, deserving recognition and praise

ex officio

• by virtue of holding a certain office

callow

• without feathers

• without experience

• immature

• not fully developed

• lacking sophistication and poise

ameliorate

• to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming

bombastic

• pompous or overblown in language

• full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas

ingratiate

• to make onesself agreeable and thus gain favorable acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense)

epitome

• a summary, condensed account

• an instance that represents a larger reality

aplomb

• poise, assurance, great self-confidence

• perpendicularity

exhort

• to urge strongly, advise earnestly

drivel

• salive or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose

• foolish, aimless talk or htinking

• nonsense

• to let saliva flow from mouth

• to utter nonsense childish twaddle

• to waste or fritter away foolishly

inveigh

• to make a violent attack in words

• express strong disapproval

surmise

• to think or believe without certain supporting evidence

• to conjecture or guess

• an idea or thought that seems likely but lacks definite proof

intrinsic

• belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent

• originating in a bodyily organ or part

• good for its own sake

occult

• mysterious, magical, supernatural

• secret, hidden from view

• not detectable by ordinary means

• to hide, conceal

• eclipse

• matters involving the supernatural

precipitate

• to fall as moisture

• to cause or bring about suddenly

• to hurl down from a great height

• to give distinct form to

• characterized by excessive haste

• moisture

• the product of an action or process

lassitude

• weariness of body or mind

• lack of energy

millennium

• a period of one thousand years

• a period of great joy, prosperity or peace

permeate

• to spread through, penetrate, soak through

stringent

• strict, severe

• rigorously or urgently binding or compelling

• sharp or bitter to the taste

interloper

• an intruder

• one who moves in where he or she is not watned or has no right to be

infringe

• to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds

expiate

• to make amends, atone, make up for

• to ward off or avert

expedite

• to make easy, cause to progress faster

abominate

• to have an intense dislike or hatred for

ascribe

• to assign or refer to (as a cause or source), attribute

adventitious

• resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character

• accidentail, not essential

• (medicine) acquired, not congenital

enjoin

• to direct or order

• to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way

• to prohibit

commiserate

• to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress

acculturation

• the modification of the social patterns, traits, or structures of one group or society by contact with those of another

• the resultant blend

circuitous

• roundabout, not direct

ferment

• to be in or work into such a state

• to produce alcohol by chemical action

vitriolic

• bitter, sarcastic

• highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid)

wheedle

• to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end

peculate

• to steal something that has been given into one’s trust

• to take improperly for one’s own use

proclivity

• a natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human character or behavior)

nominal

• existing in name only, not real

• too small to be considered or taken seriously

seditious

• resistant to lawful authority

• having the purpose of overthrowing an established government

tenuous

• thin, slender, not dense

• lacking clarity or sharpness

• of slight importance or significance

• lacking a sound basis, poorly supported

noncommittal

• not decisive or definite

• unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no

sangfroid

• composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances

inadvertent

• resulting from or marked by lack of attention

• unintentional, accidental