Sophomore Vocabulary Review

SAT Vocab, Greek Drama, Night, Joy Luck Club, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Latin/French Influence

A __ is a person who is timid or submissive.

Milquetoast

Something that is __ lacks significance through having been overused, unoriginal, or worn out.

Hackneyed

__ describes something that is disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with death, injury, or morbid events.

Macabre

To __ means to make an unpleasant feeling less intense, or to relieve it.

Assuage

A __ is a countless or extremely great number; a large quantity or multitude.

Myriad

__ is a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment.

Naiveté

An __ is something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected; an oddity or abnormality.

Anomaly

__ is a scarcity or lack of something; a shortage.

Dearth

__ means unnecessary or more than enough; extra.

Superfluous

__ is the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect; a comparison of two things.

Juxtaposition

A __ refers to a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound; a fine distinction or variation.

Nuance

__ means liable to change rapidly and unpredictably.

Volatile

__ is an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government; a form of dictatorship, totalitarianism, racism, and xenophobia.

Fascism

A __ is a community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristic qualities of something much larger.

Microcosm

To __ means to travel or wander around from place to place.

Peregrinate

To __ means to haul or carry.

Schlep

To __ means to talk to someone in a friendly and informal way, or to look on and offer unwelcome advice.

Kibitz

A __ is a nickname.

Sobriquet

__ describes something soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing.

Evanescent

__ describes something (typically of speech or a debate) angry and bitter; vitriolic or rancorous.

Acrimonious

A __ is a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another; a sign or indication.

Harbinger

__ means present, appearing, or found everywhere; omnipresent or universal.

Ubiquitous

__ means very generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful; benevolent or altruistic.

Magnanimous

__ means knowing everything; all-knowing.

Omniscient

__ means having unlimited power; all-powerful or almighty.

Omnipotent

__ describes something (typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal; evil or heinous.

Nefarious

__ describes something belonging to a period other than it appears.

Anachronistic

To __ means to regard with disgust and hatred; to detest or loathe.

Abhor

A __ is a person who enjoys a luxurious lifestyle.

Bon vivant

An __ is something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected; a rarity or anomaly.

Aberration

__ is the quality of being sagacious; wisdom.

Sagacity

A __ is a political leader who seeks support by making false claims and promises and preys upon people’s fears and prejudices.

Demagogue

__ describes having or showing the unpleasant quality of people who want to be seen as more impressive, successful, or important than they really are; pompous.

Pretentious

__ (as a verb) means to overwhelm with a great quantity of something; to flood or bombard.

Deluge

__ describes (of a person) quiet and rather reflective or depressed; somber.

Subdued

A __ is a collection of documents about a particular person, event, or subject; information or data.

Dossier

The __ is the rounded stage on which chorus and actors perform in Greek drama.

Orchestra

An __ is a lyric poem, usually praising someone or something.

Ode

A __ is a short poem of songlike quality.

Lyric Poem

A __ is an ode sung by the chorus in classical Greek drama.

Choral Ode

__ is the first choral ode, where the chorus turns east to west.

Strophe

__ is the answering choral ode, where the chorus turns west to east.

Antistrophe

__ are words spoken in an undertone not intended to be heard by all characters.

Aside

The __ sang, chanted an entrance song, engaged in dialogue with the characters through the leader, sang and danced choral songs, and commented on characters/events of the play.

Chorus

__ is the leader of a chorus.

Choragus

__ is when the chorus exits at the end of the play, singing a processional song which offers words of wisdom related to the actions and outcome of the play.

Exodus

__ is the song sung by the chorus as it first enters the orchestra and dances.

Parados

The __ is where the spectators sat, normally on a hillside, and wrapped around the orchestra.

Theatron

__ is a reference to a famous piece of art, literature, or something in your own life.

Allusion

A __ is when a piece of art, literature, or music hints at a piece of mythology.

Mythological Allusion

__ is when the audience knows something that the characters do not.

Dramatic Irony

__ is a song of praise or triumph.

Paean

__ is the purging of unwanted emotions.

Catharsis / cathartic

__ are events beyond a person’s control; destiny.

Fate

__ is the power of acting without fate; independence or freedom.

Free will

A __ is a small building used as changing rooms (Skene).

Skene

__ is missing the mark or a fatal flaw.

Hamartia

To __ means to state or assert positively; to maintain as true.

affirm

__ means selflessness, thinking of others before yourself.

altruistic

To __ means to destroy completely.

annihilate

__ means hating or discriminating against Jewish people.

anti-Semitic

To __ means to determine.

ascertain

__ is a good friendship.

camaraderie

A __ is something that is huge in size or importance.

colossus

A __ is a limitation or restriction.

constraint

A __ is a furnace where a corpse can be burned and reduced to ash.

crematory

A __ is a false belief or opinion, an idea not based in reality.

delusion

__ means looking untidy.

disheveled

__ are an official order by an authority.

edicts

__ means held in high regard or high in status

exalted

A __ is a structure for the hanging of criminals.

gallows

__ means not showing care for the consequence of an action.

imprudent

__ is abusive, insulting language.

invectives

__ means deadly.

lethal

__ means to set free from being imprisoned.

liberated

__ is a state of nothingness.

oblivion

__ means related to the father.

paternal

__ means absorbed in thought.

preoccupied

__ means important or well-known.

prominent

A __ is an amount of food, water, or other supplies allotted to a person.

ration

__ is being saved from sin or error.

redemption

To __ means to cancel or withdraw.

rescind

To __ means declared holy; to bless.

sanctify

__ means of such excellence, grandeur or beauty to inspire great admiration.

sublime

__ means done in a secretive or sneaky manner.

surreptitiously

__ means never done or known before.

unprecedented

__ means active strength or force.

vigor

__ means arrogant or pompous.

Haughty

__ means respected due to age, wisdom, or character; revered; honored.

Venerable

To __ means to praise; applaud; commend.

Laud

__ means refusing to change; stubborn; obdurate.

Obstinate

__ means lacking excitement; dull; boring.

Mundane

__ means characterized by bitterness or resentment; bitter; spiteful; acrimonious; malevolent.

Rancorous

__ means tending to keep a firm hold of something; unshakeable.

Tenacious

__ means acting or showing care and thought for the future; wise; sensible; sagacious; shrewd.

Prudent

__ means (of a child) having developed certain abilities at an earlier age than usual; gifted; quick.

Precocious

__ means without the basic necessities of life; poor.

Destitute

__ means tending to stir up conflict; provocative; inflammatory.

Incendiary

__ means in a forceful, passionate, or intense manner; powerfully; strongly; emotionally.

Vehemently

__ means feeling or showing anger at what is perceived as unfair treatment.

Indignant