AP Language vocab (1-90)

Mr. Sturm

abstract

difficult to understand; theoretical; not concrete

abstruse

hard to understand

adage

a wise old saying

apposition

a grammar constructive in which a noun (or noun phrase) is placed with another as an explanation

arduous

 difficult; painstaking

clarity

clearness in thought or expression 

cogent

convincing; reasonable 

cohesive

condition of sticking together 

compelling

forceful; urgently demanding attention 

consensus

general agreement

convoluted

intricate; complex

Didactic

intended to instruct

dilatory

describing one who habitually delays or is tardy 

dogmatic

characterized by stubborn adherence to insufficiently proved beliefs 

effusive

describing unrestrained emotional expression; gushy 

emphasize

to give special attention to something, to stress 

emphatic

strongly expressed

enervate

to weaken the strength or vitality of

florid

describing flowery or elaborate speech 

fluid

easily flowing

futile

having no useful purpose 

hackneyed

overfamiliar through overuse; trite 

heinous

hatefully evil; abominable 

impede

to slow the progress

impenetrable

incapable of being understood 

implication

the act of suggesting or hinting

indolent

lazy

metonymy

a type of figurative language in which one term is substituted for another term with which it is closely associated 

phenomenon

an unusual, observable event 

poignant

deeply affecting; touching

rapport

a relationship of mutual trust or affinity

servile

submissive; like a servant

acquired

developed or learned; not naturally occurring

apprehension

anxiety or fear about the future 

contemporary

current, modern; from the same time 

egregious

conspicuously bad or offensive

endure

 to put up with; to survive a hardship 

facetious

playfully humorous

farce

an absurdly ridiculous situation

frenetic

wildly excited or active 

garrulous

given to excessive, rambling talk

gratuitous

given freely; unearned; unwarranted

impression

a feeling or understanding resulting from an experience

insipid

 uninteresting; unchallenging

listless

 lacking energy; lazy

misconception

an incorrect understanding or interpretation

pander

cater to lower tastes and desires of others or exploit their weaknesses

paucity

 fewness; an extreme lack of

ponderous

 having great weight; massive

premonition

 a feeling about the future 

propriety

appropriateness of behavior 

ruse

a crafty trick 

sedentary

not migratory; settled

slander

false charges and malicious statements or reports about someone 

sonorous

having or producing sound causing sleep or sleepiness; boring

soporific

causing sleep or sleepiness; boring

specious

having the ring of truth or plausibility but actually false

spontaneous

unplanned; naturally occurring 

squalor

a filthy condition or quality

stupor

a state of reduced or suspended sensibility

superfluously

 extra; unnecessary

abdicate

to formally give up power

advocate

one who pleads for or defends a cause or proposal 

annihilate

to destroy completely

arbitrary

detemined by impulse rather than reason 

assiduous

hard-working 

benevolent

kind; generous

conscientious

 careful and principled

context

circumstances of a situation; environment or setting 

despotic

characterized by exercising absolute power tyrannically 

dictatorial

domineering; oppressively overbearing 

diligent

marked by painstaking effort; hard-working 

dogged

stubbornly persevering

enlightening

informative; contributing to one's awareness 

exemplary

commendable; worthy of imitation 

fastidious

possessing careful attention to detail 

haughty

condescendingly proud

imperious

arrogantly domineering or overbearing like an emperor 

indifferent

not caring one way or the other

intrepid

courageous; fearless

lampoon (n/v)

a broad satirical piece; or to broadly satirize

meticulous

extremely careful and precise

modest

quiet or humble in manner or appearance 

obstinate

stubbornly adhering to an opinion or a course of action

omnipotent

all-powerful

parody

an artistic work that comically imitates the style of another work

patronizing

treating in a condescending manner

profound

having great depth or seriousness

subdue

to restrain; to hold back

wry

dryly humorous, often with a touch of irony