Vocabulary Flashcards: Literary, Religious, and General Terms

Aromatic

Having a sweet, penetrating smell

Austere

Having a stern look or manner : stric or severe in modes of living or acting

blasphemy

profane speaking of God or of sacred things : an irreverent act or utterance

dogma

that which is held as an opinion : a belief, principle, doctrine.

enigma

an obscure riddle or puzzle : a baffling situation or person

Heresy

a belief or opinion at variance with established doctrine in religion or in other fields

Ironic

characterized by a manner of speaking in which words are used to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; characteristic of that which is the direct opposite of what is expected or hoped for

labyrinth

An intricate structure or system of winding, interconnecting paths or passages something highly intricate or perplexing in makeup

pathos

a quality especially in literature or art that awakens feelings of sympathy, pity compassion or sorrow

proselytize

to try to convert

prototype

an original held as the standard for subsequent forms

zealot

a fanatically devoted or committed person an immoderate partisan