ap lang unit 2

aegis (n)

protection; patronage; sponsorship

apprise (v)

to inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice

bibulous (adj)

fond of or inclined to drink; absorbent

claque (n)

a group of people hired to applaud a performer or performance; enthusiastic or fawning admirers; an opera hat.

deracinate (v)

to pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of


syn: eradicate

eleemosynary (adj)

charitable; dependent upon or supported by charity; derived from or provided by charity.

indigenous (adj)

originating in the country or region where found, native, inborn; inherent

lachrymose (adj)

given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious

lexicon (n)

a dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject

melee (n)

a confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling

microcosm (n)

a miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system

minuscule (adj)

very small, tiny; (n) a lowercase letter

In the typeface that the poet chose, every letter used in the poem is a MINUSCULE.

obfuscate (v)

to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder

paternalism (n)

the policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father dealing with his children

polarize (v)

to cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions; to cause light to vibrate in a patter

syn: divide

purview (n)

the rang, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided in a statute

sanguine (adj)

having a ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook

syn: rosy

solecism (n)

a substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; any impropriety or mistake

vassal (n)

a person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he or she owes allegiance; a subordinate or dependent; a servant; (adj) subservient

verisimilitude (n)

the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable