AP Summative Terms

Aloof

not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant.

Ambiguous

open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning.

Ambivalence

the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

Colloquial

used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.

Condescending

having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority.

Contemptuous

showing disrespect/scorn

Cynical

believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.

Deference

humble submission and respect.

Disillusioned

disappointed in someone or something that one discovers to be less good than one had believed.

Dismal

depressing or dreary

Dismay

distress typically that’s caused by something unexpected.

Dogmatic

inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.

Effusive

expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner.

Elysian

relating to or characteristic of heaven or paradise.

Emphatic

with emphasis (assertive, wholehearted)

Enigmatic

Mysterious

Ephemeral

lasting for a very short time.

Equanimity

composure, especially in a difficult situation

Erudite

having or showing great knowledge or learning.

Euphemism

the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant

Exhortation

an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something.

Extemporaneous

done without preparation or planning

Frivolous

not having any serious purpose or value.

Impressionistic

based on subjective reactions presented unsystematically.

Ingratiating

intended to gain approval or favor

Innocuous

harmless

Inscrutability

not easily understood

Irreverent

showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously.

Judicious

having, showing, or done with good judgment or sense.

Magnanimity

Generosity

Morose

gloomy, ill-tempered

Omnipotent

having unlimited power; able to do anything.

Pedantic

overly scholarly

Polemical

relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech.

Pragmatic

realistic and practical

Prepositions

a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause, as in “the man on the platform,” “she arrived after dinner,” “what did you do it for?” (conveys direction, space, time, location)

Propensity

an inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way.

Provocative

causing annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction, especially deliberately.

Reverent

feeling or showing deep and solemn respect.

Sanctity

holiness

Self-deprecating

modest about or critical of oneself, especially humorously so.

Strident

loud and harsh; grating.

Vindictive

having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge.

Zeal

energy/enthusiasm