Week One "A Tale of Two Cities" Vocab - AP Literature

Tumbrils

an open cart that tilted backward to empty out its load, in particular one used to convey condemned prisoners to the guillotine during the French Revolution

Turnkeys

a jailer

Incredulity

the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something, lack of belief

Requisition

an official order laying claim to the use of property or materials

demand the use or supply of, especially by official order and for military or public use

Auspicious

conducive to success; favorable

Monseigneur

a title or form of address used of or to a French-speaking prince, cardinal, archbishop, or bishop

Inexorable

impossible to stop or prevent

(of a person) impossible to persuade by request or entreaty

Blunderbuss

a short-barreled large-bored gun with a flared muzzle, used at short range

an action or way of doing something regarded as lacking in subtlety and precision

Gaols

a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government

Potentate

a monarch or ruler, especially an autocratic one

Emphatic

showing or giving emphasis; expressing something forcibly and clearly

Pernicious

having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way

Escutcheon

a shield or emblem bearing a coat of arms

a flat piece of metal for protection and often ornamentation, around a keyhole, door handle, or light switch

Sonorous

(of a person's voice or other sound) imposingly deep and full

capable of producing a deep or ringing sound

(of a speech or style) using imposing language

Unfathomable

incapable of being fully explored or understood

(of water or a natural feature) impossible to measure the extent of

Epoch

a period of time in history or a person's life, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics

the beginning of a distinctive period in the history of someone or something

a division of time that is a subdivision of a period and is itself subdivided into ages, corresponding to a series in chronostratigraphy

Retinue

a group of advisers, assistants, or others accompanying an important person

Forlorn

sad and lonely because of isolation or desertion

desolate

being in poor condition

miserable, wretched

Debauched

indulging in or characterized by sensual pleasures to a degree perceived to be morally harmful; dissolute

Incorrigible

(of a person or their tendencies) not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed

Piscatory

of, relating to, or dependent on fish or fishing