AP Lit Vocab

all definitions pulled from the Meriam-Webster dictionary or Dictionary.com

plaintive

(adj) something sounding or expressing sorrow, sadness, or a gentle, pleading melancholy

portentous

(adj) 1. an omen that foreshadows a significant, usually unpleasant future event
2. describes someone who acts overly grave, pompous, and self-important in an attempt to impress others

semblance

(n) the state of being somewhat like something but not truly or fully the same thing

penury

(n) the state of being very poor : extreme poverty

desolate

(adj) 1. lacking the people, plants, animals, etc., that make people feel welcome in a place
2. very sad and lonely especially because someone you love has died or left

ascetic

(adj) relating to or having a strict and simple way of living that avoids physical pleasure

sullen

(adj) gloomily or resentfully silent or repressed, dismal, gloomy

peremptory

(adj) leaving no opportunity for denial or refusal; imperative

soporific

(adj) causing a person to become tired and ready to fall asleep

ludicrous

(adj) very foolish : ridiculous

façade

(n) 1. the front of a building; any face of a building given special architectural treatment
2. a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect

approbation

(n) praise or approval

interminable

(adj) interminable

calumny

(n) an untrue statement that is made to damage someone's reputation; the act of making such statements

acquiesce

(v) to accept, agree, or comply usually by staying silent or by not arguing

propitious

(adj) likely to have or produce good results

venerate

(v) to feel or show deep respect for (someone or something that is considered great, holy, etc.)

phlegmatic

(adj) not easily upset, excited, or angered

enigma

(n) something or someone that is obscure/hard to understand or explain

deprecate

(v) 1. to express earnest disapproval of
2. to cease supporting or recommending the use of (older elements, features, or versions of software).

noxious

(adj) 1. physically harmful or destructive to living beings
2. disagreeable, obnoxious

assiduous

(adj) constant in application or effort; working diligently at a task

solicitous

(adj) showing concern or care for someone's health, happiness, etc.

fastidious

(adj) 1. very careful about how you do something
2. liking few things : hard to please

insipid

(adj) not interesting or exciting : dull or boring

inveterate

(adj) always or often doing something specified (usually disapproving)

enervate

(v) to make (someone or something) very weak or tired

trepidation

(n) a feeling of fear that causes you to hesitate because you think something bad or unpleasant is going to happen

evince

(v) to show (something) clearly

engender

(v) to be the source or cause of (something)

capricious

(adj) 1. changing often and quickly
2. not logical or reasonable : based on an idea, desire, etc., that is not possible to predict

countenance

(n) the appearance of a person's face : a person's expression
(v) to accept, support, or approve of (something)

conjecture

(n) an opinion or idea formed without proof or sufficient evidence ; guess
(v) to form an opinion or idea without proof or sufficient evidence ; guess

inexorable

(adj) not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped : relentless

sardonic

(adj) showing disrespect or scorn for someone or something : disdainfully or skeptically humorous : derisively mocking

impetuous

(adj) acting or done quickly and without thought : controlled by emotion rather than thought : impulsive

equivocal

(adj) having two or more possible meanings : ambiguous ; not easily understood

transitory

(adj) temporary; lasting only for a short time

ephemeral

(adj) lasting for one day or a very short time

obscure

(adj) 1. not well-known : not known to most people
2. difficult to understand : likely to be understood by only a few people

sanguine

(adj) confident and hopeful

prodigal

(adj) carelessly and foolishly spending money, time, etc.

discern

(v) 1. to see, hear, or notice (something) with difficulty or effort
2. to come to know, recognize, or understand (something)

profligate

(adj) carelessly and foolishly wasting money, materials, etc. : very wasteful

languid

(adj) showing or having very little strength, energy, or activity

sententious

(adj) having or expressing strong opinions about what people should and should not do

disposition

(n) 1. the tendency to act or think in a certain manner under given circumstances
2. the act or the power of disposing or the state of being disposed

apoplexy

(n) 1. (medical) the sudden loss of the ability to feel or move parts of the body caused by too little blood going to the brain
2. (informal) great anger and excitement

insuperable

(adj) impossible to solve or get control of : impossible to overcome

indefatigable

(adj) able to work or continue for a very long time without becoming tired : tireless