AP Lang vocab 9-15

Obfuscate

to make something obscure or unclear, especially by making it unnecessarily

complicated; to make something dark or hard to see.

Pathos

The quality in something that makes people feel pity or sadness; feeling of pity,

especially when they are expressed in some way.

Primeval

at or from ancient, original stages in the development of something; primitive, or

arising from instinct rather than thought.

Salubrious

beneficial to or promoting health or well-being

Solicitous

expressing an attitude of concern and consideration; full of eagerness and

anticipation to do something’ paying very careful attention to details.

Albeit

used to add information that is different to what you have already said

Bereft

deprived of somebody or something loved or valued; lacking in something

desirable or necessary; filled with a sense of loss

Gratis

received or given without cost or payment

Intercession

the action of pleading on somebody’s behalf; the action of attempting to

settle a dispute; prayer to God, a god, or saint on behalf of somebody or something

Lineaments

a feature or contour of a face; a characteristic feature, especially of

something immaterial

Presage

a sigh or warning of a future event; a feeling that a particular thing, often

something unpleasant, is about to happen; significance with regard to future events.

Prodigal

spendthrift or extravagant to a degree bordering on recklessness; giving or

producing something in large amounts

Prolixity

tiresome wordiness

Sinecure

a job or position that provides a regular income but requires little or no work; a

church office whose holder is paid but is not required to do pastoral work.

Visage

somebody’s face or facial expression; the appearance or look of something.

Analogous

comparable in certain respects, typically in a way that makes clearer the nature

of the things compared

Brigand

a member of a gang that ambushes and robs people in forests and mountains.

Emissary

a person sent on a special mission, usually as a diplomatic representative.

Felicity

intense happiness: domestic ______.

Incendiary

-(of a device or attack) designed to cause fires

-tending to stir up conflict

-very exciting

Magnanimous

very generous or forgiving, esp. toward a rival or someone less powerful

than oneself.

Plight

a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation

Repartee

conversation or speech characterized by quick, witty comments or replies.

Ubiquitous

present, appearing, or found everywhere

Venerable

accorded a great deal of respect, esp. because of age, wisdom, or character

Countenance

1 a person's face or facial expression: his impenetrable eyes and inscrutable

_________ give little away.

2 support: she was giving her specific __________ to the occasion.

Deposition

the action of depositing something: pebbles formed by the ______ of calcium in solution.

Discursive

digressing from subject to subject.

Disdain

extreme contempt or disgust for something or somebody.

Epigram

a concise, witty, and often paradoxical remark or saying.

Feign

To give a false appearance of, to represent falsely; pretend to

Laconic

using few words; expressing much in few words; concise

Mien

air, bearing, or demeanor, as showing character, feeling

Veracity

habitual observance of truth in speech or statement; truthfulness

Wry

Dryly humorous, often with a touch of irony; misdirected; abnormally

twisted or bent to one side; crooked

Confound

to perplex or amaze, esp. by a sudden disturbance or surprise; bewilder;

confuse; to contradict or refute: to _______ their arguments

Curate

(noun) a member of the clergy employed to assist a rector or vicar;

any ecclesiastic entrusted with the cure of souls, as a parish priest. (verb) To act as curator of; organize and oversee

Ethereal

light, airy, or tenuous: an ethereal world created through the poetic imagination.

Of or pertaining to the upper regions of space

Gambol

To leap about playfully; frolic

Mutability

liable or subject to change or alteration, fickle, constantly changing

Nascent

beginning to exist or develop: the ______ republic.

Nonplused

(verb) to render utterly perplexed; puzzle completely. (noun) a state of utter

perplexity.

Pedantic

overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, esp. in teaching.

Quail

to lose heart or courage in difficulty or danger; shrink with fear.

Rhetorical

used for, belonging to, or concerned with mere style or effect.

Fatuous

foolish or inane, esp. in an unconscious, complacent manner; silly; unreal; illusory.

Febrile

pertaining to or marked by fever; feverish.

Furtive

taken, done, used, etc., surreptitiously or by stealth; secret.

Incredulous

not credulous; disinclined or indisposed to believe; skeptical.

Interminable

incapable of being terminated; unending; monotonously or annoyingly

protracted or continued; unceasing; incessant; having no limits.

Obliquely

Having a slanting or sloping direction, course, or position; inclined; Devious,

misleading, or dishonest

Pernicious

causing insidious harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful; deadly; fatal.

Sardonic

characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering.

Ultimatum

a final, uncompromising demand or set of terms issued by a party to a dispute,

the rejection of which may lead to a severance of relations or to the use of force.

Writhe

to twist the body about, or squirm, as in pain, violent effort, etc; to shrink mentally,

as in acute discomfort.

Astute

of keen penetration or discernment; sagacious; clever; cunning; ingenious; shrewd.

Beseech

to implore urgently; to beg eagerly for; solicit.

Capitulate

to surrender unconditionally or on stipulated terms.

Deprecating

to express earnest disapproval of; to urge reasons against; protest against (a

scheme, purpose, etc.); to depreciate; belittle.

Glean

to gather slowly and laboriously, bit by bit; to learn, discover, or find out, usually little

by little or slowly.

Accordant

Being in agreement or harmony; consonant.

Accouterments

An accessory item of equipment or dress. Often used in the

plural

Deportment

A manner of personal conduct; behavior

Exposition

A systematic interpretation or explanation (usually written) of a

specific topic.

Impugn

To challenge as false (another’s statements, motives, etc.); cast doubt

upon.

Impute

To relate to a particular cause or source; attribute the fault

responsibility to.

Parapet

A low wall along the edge of a roof or balcony.

Pertinacity

Persistent determination.

Temperance

Moderation of self-restraint in action, statement etc.; self-control

Viands

Articles or dishes of food, now usually of a choice or delicate kind.

Brevity

Shortness of time or duration; breifness

Copious

Large in quantity or number; abundant; plentiful

Gout

A painful inflammation of the big toe on the foot

Habiliments

The special dress or garb associated with an occasion or office

Irksome

annoying, irritating, exasperation, tiresome

Ponderous

lacking grace or fluency; labored and dull

Scrupulous

having scruples; having or showing a strict regard for what one

considers right; principled.

Sundry

Various; miscellaneous: a purse containing keys, wallet, and _____ items.

Timorous

full of fear; fearful

Transcendent

going beyond ordinary limits; surpassing; exceeding.

Amorous

Strongly attracted or disposed to love, especially sexual love:

Benign

having a kindly disposition; gracious

Dissolute

Lacking moral restraint; indulging in sensual pleasures or vices.

Ebullient

overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited

Entourage

a group of attendants or associates, as of a person of rank or

importance:

Extol

to praise highly; laud; eulogize

Languid

lacking in vigor or vitality; slack or slow

Meet

Fitting; proper

Resolute

firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion.

Turgid

inflated, overblown, or pompous; bombastic

Chastening

a rebuke for making a mistake

Corporeal

adj. Having material or physical form or substance

Derive

v. to reason by deduction; establish by deduction.

Dubious

adj. Fraught with uncertainty or doubt.

Equivocal

adj. Open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or

significance or (often) intended to mislead.

Errant

adj. Straying away from the right course, or from accepted standards.

Goad

n. a pointed instrument used to prod into motion

Languor

n. A relaxed comfortable feeling.

Resplendent

adj. Having great beauty or splendor.

Ruminate

v. To reflect deeply on a subject