AP English Literature Second Semester

deprivation

the disadvantage that results from losing something

rendezvous

a meeting planned at a certain time and place

intently

with strained or eager attention

noisome

offensively malodorous (having an unpleasant smell)

askew

turned or twisted to one side

bereft

lacking or deprived of something

muster

summon up, call forth, to bring together

clairvoyance

perceiving future events beyond normal sensory contact

reprimand

to call out bad behavior

nefarious

wicked or criminal

moribund

at the point of death

fiat

decree

calcified

inflexible, unchangeable

demagogue

political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument

countenance

to tolerate, approve, sanction

miasma

highly unpleasant, unhealthy smell or vapor; an oppressive surrounding,

discourses

spoken or written communications of debate.

modus operandi

a particular way of doing something

reticence

the quality of being reserved

gnomic

expressed in or of the nature of short, pithy maxims or aphorisms.

roiling

(of a liquid) agitated vigorously; in a state

melancholy

a feeling of thoughtful sadness

dote

To shower with love, to show excessive affect for

malice

a desire to see others suffer

desolate

providing no shelter or sustenance

exhume

dig up for reburial or for medical investigations

riven

violently split apart

laden

heavily weighed down

tableau

a group of models or motionless figures that represent a scene

coffle

lines of animals or slaves, fastened or driven together

copse

a dense growth of trees, shrubs, or bushes

indolent

disinclined to work or exertion

conflagration

a very intense and uncontrolled fire

cleave

seperate or cut with a tool such as a sharp instrument

cipher

code

rambunctious

noisy or lacking in restraint or discipline

pilfer

to make off with the belongings of others

rile

to disturb, especially by minor irritations

commence

to set in motion or cause something to start

rectify

to make right or correct

vexed

troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances.

manumission

formal act of freeing from slavery

plait

hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair

rapt

deeply engrossed

at bay

cornered; forced to confront one’s pursuers

listless

lacking zest (of a person)

tentative

done without confidence; hesistant

rout

a disorderly retreat or defeated troops

hearten

to make more cheerful or confident

rancor

bitterness or resentfulness; especially longlasting

marrow

the inmost, best, or essential part; core

lapping

(of an animal) take up (liquid) with the tongue in order to drink

intrepid

resolutely fearless; dauntless

vestige

a very slight trace or amount of something

precipitate

to bring about prematurely, hastily or suddenly

scruple

doubt or hesitation regarding the morality or propiety of a course of action

despondency

a state of low spirits caused by loss of hope or courage

effluvia

an unpleasant or harmful odor, secretion, or discharge

asunder

apart/divided; into seperate pieces

usurp

to take (a position of power or importance) illegally or by force

mettle

person’s ability to cope well with difficulty or to face a demanding situation in a spirited and resiient way

privy

sharing in the knowledge of something secret or private

impart

to make (information) known

smote/smite

to strike with a firm blow

wanton

sexually unrestrained; unrestrained

perusal

action of reading or examining something

brevity

shortness of time; concise, exact use of words

tedious

tiresome, monotonous

quintessential

representing the most perfect or typical example of.

tenable

justifiable, supportable, sustainable

behoove

a responsibility for someone to do something

dispatch

to kill, to deal with efficiently

antic

comically or repulsively ugly or distorted

disposition

nature, character, temperament

peevish

easily irritated

impious

wicked; not showing respect toward God

accord

agreement or harmony

trifle

treat (someone or something) without seriousness or respect

calumny

a false and slanderous statement

lewd

crude and offensive in a sexual way

glean

extract (information) from various sources; to gather bit by bit

expostulate

express strong disapproval or disagreement

mirth

amusement, especially expressed in laughter

rogue

dishonest or unprincipled; faulty or unpredictable; inferior

inter

place (a corpse) in a grave or tomb, typically with funeral rites

incensed

very angry

repast

a meal

steward

a person employed to manage another’s property

abate

cause to become smaller or less intense

equivocate

use ambiguous language to hide truths

dally

act or move slowly

ergo

therefore

forbear

to leave alone; to hold oneself back especially with an effort

knavery

mischief

score

group of twenty

perpetual

continuing forever

hysteria

behavior exhibiting overwhelming fear or emotional excess

deportment

a person’s behaviors or manners

tirade

long, angry speech of criticism or accusation

forte

strength