Advanced Vocabulary: Definitions and Contexts for Independent Learners, AP Vocab Unit 2, AP Literature - Vocab Unit 3

Vocab Unit 1

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Adjunct

Something or someone added to a larger, more important thing as a supplemental, part-time, or secondary part.

Bellwether

A person, company, or event that serves as a reliable indicator or predictor of future events

Caterwaul

A loud high-pitched, and unpleasant noise.

Chimerical

Existing only as a wildly imaginative or unrealistic dream rather than reality.

Effete

Weak, worn out, or lacking wholesome energy and power.

Fait Accompli

Something that has already been done or decided and cannot be changed.

Hidebound

Someone or something stubbornly stuck in the past, rigid, and unwilling to change traditional methods or ideas

Hierarchy

System where people, items, or concepts are arranged in ranks or levels based on importance, status, or authority

Liturgy

Customary public ritual and official form of worship performed by a religious group.

Mirage

Optical phenomenon where light rays end through layers of air at different temperatures to create a false image.

Morass

A literal area of soft, wet, muddy ground (like a swamp or bog), or a figurative, complicated situation that is hard to escape or make progress through

Noisome

Very offensive, disgusting, or foul-smelling

Oblivious

Lacking conscious awareness, attention, or knowledge of something happening around you

Poltroon

An utter coward or a mean-spirited, spineless person

Proselyte

A person who has recently converted from one religion, belief, political party, or cause to another

Quasi

Something is almost, but not completely, a certain type of thing or concept

Raillery

Good-natured, friendly teasing, joking, or lighthearted banter

Ribald

Referring to sexual matters or taboo subjects in a rude, earthy, yet amusing manner

Supine

Lying flat on your back with your face and torso pointing upward | Lazy, passive, and indifferent

Vignette

A short, descriptive piece of writing, music, film, or art that captures a single moment or distinct characteristic without focusing on a traditional plot

Vocab Unit 2

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Aegis

Protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organization.

Apprise

To inform or give notice to someone about something.

Bibulous

Fond of or given to drinking alcoholic beverages; highly absorbent.

Claque

A group of people hired to applaud a performer or speaker; a group of sycophants.

Deracinate

To tear up by the roots, or to isolate someone from their native culture or environment.

Eleemosynary

Relating to or dependent on charity or alms.

Indigenous

Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.

Lachrymose

Tearful, given to weeping, or causing tears.

Lexicon

The vocabulary of a person, language, or specific branch of knowledge.

Melee

A confused fight, skirmish, or scuffle involving a crowd of people.

Microcosm

A community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the features of something much larger.

Minuscule

Extremely small or tiny.

Obfuscate

To render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.

Paternalism

The policy or practice of managing people in a fatherly manner, limiting their freedom or responsibility.

Polarize

To cause division into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions.

Purview

The scope of influence, responsibility, or concerns of a person or organization.

Sanguine

Optimistic or positive, especially in a difficult situation.

Solecism

A grammatical mistake in speech or writing, or a breach of good manners and etiquette.

Vassal

A person or state holding land under feudal law, or a subordinate dependent on a higher power.

Verisimilitude

The appearance of being true or real.

Vocab Unit 3

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Ancillary

Providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization or system.

Bowdlerize

To remove material that is considered improper or offensive from a text or account.

Condescend

To show feelings of superiority; to be patronizing.

Cozen

To deceive or cheat through trickery.

Enclave

A portion of territory surrounded by a larger territory whose inhabitants are culturally or ethnically distinct.

Forte

A thing at which someone excels.

Gratis

Without charge; free.

Icon

A representative symbol or a person/thing regarded as a representative symbol of something.

Interstice

An intervening space, especially a very small one.

Macrocosm

The whole of a complex structure, especially the world or universe, contrasted with a small part of it.

Mountebank

A person who deceives others, especially in order to trick them out of money; a charlatan.

Paean

A song of praise or triumph.

Persiflage

Lightly bantering talk or writing; frivolous conversation.

Plethora

A large or excessive amount of something.

Pragmatic

Dealing with things sensibly and realistically based on practical considerations.

Quizzical

Indicating mild or amused puzzlement.

Rapacity

Aggressive greed or ravenousness.

Schism

A split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion.

Therapeutic

Relating to the healing of disease; having a beneficial effect on the body or mind.

Virtuoso

A person highly skilled in music or another artistic pursuit.