AP Lang Vocab 2nd semester

hell

ineluctable

not to be avoided or escaped; inevitable

vis a vis

(prep) face to face with; opposite to; compared with; in relation to

(n) one with the same functions/characteristics as another; counterpart

macabre

suggesting the horror of death and decay; gruesome

raconteur

one who tells stories and anecdotes with skill and wit

pontificate

to express opinions or judgments in a dogmatic way

apotheosis

exaltation of divine rank or stature; glorification an exalted or glorified example

florid

flushed with rosy color; flowery; very ornate; extravagant

dilatory

intended to delay; tending to postpone or lacking promptness

mollify

to calm in temper or feeling; soothe; soften

emollient

softening and soothing, especially to the skin; making less harsh or abrasive

salutary

effecting or designed to effect an improvement remedial; favorable to health; wholesome

inveigle

to win over by coaxing, flattery, or artful talk; to obtain by cajolery

verbatim

word for word

portend

to serve as an omen or a warning of'; to indicate by prediction; to forecast

portentous

foreboding; full of unspecifiable or ominous significance

milk

to press out, drain off, or remove by or as if by milking; to obtain money or benefits from, in order to achieve person gain; to exploit

waft

to cause to go gently and smoothly through the air or over water; to drift

beget

to father, sire; to cause to exist or occur; to produce

duress

constraint by threat; coercion

vertigo

the sensation of dizziness; an instance of such a sensation; a confused, disoriented state of mind

vertiginous

turning about an axis; revolving or whirling; affected by or tending to produce vertigo; dizzy; inclined to change quickly, unstable

fetish

an object that is believed to have magical or spiritual powers; an object of unreasonably excessive attention or reverence; a fixation

du jour

prepared for a given day; most recent; current

grandiloquence

pompous or bombastic speech or expression

dulcet

pleasing to the ear; melodious; having a soothing, agreeable quality

abridge

to reduce the length of (a written text): condense; to cut short

parry

to deflect or ward off; evade or avoid with skill

indolent

habitually idle; disliking or avoiding work; lazy

egregious

outstandingly bad; flagrant (as in mistake or error)

rhapsody

exalted or excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling in speech or writing; a date of elated bliss; ecstasy

rhapsodize

to express oneself in an immoderately enthusiastic manner; to recite in the manner of a rhapsody

aegis

protection, patronage; support or guidance; sponsorship

animus

hostile feeling; animosity; ill will

celerity

haste, swiftness of movement; rapidity; alacrity; speed

blanch

to turn pale; to cause to turn white or lose color

jejune

insipid, juvenile, dull, lacking interest; unsophisticated; immature

cabal

a secret group of conspirators; a clique; a faction; a sect

canard

an unfounded or false, deliberately misleading story a hoax; a ruse or fraud

effete

exhausted; lacking vitality; lethargic; weary marked by self-indulgence, triviality or decadence

hoary

gray or white with age; ancient; stale; old

baroque

extravagant, complex, or bizarre; elaborately, boldly, or flamboyantly decorative

munificent

generous; magnanimous; charitable; upright

elan

enthusiastic vigor or liveliness; vivacity; distinctively elegant style or flair

adjure

to command or urge solemnly and earnestly; to entreat

adjuration

an earnest or solemn appeal

martinet

one who adheres strictly to rules; a disciplinary or despot

percipience

keen perception

percipient

having the power to perceive keenly and readily

apostasy

abandonment of a loyalty or religion

apostate

one who has abandoned one’s beliefs such as one’s religion, political affiliation or a cause

oeuvre

a work of art, the sum of the lifework of an artist, writer or composer; opus

abeyance

the condition of being temporarily set aside, a suspension or delay

gainsay

to declare false; to deny; to contradict, contravene, disaffirm, negate, traverse

iniquitous

evil; unjust; sinful; immoral; wicked; corrupt

iniquity

gross immorality or injustice; wickedness; sin