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

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

veracity

adherence to the truth; truthfulness; accuracy or precision 

veracious

 truthful; honest; accurate; precise 

codicil

 an addition, appendix or supplement, usu. to a will

approbate

to sanction officially; authorize 

approbation

an expression of warm approval; praise; official approval 

byzantine

of, relating to, or characterized by intrigue; 

scheming or devious

Byzantine

relating to the Byzantine Empire or the Eastern Orthodox Church

prescience

knowledge of actions or events before they occur; foresight

quintessential

being the most typical 

quintessence

the pure, highly concentrated essence of a thing; the purest or most typical instance (the quintessence of kindness) 

jettison

to cast overboard or off ; to discard (something) as unwanted or burdensome

astringent

in medicine, tending to draw together or constrict body tissues; styptic sharp and penetrating; pungent or severe 

predicate

to base or establish (a statement or action; to carry the connotation of; to imply to proclaim, declare or assert as an attribute or quality of something 

predilection

a partiality or disposition in favor of something; a preference;          a bias, a leaning, a penchant, a proclivity, a propensity

arrant

completely such; thoroughgoing

errant

 roving, especially in search of adventure  

  straying from the proper course or standards

  wandering outside the established limits

  aimless or irregular in motion

lope

to run or ride at a steady, easy gait; to jog