APLit vocab unit 3

ancillary

(adj) subordinate or supplementary

syn: auxiliary, accessory

ant: central, key, primary, principal, main

bowdlerize

(v.) to remove material considered offensive (from a book, play, film, etc.)

syn: purge, expurgate

condescend

(v.) to come down or stoop voluntarily to a lower level; to deal with people in a patronizing manner

cozen

(v) to trick; to cheat or swindle

syn: dupe, deceive, beguile, inveigle

enclave

(n.) an enclosed district, region, or area inhabited by a particular group of people or having a special character

forte

(n.) a persons strong point; what a person does best

syn:gift, aptitude, specialty

ant:weakness, foible

gratis

(adj.) free; (adv.) without charge

icon

(n.) a representation or image of a sacred personage, often considered sacred itself; an image or picture; a symbol; a graphic symbol on a computer monitor display; an object of blind devotion

interstice

(n.) a small, narrow space between things or parts of things

macrocosm

(n.) the universe considered as a whole; the entire complex structure of something

mountebank

a trickster or swindler; a charlatan

syn- impostor, quack

ant- "mark", "pigeon"

paean

(n) a song of praise, joy, or triumph

syn: ode, anthem

ant: dirge, elegy, threnody

persiflage

(n.) lighthearted joking, talk, or writing

syn: banter, jesting, badinage

plethora

(n). overfullness; superabundance; superfluity

SYN: surplus, surfeit, glut, excess

ANT: shortage, paucity, dearth, scarcity

pragmatic

(adj.) concerned with practical considerations or values; dealing with actions and results rather than with abstract theory; stiff in one's opinions

quizzical

(adj.) puzzled; mocking; odd; equivocal

rapacity

(n.) inordinate greed; the disposition to obtain one's desires by force, extortion, or plunder

syn: avarice, cupidity, voraciousness

ant: liberality, altruism

schism

(n.) a formal split within a religious organization; any division or separation of a group or organization into hostile factions

therapeutic

(adj.) having the power to heal or cure; beneficial

virtuoso

(n.) a brilliant performer; a person with masterly skill or technique; (adj.) masterly or brilliant