Unit 4

ABASE

To lower someone in dignity, status, or self-esteem; to humiliate or belittle.

AFFABLE

Warm, friendly, and easy to talk to; sociable and approachable.

AGGRANDIZE

To enhance the power, wealth, position, or reputation of someone or something; to exaggerate.

AMORPHOUS

Lacking a definite shape or clear structure; formless or lacking organization.

ARCHETYPE

A typical example or original model that serves as a pattern for others.

AURA

A distinctive atmosphere or quality that seems to surround and be generated by a person, place, or thing.

CONTRABAND

Goods that are prohibited by law from being imported or exported; (adj.) Illegal or forbidden.

ERUDITE

Having or showing great knowledge, often gained from books; scholarly.

INFER

To deduce or conclude information from evidence and reasoning rather than explicit statements.

INSCRUTABLE

Difficult to understand or interpret; mysterious or impenetrable.

INSULAR

Narrow-minded or isolated in outlook; related to or characteristic of an island.

IRREVOCABLE

Impossible to undo or reverse; final and unalterable.

PROPENSITY

A natural tendency or inclination toward a particular behavior or action.

QUERULOUS

Habitually complaining, whining, or showing irritation.

REMONSTRATE

To make a forceful protest or objection.

REPUDIATE

To reject or refuse to accept; to deny the truth or validity of something.

RESILIENT

Able to recover quickly from difficulties or setbacks; capable of returning to an original shape after deformation.

RETRENCH

To reduce costs or spending in response to economic difficulty; to cut back.

REVERBERATE

To echo repeatedly or resound; to have a lasting impact or effect.

SCURRILOUS

Coarse, vulgar, or abusive, especially in language; defamatory or slanderous.

SEDULOUS

Diligent and persistent in effort; showing dedication and determination.

Enumeratio

Figure of amplification in which a subject is divided into constituent parts or details.

Expletive

Figure of emphasis in which a single word or short phrase interrupts normal speech for emphasis.

Euphemism

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept.

Exposition

One of the four chief types of composition, aimed to explain something or introduce characters and conflict.

Extended metaphor

A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout the work.

Figurative language

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning, meant to be imaginative and vivid.

Figure of speech

A device used to produce figurative language, comparing dissimilar things.

Generic conventions

Traditions for each genre that help to define them.

Genre

The major category into which a literary work fits, such as prose, poetry, and drama.