English Vocab Terms

lachrymose

lachrymose

(adj.) tearful or given to weeping

synonym: tearful

antonym: cheerful

epiphany

a sudden realization

obdurate

(adj.) stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion

synonym: stubborn

antonym: cooperative

poignant

(adj.) evoking a sense of sadness or regret

synonym: touching (emotionally)

antonym: meaningless

tedium

(noun) the state of being tedious/boring

synonym: boring

antonym: exciting

abasement

(noun) the act of being degraded

synonym: humiliation

antonym: encouragement

inversion

the syntactic reversal of the normal order of words in a sentence

e.g. on the windowsill were her two cats

hasten

(verb) to be quick to do something

synonym: speed up

antonym: slow down

heresy

(noun) beliefs contrary to the church

credulous

(adj.) having or showing a great readiness to believe things

synonym: gullible

antonym: incredulous

abstain

(verb) restraint from enjoying something

synonym: avoid

antonym: indulge

antithesis

opposite of - shows contrast

plumage

(noun) a bird’s feathers collectively

cower

(verb) crouch down in fear

synonym: fearful

antonym: bold

bilk

(verb) obtain or withhold money by deceit

synonym: deceive

antonym: be honest

renown

(noun) being known by many people

synonym: fame

antonym: anonymous

respite

(noun) a short period of rest from something difficult

synonym: rest

antonym: continue

enigma

(noun) a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand

synonym: puzzling

antonym: predictable

talisman

(noun) an object thought to have magic powers and bring good luck

foil

characters that contrast with one another in order to highlight their qualities

e.g. Katniss and Peeta from The Hunger Games

myriad

(noun) a great number

synonym: crowd

antonym: individual

nullify

(verb) make legally null and void, invalidate

synonym: invalidate

antonym: validate

satire

use of humor, irony, exaggeration to criticize people (most commonly politics)

reprehensible

(adj.) worthy of blame

synonym: disgraceful

antonym: praiseworthy

blatant

(adj.) done openly and unashamedly

synonym: blunt

antonym: subtle

epigraph

an author places a quote in the introduction before the text begins