ap lang vocabulary

elixir

a supposed remedy for all ailments

desiccated

dried up

cessation

a stopping; a discontinuance

juxtapose

to place side by side for comparison

kinetic

pertaining to motion

garrulous

talkative

fetish

an object that receives respect or devotion

scintillate

to sparkle; to twinkle; to sparkle intellectually

lachrymose

tearful, weepy

fissure

an opening; a groove; a split

epitome

a typical example

languid

sluggish; drooping from weakness

delineate

to describe; to depict

legerdemain

sleight of hand; deception

libertine

one who leads an immoral life

halcyon

calm; pleasant

fastidious

hard to please; fussy

badinage

playful, teasing talk

malapropism

word humorously misused

garner

to gather, to acquire

kismet

destiny, fate, fortune

hegira

flight, escape

paradigm

a model, an example

debauchery

corruption, self indulgent

milieu

environment, setting

regress

to move backward

bilious

bad tempered

necromancy

magic, especially that practiced by a witch

gumption

courage & initiative; common sense

blandishment

flattery

nirvana

a condition of great peace or happiness

salutary

healthful; wholesome

despicable

contemptible; hateful

harlequin

a clown

empathy

an understanding of another's feelings

brevity

briefness; short duration

savant

a person of extensive learning; an eminent scholar

obsequious

excessively submissive or overly attentive

redundant

repetitious; using more words than needed

offal

garbage; waste parts

hoi polloi

the common people; the masses

sentient

conscious; capable of feeling or perceiving

impinge

to encroach; to trespass

cataract

a large waterfall

animosity

hatred

bombast

impressive but meaningless language

orthography

correct spelling

paleontology

a science dealing with prehistoric life through the study of fossils

recoil

to retreat; to draw back

panache

self-confidence

saturnine

gloomy; sluggish

endemic

confined to a particular country or area

mendacious

lying, false, deceitful

obviate

to prevent; to get around

paroxysm

a sudden outburst; a fit

aggrandize

to increase the range of; to expand; to make appear larger

deign

to lower oneself before an inferior

flaunt

to show off

shibboleth

a word or pronunciation that distinguishes someone as of a particular group

elicit

to draw forth; to call forth

orifice

mouth, opening

hallow

to make holy

perdition

damnation; ruin; hell

chaff

worthless matter

aesthetic

pertaining to beauty

empirical

based on practical experience rather than theory

germane

relevant; fitting

hermetic

tightly sealed

meretricious

attractive in a cheap, flashy way

querulous

complaining; grumbling

flaccid

flabby

hospice

a shelter for travelers, orphans, or the ill or destitute

egregious

remarkably bad; outrageous

ratiocinate

to reason; to think

foment

to stir up; to incite

salient

significant; conspicuous; standing out from the rest

recant

to withdraw or disavow a statement or opinion

jocular

humorous; lighthearted

palliate

to ease; to lessen; to soothe

malleable

capable of being changed; easily shaped

recreant

a coward; a traitor

affinity

an attraction to

impalpable

unable to be felt; intangible

fiscal

pertaining to finances

regale

to delight with something pleasing or amusing

miscreant

a vicious person

flagellate

to whip; to lash

lascivious

lustful or lewd

flout

to ridicule; to show contempt for

salacious

obscene; lustful

rebuke

scold or blame

nonentity

something or someone of little importance

sang-froid

calmness, composure, or cool self-possession

desultory

wandering from subject

hector

to bully or pester

pandemic

general or widespread

coalesce

blend or merge

beguile

to deceive, charm, or enchant

ennui

boredom; a weariness resulting from a lack of interest

hiatus

a pause or gap