AP Lang Vocab List #5 Definitions

viable

adj. capable of life or success

demography

n. the study of human populations

stereotype

n. the expectation of additional traits based on some unrelated quality

nihilism

n. the belief that nothing matters

cognizant

adj. aware

surfeit

n. an excess or surplus, too much

altruism

n. actions done for the benefit of others; philanthropy

astrology

n. a pseudoscience that declares our fate is determined by the stars

dynamo

n. a battery or an energetic person

anachronism

n. an object or event that is not in its proper time setting

hyperbole

n. the use of clear exaggeration

sublunar

adj. mundane or dull--lacking in excitement

octagenarian

n. an elderly person, specifically one who is 80 or older

gyrate

v. to move back and forth

contraband

n. a forbidden substance or object

geosynchronous

adj. in static orbit around Earth

perihelion

adj. the point in an orbit when an object is closest to the sun

thermostat

n. a device used to keep temperature static (the same)

tetrameter

n. a form of poetic structure that uses four metrical feet (eight syllables in iambic form)

odometer

n. a device that measures distance traveled

periscope

n. a device for looking around corners

sonorous

adj. melodious, having a pleasant sound

decimate

v. to greatly weaken, literally by ten percent

stellify

v. to form into a star

amatory

adj. relating to love, usually romantic love