Semester 2 Vocab - AP Lang

abrogate

(verb) to repeal, to set aside, to nullify

abscond

(verb) to leave quickly and secretively

accolade

(noun) award or honor, high praise [synonym: encomium]

adjure

(verb) to command or urge solemnly and earnestly

aggrieve

(verb) to distress, to mistreat

ameliorate

(verb) to make better, to ease or improve (similar to palliate)

anathema

(noun) something or someone loathed or intensely disliked

ancillary

(adjective) subsidiary, subordinate

antipodal

(adjective) situated on opposite sides of the earth; being exactly opposite

apostasy

(noun) abandonment of loyalty or religion

assignation

(noun) a secret meeting, a tryst, or something assigned

bandy

(verb) to toss back and forth, to exchange, to use in a glib way

bathos

(noun) a transition from the illustrious to the commonplace, overdone pathos, triteness

bilious

(adjective) ill-tempered, cranky, angry [synonym: irascible, petulant]

bivouac

(noun) temporary encampment

bumptious

(adjective) pushy, conceited, noisily self-assertive

Byzantine

(adjective) extremely intricate of complicated in structure

cabal

(noun) a secret group of conspirators, a clique

calumny

(noun) slander, deliberate false statements

cavil

(verb) to quibble, to raise trivial objections

comport

(verb) to behave

concomitant

(adjective) accompanying, attending, going along with

conflagration

(noun) a large, disastrous fire

coterie

(noun) an intimate group of people with a common interest

decimate

(verb) to kill or destroy a large part of something (exterpate or abrogate)

depredate

(verb) to prey upon, to plunder with violence if necessary

determinism

(noun) a philosophy that says things are determined in ways that are out of human hands

dichotomy

(noun) division into two often contradictory parts

dissipate

(verb) to break up, to squander, to indulge excessively in sensual pleasure

draconian

(adjective) sever, exceedingly harsh

Effete

(Adjective) exhausted, losing vitality, over-refined

Enervate

(Verb) to weaken, to sap the strength

Ennui

(Noun) boredom, listlessness, lack of interest

Ensconce

(Verb) to settle in snugly, to hide in a secure place

Erudite

(Adjective) scholarly, deeply learned, well read

feckless

(adjective) lacking responsibility, ineffecive

feral

(adjective) wild, like a wild animal, savage

fetter

(verb) to impede, restrain, hamper

flagellate

(verb) to whip, or to punish as if by whipping

foment

(verb) to stir up, to incite

forswear

(verb) retract, renounce, or recant

gestalt

(noun) a structure whose parts cannot stand alone

gesticulate

(verb) to gesture, expecially when speaking

gird

(verb) to brace, to vest with authority

histrionic

(adjective) overly dramatic, theatrical, deliberately affected

ignominious

(adjective) disgraceful, dishonorable

impecunious

(adjective) without money, penniless

impugn

(verb) to attack the integrity of something

implacable

(adjective) not capable of being appeased or mollified

inchoate

(adjective) just beginning, not organized or orderly, invomplete

Iniquitous

(adjective) evil, unjust

insouciant

(adjective) nonchalant, lighthearted, unconcerned

intransigent

uncompromising, stubborn

inveterate

(adjective) habitual, deeply rooted or established

juggernaut

(noun) a massive, unstoppable object

lassitude

(noun) weariness, listlessness, a state of lethargy

libidinous

(adjective) lustful, lascivious

machination

(noun) scheming activity for an evil purpose

malfeasance

(noun) an illegal act- especially by a public official

martinet

(noun
(noun) one who adheres strictly to the rules

mendacious

(adjective) dishonest, deceitful

myopia

(noun) nearsightedness, lacking foresight

naive

(adjective) charmingly gullible

nepotism

(noun) showing favoritism to friends or family, as in granting positions in jobs or politics

nihilism

(noun) the belief that there are no values of moreals in the universe, that existence is senseless or useless

noisome

(adjective) harmful, unwholesome, stinking, putrid (synonyms: deleterious, moribund)

obdurate

(adjective) stubborn, intransigient, recalcitrant

obsequious

(adjective) fawmomg, subservient, servile

onerous

(adjective) burdensome, oppressive, troublesome

onus

(noun) burden, blame, obligation