English 10 - Vocab / Lit Term List #6

English 10 - Vocab / Lit Term List #6

Conflagration

n. - an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property

Expedient

n. - a means to an end; not necessarily a principled or ethical one

Fidelity

n. - faithfulness to one’s duties; accuracy, or exact correspondence to some given quality or fact

Incumbent

adj, n. - the person or group that currently has the title or position

Intemperate

adj. - having problems with exercising control, “weak”

Peremptory

adj. - subject to no further debate or dispute; final unassailable

Reproach

v. - address (someone) in such a way as to express disapproval or disappointment

Sagacious

adj. - intelligent; showing good judgment

Solicit

v. - to request or ask for something

Smite

v. - to strike something with a firm blow

Alliteration

The repetition of the same beginning sound in a series of words.

Argument

A claim or position someone makes, to try and make someone adopt a particular opinion or course of action.

Connotation

The non-literal, implied, suggested meaning of a word.

Denotation

The dictionary definition of a word, the exact, literal meaning.

Figurative Language

Words or phrases that are not meant to be taken literally; used to create effect or imagery. Like simile, metaphor, personification.

Flashback

A scene that interrupts the present storyline to show something that happened in the past.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) to create a vivid picture in the reader’s mind.

Style

The unique way an author writes, including word choice, sentence structure, tone, and literary techniques.