Rhetoric & Style Spring Final Review Vocabulary Flashcards

Complete vocabulary review from the Rhetoric and Style Spring Final Review packet, covering units 6 through 11.

adulate

excessive flattery, approval, or admiration; obsequious praise

barrage

a vigorous or rapid outpouring or projection of many things at once

dispel

to drive away in different directions or in scattered order; to disperse by force, dissipate (e.g. clouds, darkness, doubts, fears, etc.)

erudite

learned, scholarly

immutable

not subject to or susceptible of change; unchangeable, unalterable, changeless

illicit

against the law; not allowed; improper; forbidden

mitigate

to lessen the trouble caused by an evil or difficulty

paucity

smallness of quantity or size; thinness; the presence of something in only small amounts; scantiness; a small or scant quantity

placid

mild, gentle; calm, peaceful; unruffled, tranquil, serene; (of a person) not easily upset or excited

ramify/ramification

to cause to spread out as branches or ramifications.

susceptible

capable of taking, receiving, being affected by, or undergoing something.

zealot

a person who is excessively, immoderately, or fanatically devoted to a cause or ideal, especially a religious or political one

altruism

unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others

contend

to strive in opposition; to engage in conflict or strife; to fight

belie

to disguise; to conceal the true character or identity of; to conceal the fact of

disdain

a feeling of contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior; scorn

feasible

of a design or project, capable of being done, accomplished or carried out; possible, practicable

ignominious

involving shame, disgrace, or discredit

inundate

to fill with an overflowing abundance or superfluity; to overwhelm, 'swamp.'

laconic

using few words; concise

nebulous

vague, indistinct, formless, ill-defined.

procure

to acquire, obtain, gain, or get possession of, especially with care or effort

repudiate

to refuse to accept or be associated with

vilify

to depreciate with abusive or slanderous language; to defame or speak evil of

adversarial

involving multiple parties who oppose each other b.: of, relating to, or characterized by opposition, hostility, or conflict

clandestine

conducted or organized in secret; concealed from public view; usually carries a negative connotation, implying deception or nefarious motives

clout

political influence or social authority.

diffuse

spread out or scattered over a large area; unconcentrated

elicit

to draw forth or evoke a response or reaction from a person

egregious

conspicuously bad or wrong; blatant, flagrant; (later also) outrageous, offensive.

faction

a group within a larger group that is often combative or dissenting (often used in the context of politics or religion); sect; clique

inhibit

to restrain or obstruct; to impede; to suppress

mundane

something that is ordinary, practical, or commonplace; can sometimes carry a negative connotation, such as dull, banal, lacking excitement

petulant

characterized by impatience, irritability, and rude selfishness in attitude or behavior; childish (in a sulky or insolent sense); bad-tempered

piety

faithful devotion to a religious belief or a natural obligation (such a loyalty or obedience to family); reverent obedience to God

usurp

to forcefully seize a position or territory without just cause or right; to wrongfully appropriate

amicable

characterized by friendliness and goodwill (typically used to describe a person's personality or the state of a relationship)

cajole

to persuade through flattery; mild pestering; coax

decorum

behavior that is seen as implying good manners, politeness, and social class

digression

a line of communication or logic that diverges from the main point or line of reasoning in speaking or writing; a tangent

efface

to erase something completely from a surface by wearing it away; to cause to disappear or vanish

flourish

to thrive or grow abundantly

haughty

displaying excessive pride or arrogance (often paired with a contemptuous and disdainful attitude towards perceived social inferiors); snobbish; snooty

incite

to provoke or instigate or urge (often implies that the action being prompted is negative or disruptive)

latent

currently hidden but containing the potential to emerge or develop

scintillating

Displaying brilliance, stimulation, wittiness, or liveliness

tout

to promote something; to make a big deal of; to publicize

wayward

likely to follow one's own foolish inclinations rather than the sound advice of others

abate

to decrease or diminish in force or intensity

culpable

deserving blame or responsibility for a harm or wrongdoing; guilty

estrange

to experience an alienation, distance, or tension in a relationship or feeling

facile

easily understood; simple

guile

insidious cunning, deceit, treachery.

indolence

habitual laziness; sloth

languid

drooping or weak from exhaustion

oust

To expel or remove by force (from a place or position)

perfunctory

characterizing an action done as a matter of routine or duty, without interest or enthusiasm

scrupulous

minutely exact or careful; strictly attentive even to the smallest details and exactness

unfathomable

impossible to comprehend or fully ascertain

vie

to compete, contend or strive with (for superiority)

deference

submission or courteous regard shown to a superior

deplete

to reduce the fullness of; to deprive of contents or supplies; to empty out, exhaust.

entreat

to urgently plead or ask

exorbitant

exceeding ordinary or proper bounds

impetuous

marked by impulsive vehemence or passion

innocuous

producing no harm or injury; harmless

lithe

characterized by flexibility or grace

noxious

harmful; destructive; poisonous; injurious

prattle

foolish or inconsequential talk

ungainly

awkward, clumsy; lacking grace

recluse

a person who is solitary and prefers to be alone, withdrawn from society

substantiate

to verify or prove with evidence