AP Lang Vocab (3-4)

cabal

a clique; a small group joined in a secret intrigue; a conspiracy

camaraderie

comradeship; good fellowship

caste

a distinct social class or system

clandestine

concealed, secret

cortege

a group of attendants accompanying a person; a ceremonial procession

detente

a relaxing or easing, especially of international tension

echelon

a level of command or authority or rank; a steplike formation of ships, troops, or planes

ecumenical

universal; general; fostering Christian unity throughout the world

elite

the best or most skilled members of a given social group

esprit de corps

a sense of union and of common interests and responsibilities, translating to “spirit of feeling as one body”

genealogy

lineage; science of family descent

hierarchy

a group of persons or things arranged in order rank, or grade

hobnob

to associate on very friendly terms

liaison

the contact maintained between military or naval units in order to undertake concerted actions; a similar connection between the units of an organization; an illicit relationship between a man and a woman

rapprochement

a reestablishing of cordial relations

adagio

slowly, in music

arpeggio

the playing of the tones of a chord in rapid succession rather than simultaneously

bravura

in music, a florid passage requiring great skill and spirit in the performer; a display of daring; a brilliant performance

contralto

the lowest female voice or part, between a soprano and a tenor; a woman having such a voice

crescendo

a gradual increase in volume or intensity of sound

falsetto

a typically male singing voice, marked by artificially produced tones in an upper register that go beyond the voice’s normal range

fortissimo

a very loud passage, sound, or tone

imbroglio

a confused or difficult situation; a confused heap or tangle

largo

in a slow, solemn manner (a direction in music); a slow, broad movement (noun)

libretto

the text of an opera or other dramatic musical work

limbo

a state of neglect; an intermediate place; souls that are kept from heaven through circumstance such as a lack of baptism

salvo

a simultaneous discharge of firearms; a sudden outburst of cheers

staccato

music performed with a crisp, sharp attack to stimulate rests between successive tones; composed of abrupt, distinct, emphatic parts or sounds

vendetta

blood feud; a prolonged feud marked by bitter hostility

virago

a scold; a noisy, tyrannizing woman