AP Lit Vocab 4-6

affinity

(n.) a natural attraction to a person, thing, or activity; a relationship, connection

bilious

(adj.) peevish or irritable; sickeningly unpleasant

SYN: choleric, irascible, peevish, splenetic

ANT: sweet-tempered, genial, pleasant, delightful

cognate

(adj.) closely related in origin, essential nature, or function; (n.) such a person or thing

corollary

(n.) a proposition that follows from one already proven; a natural consequence or result; (adj.) resultant or consequent

cul-de-sac

(n.) a blind alley or dead-end street; any situation in which further progress is impossible; an impasse

derring-do

(n.) valor or heroism; daring deeds or exploits (often used to poke fun at false heroics)

divination

(n.) the art or act of predicting the future or discovering hidden knowledge

elixir

(n.) a potion once thought capable of curing all ills and maintaining life indefinitely; a panacea; a sweet liquid used as a vehicle in medicines

folderol

(n.) foolish talk, ideas, or procedures; nonsense; a trifle

gamut

(n.) an entire range or series

SYN: compass, sweep

hoi polloi

(n.) the common people, the masses

syn: rank and file

ant: aristocracy, elite, upper class

ineffable

(adj.) not expressible in words; too great or too sacred to be uttered

lucubration

(n.) laborious study or thought, especially at night; the result of such work

mnemonic

(adj.) relating to or designed to assist the memory; (n.) a device to aid the memory

obloquy

(n.) public abuse indicating strong disapproval or censure; the disgrace resulting from such treatment

Parameter

(n.) a determining or characteristic element; a factor that shapes the total outcome; a limit, boundary

pundit

(n.) a learned person; one who gives authoritative opinions

risible

(adj.) pertaining to laughter; able or inclined to laugh; laughable

symptomatic

(adj.) typical or characteristic; being or concerned with a symptom of a disease

volte-face

(n.) an about-face; a complete reversal

syn: turnabout

abortive

failing to accomplish an intended aim or purpose; only partially or imperfectly developed

bruit

(v.) to spread news, reports, or unsubstantiated rumors

contumelious

insolent or rude in speech or behavior; insultingly abusive; humiliating

dictum

a short saying; an authoritative statement

ensconce

to settle comfortably and firmly in position; to put or hide in a safe place

iconoclastic

attacking or seeking to overthrow popular or traditional beliefs, ideas, or institutions

in medias res

(adv.) in or into the middle of a plot; into the middle of things

internecine

mutually destructive; characterized by great slaughter and bloodshed

maladroit

(adj.) lacking skill or dexterity; lacking tact, perception, or judgment

maudlin

excessively or effusively sentimental

modulate

(v.) to change or vary the intensity or pitch; to temper or soften; to regulate, adjust

portentous

foreshadowing an event to come; causing wonder or awe; self-consciously weighty, pompous

prescience

knowledge of events or actions before they happen; foresight

quid pro quo

something given in exchange or return for something else

salubrious

(adj.) conducive to health or well-being; wholesome

syn: healthy, invigorating

ant: harmful, unhealthy, deleterious, noxious

saturnalian

characterized by riotous or unrestrained revelry or licentiousness

touchstone

(noun)

a means of testing worth or genuineness

SYN: criterion, yardstick, benchmark

traumatic

so shocking to the emotions as to cause lasting and substantial psychological damage

vitiate

to weaken, debase, or corrupt; to impair the quality or value of

waggish

(adj.) fond of making jokes; characteristic of a joker; playfully humorous or droll

aficionado

an enthusiastic and usually expert follower or fan

browbeat

to intimidate by a stern or overbearing manner; to bully

commensurate

equal in size, extent, duration, or importance; proportionate; measurable by the same standards

diaphanous

very sheer and light; almost completely transparent

emolument

(n.) profit derived from an office or position or from employment; a fee or salary

foray

(n.) a quick raid, especially for plunder; a venture into some field of endeavor; (v.) to make such a raid

genre

(n.) a type, class, or variety, especially a distinctive category of literary composition; a style of painting in which everyday scenes are realistically depicted

homily

(n.) a sermon stressing moral principles; a tedious moralizing lecture or discourse

immure

(v.) to enclose or confine within walls; to imprison; to seclude or isolate

insouciant

(adj.) blithely indifferent or unconcerned; carefree; happy-go-lucky

Matrix

(n.) a mold; the surrounding situation or environment

SYN: pattern, model

obsequies

(noun): funeral rites or ceremonies

SYN: funeral services

panache

(n.) a confident and stylish manner, dash; a strikingly elaborate or colorful display

persona

(n) a character in a novel or play; the outward character or role that a person assumes

philippic

(noun): a bitter verbal attack

SYN: harangue, diatribe

ANT: encomium, panegyric

prurient

(adj.) having lustful desires or interests; tending to arouse sexual desires

sacrosanct

(adj.) very sacred or holy; inviolable; set apart or immune from questioning or attack

systemic

(adj) of or pertaining to the entire body; relating to a system or systems

tendentious

(adj) intended to promote a particular point of view, doctrine, or cause; biased or partisan

vicissitude

(n.) a change, variation, or alteration; (pl.) successive or changing phases or conditions