KAP English II Cumulative Vocabulary & Allusions Test, Units 1-5

Flashcards for English II Vocabulary and Allusions Test

Assuage (verb) Unit 1

To relieve; to ease. Synonyms: alleviate, pacify. Antonyms: exacerbate, intensify. Sentence: The mother's soothing words helped to assuage the child's fears

Coalition (noun) Unit 1

A combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose. Synonyms: alliance, partnership. Antonyms: division, separation. Sentence: The coalition of several organizations worked together to promote environmental awareness.

Decadence (noun) Unit 1

A condition or period of decline or decay. Synonyms: degeneration, decadency. Antonyms: growth, development. Sentence: The city's decadence was evident in its crumbling infrastructure and the increasing number of abandoned buildings.

Hackneyed (adjective) Unit 1

Used so often as to lack freshness or originality. Synonyms: clichéd, overused. Antonyms: original, fresh. Sentence: The film was criticized for its hackneyed plot that failed to engage the audience

Hiatus (noun) Unit 1

A gap, opening, or break. Synonyms: pause, interruption. Antonyms: continuity, closure. Sentence: The author took a brief hiatus from writing to travel and gather inspiration

Jaded (adjective) Unit 1

Wearied, worn-out, dulled. Synonyms: fatigued, tired. Antonyms: fresh, unspoiled. Sentence: After years of visiting the same resort, she felt jaded and longed for a new adventure.

Lurid (adjective) Unit 1

Causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational. Synonyms: shocking, sensational. Antonyms: mild, moderate. Sentence: The lurid details of the crime captivated the audience.

Prerogative (noun) Unit 1

A special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence. Synonyms: entitlement, privilege. Antonyms: obligation, duty. Sentence: As the manager, it was her prerogative to set the team's goals.

Transcend (verb) Unit 1

To rise above or go beyond the limits of; to exceed. Synonyms: surpass, outstrip. Antonyms: fall behind, descend. Sentence: His vision transcended the ordinary, inspiring many to dream bigger.

Umbrage (noun) Unit 1

Shade or shadow; a feeling of offense or resentment. Synonyms: offense, displeasure. Antonyms: pleasure, satisfaction. Sentence: She took umbrage at the rude remarks made during the meeting

Ameliorate (verb) Unit 2

To improve, make better, or correct a flaw or shortcoming. Synonyms: improve, enhance. Antonyms: worsen, deteriorate. Sentence: The new policies are designed to ameliorate the working conditions for all employees.

Bombastic (adjective) Unit 2

Pompous or overblown in language. Synonyms: grandiose, inflated. Antonyms: simple, straightforward. Sentence: The politician's bombastic speech failed to address the real issues affecting the community.

Drivel (noun, verb) Unit 2

Saliva flowing from the mouth; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense. Synonyms: nonsense, babble. Antonyms: sense, wisdom. Sentence: During the meeting, he engaged in drivel, completely ignoring the important topics at hand.

Epitome (noun) Unit 2

A summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality. Synonyms: embodiment, exemplar. Antonyms: antithesis, opposite. Sentence: She is the epitome of grace and elegance, embodying the qualities we all aspire to.

Exhort (verb) Unit 2

To urge strongly, advise earnestly. Synonyms: encourage, urge. Antonyms: dissuade, discourage. Sentence: The teacher exhorted her students to do their best on the upcoming exam.

Infringe (verb) Unit 2

To violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds. Synonyms: violate, trespass. Antonyms: obey, comply. Sentence: The new regulations may infringe upon individual freedoms, leading to public outcry.

Intrinsic (adjective) Unit 2

Belonging to someone or something by its very nature. Synonyms: inherent, essential. Antonyms: extrinsic, external. Sentence: The intrinsic value of art often lies in its ability to evoke emotions and provoke thought.

Permeate (verb) Unit 2

To spread through, penetrate, soak through. Synonyms: pervade, infiltrate. Antonyms: contain, limit. Sentence: The scent of baking bread began to permeate the entire house, inviting everyone to the kitchen.

Stringent (adjective) Unit 2

Strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling. Synonyms: strict, rigorous. Antonyms: lenient, flexible. Sentence: The stringent rules enforced by the school left little room for students to break the code of conduct.

Surmise (verb) Unit 2

To think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess. Synonyms: conjecture, suppose. Antonyms: know, prove. Sentence: She could only surmise the reason for his sudden departure, as he had not shared any details with her.

Abominate (verb) Unit 3

To have an intense dislike or hatred for. Synonyms: loathe, detest. Antonyms: love, adore. Sentence: Many people abominate the idea of injustice and strive to work towards equality for all.

Adventitious (adjective) Unit 3

Resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential. Synonyms: accidental, incidental. Antonyms: intrinsic, essential. Sentence: The adventitious discovery of the ancient artifact shed new light on the history of the region.

Ascribe (verb) Unit 3

To assign or refer to (as a cause or source); attribute. Synonyms: attribute, assign. Antonyms: disassociate, disconnect. Sentence: Many people ascribe their success to hard work and determination.

Commiserate (verb) Unit 3

To sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress. Synonyms: empathize, sympathize. Antonyms: ignore, disregard. Sentence: After hearing about her friend's loss, she went to commiserate with her during this difficult time.

Expedite (verb) Unit 3

To speed up the progress of; facilitate; to accomplish quickly. Synonyms: accelerate, hasten. Antonyms: delay, hinder. Sentence: The company hired more staff to expedite the processing of orders during the holiday season.

Nominal (adjective) Unit 3

Existing in name only; not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously. Synonyms: token, insignificant. Antonyms: substantial, significant. Sentence: The nominal fee charged by the museum made it accessible

Proclivity (noun) Unit 3

A natural or habitual inclination or tendency. Synonyms: inclination, propensity. Antonyms: aversion, disinclination. Sentence: Her proclivity for meticulous work made her an outstanding editor

Seditious (adjective) Unit 3

Resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established government. Synonyms: rebellious, insurrectionary. Antonyms: loyal, obedient. Sentence: The seditious pamphlets spread rapidly among the population, urging citizens to rise against the government.

Tenuous (adjective) Unit 3

Thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance. Synonyms: flimsy, weak. Antonyms: strong, solid. Sentence: The evidence presented in court was tenuous at best, failing to prove the defendant's guilt

Vitriolic (adjective) Unit 3

Bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting. Synonyms: acerbic, harsh. Antonyms: mild, gentle. Sentence: His vitriolic remarks during the debate alienated many of his supporters

Affable (adjective) Unit 4

Courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to. Synonyms: friendly, amiable. Antonyms: unfriendly, aloof. Sentence: The affable host made everyone feel welcome at the party.

Amorphous (adjective) Unit 4

Shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character. Synonyms: formless, unstructured. Antonyms: structured, definite. Sentence: The artist's latest work was an amorphous mass of colors that seemed to change with every glance.

Archetype (noun) Unit 4

The ideal example of a particular type of person or thing. Synonyms: epitome, prototype. Antonyms: deviation, atypical. Sentence: The hero in the story is an archetype of bravery and selflessness, inspiring others to follow in his footsteps.

Erudite (adjective) Unit 4

Having or showing great knowledge or learning. Synonyms: scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic. Antonyms: ignorant, uneducated. Sentence: The erudite professor captivated his students with his extensive knowledge and passion for the subject

Inscrutable (adjective) Unit 4

Impossible to see through physically; incapable of being understood. Synonyms: enigmatic, incomprehensible. Antonyms: clear, understandable. Sentence: The detective found the suspect's inscrutable expression frustrating as he tried to uncover the truth

Insular (adjective) Unit 4

Relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience. Synonyms: isolated, narrow-minded, provincial. Antonyms: open-minded, cosmopolitan. Sentence: His insular views on the world made it difficult for him to relate to people from different cultures.

Querulous (adjective) Unit 4

Complaining in a petulant or whining manner. Synonyms: fretful, peevish, irritable. Antonyms: contented, satisfied. Sentence: The querulous child was always finding something to complain about, making the road trip difficult for everyone

Remonstrate (verb) Unit 4

To argue or plead with someone against something; to protest against or object to. Synonyms: protest, complain, object. Antonyms: agree, acquiesce. Sentence: She decided to remonstrate against the unfair decision made by the committee.

Scurrilous (adjective) Unit 4

Coarsely abusive, vulgar or low; foul-mouthed. Synonyms: offensive, slanderous, insulting. Antonyms: polite, respectful. Sentence: The politician's scurrilous remarks drew outrage from the public and led to a significant backlash.

Sedulous (adjective) Unit 4

Showing dedication and diligence, often in pursuit of work or a goal. Synonyms: diligent, industrious, assiduous. Antonyms: lazy, slothful. Sentence: Her sedulous efforts to improve her skills finally paid off when she earned a promotion

Amnesty (noun) Unit 5

A general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution. Synonyms: pardon, forgiveness, reprieve. Antonyms: punishment, condemnation. Sentence: The government announced an amnesty for political prisoners, allowing them to return home without fear of prosecution.

Caveat (noun) Unit 5

A warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior. Synonyms: warning, stipulation, caution. Antonyms: assurance, guarantee. Sentence: The lawyer added a caveat to the contract to clarify the terms and avoid any future disputes.

Equitable (adjective) Unit 5

Fair, just, embodying principles of justice. Synonyms: fair, impartial, unbiased. Antonyms: inequitable, unfair. Sentence: The judge ensured that the settlement was equitable for all parties involved, taking into account each individual's circumstances.

Filch (verb) Unit 5

To steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts. Synonyms: pilfer, swipe, thieve. Antonyms: return, give, donate. Sentence: The clever raccoon tried to filch food from the picnic basket while the campers were distracted.

Fractious (adjective) Unit 5

Tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable. Synonyms: irritable, quarrelsome, unruly. Antonyms: agreeable, calm, peaceful. Sentence: The fractious students made it difficult for the teacher to maintain order in the classroom.

Salutary (adjective) Unit 5

Beneficial, helpful; healthful. Synonyms: advantageous, favorable, useful. Antonyms: harmful, detrimental, unhealthy. Sentence: The salutary effects of regular exercise are well-documented, improving both physical and mental health.

Sepulchral (adjective) Unit 5

Funereal, typical of the tomb; extremely gloomy or dismal. Synonyms: mournful, bleak, somber. Antonyms: cheerful, bright, lively. Sentence: The sepulchral atmosphere of the abandoned mansion sent shivers down their spines, as they walked through its dark and

Soporific (adjective) Unit 5

Tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy; something that induces sleep. Synonyms: sleep-inducing, narcotic, drowsy. Antonyms: invigorating, stimulating, energizing. Sentence: The warm milk had a soporific effect, making it easier for her to drift off to sleep after a long day.

Transient (adjective) Unit 5

Lasting only a short time; fleeting. Synonyms: temporary, brief, momentary. Antonyms: permanent, lasting, enduring. Sentence: The transient beauty of the sunset left everyone speechless as they watched the colors fade away in a matter of minutes.

Vapid (adjective) Unit 5

Dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force. Synonyms: insipid, bland, unimaginative. Antonyms: vibrant, exciting, stimulating. Sentence: The meeting was so vapid that many attendees struggled to stay awake as the speaker droned on without any

Achilles' Heel (Ancient Greek)

The term 'Achilles' heel' comes from Greek mythology, referring to the hero Achilles, who was invulnerable except for his heel, where his mother held him while dipping him in the River Styx. This story symbolizes a singular point of vulnerability despite overall strength.

Benedict Arnold (American Revolutionary War)

The term 'Benedict Arnold' refers to a historical figure, an American general during the Revolutionary War who is infamous for betraying the Continental Army by defecting to the British side. His actions have led to his name becoming synonymous with treachery and betrayal, representing those who are disloyal to their own cause.

Ivory Tower (French)

The term 'ivory tower' originates from the French phrase 'tour d'ivoire,' which refers to a metaphorical place of refuge that scholars or intellectuals might retreat to in order to pursue their studies. It symbolizes a state of being removed from the everyday world, leading to perceptions of being out of touch with reality

Sirens (Ancient Greek)

In Greek mythology, 'Sirens' are creatures that lure sailors to their destruction with their enchanting music and singing. The term has come to symbolize anything that tempts someone away from safety and towards a harmful or destructive path, representing seduction that leads to peril.

Burning Bush (Biblical)

The term 'Burning Bush' originates from the Biblical story in the Book of Exodus, where God speaks to Moses through a bush that is on fire but not consumed by the flames. This miraculous event signifies a powerful message from God, and the phrase has come to represent any situation where an authoritative or divine message is delivered with

Narcissus (Ancient Greek)

The term 'Narcissus' comes from Greek mythology, referring to a young man who was so enamored with his own reflection in a pool of water that he ultimately transformed into the flower bearing his name. It symbolizes obsessive love of oneself and has led to the psychological term 'narcissism,' which describes extreme self-involvement and a lack

Holy Grail (Latin)

The term 'Holy Grail' is believed to originate from the Latin word 'gralis,' meaning 'cup' or 'bowl,' which refers to the vessel that Jesus Christ supposedly drank from at the Last Supper. In Arthurian legend, the Holy Grail represents an object of great significance, often pursued as an unattainable goal, embodying the idea of a quest for purity or enlightenment.

Judas (Hebrew)

The term 'Judas' originates from the Hebrew name 'Yehuda,' meaning 'praised.' In the Christian tradition, Judas Iscariot is known as the disciple who betrayed Jesus to the authorities, thus becoming synonymous with betrayal and treachery. The name embodies the duality of praise and betrayal, reflecting both positive and negative connotations

Job (Hebrew)

The term 'Job' originates from the Hebrew name 'Iyov,' which is derived from the root word meaning 'to repent.' In the biblical context, Job is a figure in the Hebrew Bible known for his unwavering faithfulness and patience in the face of intense suffering and trials, serving as a symbol of endurance and fidelity to God despite experiencing great personal loss

Phoenix (Ancient Greek)

The term 'Phoenix' comes from the Ancient Greek word 'Φοῖνιξ' (PhOInix), which refers to a mythical bird that is said to cyclically regenerate or be reborn from its ashes after dying. In various cultures, the phoenix symbolizes immortality, resurrection, and renewal, representing the idea of rising again after destruction