semester 1 african american lit vocab

gripe

grumble

remonstrate

protest

discountenance

show disapproval

admonish

warn

upbraid

scold

reprehend

reprimand or blame

rebuke

reprimand

reproof

reprimand

recrimination

countercharge

carp

find fault

gibe

taunt

twit

taunt

chaff

jest lightly

raillery

light ridicule

lampoon

ridicule

burlesque

comic imitation

travesty

ridiculous distortion

foible

weak point

mannerism

peculiarity of behavior

parsimony

stinginess

condescend

lower oneself or act patronizingly

insinuate

hint

obtrude

force oneself upon

simper

smile foolishly

sheepish

embarrassed

prude

very modest person

buffoon

clown

dolt

stupid person

pert

lively or bold

effrontery

shameless boldness

temerity

reckless boldness

willful

stubborn or intentional

sloth

laziness

shrew

nagging woman

leech

hanger on

avarice

excessive greed

rapacity

excessive greed

dissipate

waste or make disappear

perpetrate

commit

pander

provide degrading pleasure

orgy

uncontrolled indulgence

defile

dishonor or pollute

desecrate

violate sanctity

unregenerate

sinful

dank

unpleasantly damp

fetid

having an offensive smell

sordid

dirty

bestial

brutal

predatory

robbing or preying

formidable

causing dread

invidious

giving offense

odious

hateful

heinous

hateful

pernicious

destructive

perverse

deviating from the correct way

smut

dirt

botch

to spoil

decadence

deterioration

cataclysm

violent catastrophe

dross

waste matter

dreg

worthless leftover

offal

garbage or waste parts

litigation

lawsuit

commute

exchange for something less severe

surveillance

close watch

extradite

transfer an alleged criminal to another state

gendarme

police officer

posse

group armed with legal authority

turnkey

jailer or person in charge of keys in a prison

alibi

claim that one was elsewhere

illicit

forbidden

poach

trespass or take illegally

abscond

steal away

purloin

steal

extort

acquire by illegal force

rapine

seize and carry off other people’s property

brigand

bandit

regicide

murder of a king

pretext

excuse

pretension

false claim

bewitch

fascinate or charm

intrigue

a secret scheme or to arouse interest

inveigle

win over by trickery

fraudulent

deceitful

humbug

fraud or sham

cozen

cheat or deceive

dupe

deceive

gull

trick

guile

deceit

stratagem

trick or scheme

subterfuge

deception

collusion

fraudulent agreement

calumny

malicious slander

traduce

slander or defame

credulity

readiness of belief

meed

reward

remuneration

pay or wage

restitution

restoration to owner

retribution

punishment

gauntlet

punishment or military glove