AP Lang Vocab Final

assertion

a declaration or statement

clarity

clearness in thought or expression

cogent

convincing; reasonable

coherent

logically connected

cohesive

condition of sticking together

didactic

intended to instruct

discourse

verbal expression or exchange; conversation

eloquence

the ability to speak vividly or persuasively

emphasize

to give special attention to something, to stress

fluid

easily flowing

implication

the act of suggesting or hinting

lucid

easily understood; clear

abstract

not applied to actual objects

anachronism

something out of place in time or sequence

anthropomorphism

the attribution of humanlike characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, or forces of nature

arbiter

a judge who decides a disputed issue

biased

prejudiced

exculpate

to free from guilt or blame

impartial

not in favor of one side or the other, unbiased

incontrovertible

not able to be denied or disputed

integrity

trustworthiness; completeness

penitent

expressing remorse for one's misdeeds

objectivity

treating facts without influence from personal feelings or prejudices

plausible

seemingly valid or acceptable; credible

substantiated

supported with proof or evidence; verified

apology

defense of an idea

apposition

a grammar construction in which a noun (or noun phrase) is placed with another as an explanation

archetype

a perfect example; an original pattern or model

apparatus

equipment; a group of machines

gesticulating

making gestures while speaking

dubious

doubtful

astute

shrewd; clever

disingenuous

not straightforward; crafty

stratagem

a clever trick used to outwit

ambiguous

open to more than 1 interpretation

spontaneous

unplanned

superficial

concerned with what is only on the surface

oxymoron

an apparent contradiction of terms

ebullience

intense enthusiasm

egregious

conspicuously bad or offensive

asylum

a place of retreat or security

condescending

treating people as weak or inferior

convoluted

intricate; complex

futile

having no useful purpose; useless

impede

to slow the progress of

indolent

a desire to avoid activity; lazy

insipid

uninteresting; unchallenging

listless

lacking energy

torpor

extreme laziness; inactivity; dullness

alienated

removed or disassociated from (friends, family, or homeland)

alliance

a union of two or more groups

disparity

inequality in age, rank or degree; difference

servile

submissive; like a servant

suppressed

subdued; kept from being circulated

embellished

to make beautiful by ornamenting ; to decorate

florid

describing flowery or elaborate speech

opulent

exhibiting a display of great wealth

ornate

elaborately decorated

ostentatious

describing a showy or pretentious display

poignant

profoundly moving; touching

dictatorial

domineering; oppressively overbearing

haughty

arrogant; vainly proud

gesticulating

making gestures while speaking

superfluous

extra; unnecessary

alleviate

to ease a pain or burden

benign

kind and gentle

mollify

to calm or soothe

sanction

to give official authorization or approval

capricious

impulsive and unpredictable

indifferent

not caring one way or the other

trivial

of little importance or significance

slander

false charges and malicious oral statements about someone

spurious

not genuine

ruse

a crafty tick

surreptitiously

done by secretive means

despotic

exercising absolute power; tyrannical

disdain

(n.) contempt, scorn, (v.) to regard or treat with contempt; to look down on

imperious

arrogantly domineering or overbearing

quandary

a state of uncertainty or perplexity

frenetic

wildly excited or active

gratuitous

given freely; unearned; unwarranted

benevolent

well-meaning; generous

reclamation

the act of making something useful again

apathetic

feeling or showing little emotion

equivocate

to avoid making a definite statement

whimsical

subject to erratic behavior; unpredictable

inconsequential

unimportant

arbitrary

determined by impulse rather than reason

hypocrisy

the practice of pretending to be something one is not; insincerity

coup

a brilliantly executed plan