Ap English Language Vocabulary

vituperative

(adj.) harshly abusive, severely scolding.

vituperate

(v) verbally abuse, rebuke or criticize harshly, scold.

incur

v. To bring upon oneself something undesirable, such as debt.

exhume

(v.) to remove from a grave; disinter.

exhumation

(n) to bring to light, esp. after a period of obscurity; to unearth.

promulgate

(v.) to make known ( a decree) by public deceleration; to announce officially; to put into effect by formal public.

philander

(v) to carry on a sexual affair, especially an extramarital affair, with a woman one cannot or does not intend to marry.

paroxysm

(n.) a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion; a sudden attack of disease.

expiate

(v.) to make amends or reparation for to atone ( expiate one's sins by act of penance), make up for; to avert.

Belie

(v.) to picture falsely; misinterpret; to be countered to; to contradict.

inimitable

(adj.) defying imitation; matchless; unique; incomparable.

apocryphal

(adj.) of questionable authority or authenticity; erroneous; fictitious.

protean

(adj.) readily taking on various shapes or forms, or meaning exhibiting considerable variety or diversity.

forment

(v.) to promote the growth of; to incite; to simulate/provoke.

Treatise

(n) a systematic, usu. extensive written discourse on a topic

ungainly

(adj) lacking grace or ease of movement or form; clumsy; difficult to move or use; unweildy

nominal

(adj) of, resembling, relating to, or consisting or a name or names; existing only in name only; titular; insignificantly small; trifling

pillory

n: a wooden framework on a post with holes for the head and hands, in which offenders were formerly locked to be exposed to public scorn as punishment

v: to ridicule sand abuse; to put in a pillory as punishment

cull

v: to pick out from others; to select; to gather or collect; to remove rejected members or part from (a herd)

n: something picked out from others, esp. b/c of inferiority

fodder

(n) feed for livestock, esp. coarsely chopped hay or straw; raw materials, as for artistic creation; consumable, often inferior item or resource that is in demand and usu. abundant supply

aplomb

(n) self-confident assurance; composure; ease

Invidious

(adj) tending to rouse ill will, animosity, or resentment (invidious accusations); discriminatory; odious

disingenuous

(adj) not straightforward or candid; insincere; hypocritical

cataclysm / cataclysmic

(n/adj) a violent upheaval that causes great destruction or brings about a fundamental change; a devastating flood

masochism / masochistic

(n/adj) the turning of destructive tendencies upon oneself; the willingness to subject oneself to unpleasant or trying experience

Consortium

(n) an association or combination, as of businesses in oder to engage in a joint venture; a cooperative arrangement among groups or institution

Emissary

(n) an agent sent on a mission to represent or advance the interest of another

harrowing

(adj) extremely distressing; disturbing, tormenting vexing

Nihilism/nihilistic

-N-/-adj- an extreme form of skepticism that holds that on rejects all moral and religious values as baseless & that nothing can be known or communicated; the belief that destruction of existing political & social institution is necessary for future improvement

Quotidian

-adj- everyday; commonplace; recurring daily; on a daily basis

Retinue

-N- the retainers accompanying a high-ranking person; entourage

Secular

-adj- worldly rather than spiritual; not bound by monastic restrictions, esp. Not belonging to a religious order; material

Fete

-N- (fate or fet) festival on feast; elaborate, often outdoor entertainment; gala; jamboree

-V- To celebrate or honor with a festival, feast or an elaborate entertainment; to pay honor

Brio

-N- vigor; vivacity; liveliness; exuberance

Reprieve

-V- to postpone or cancel the punishment of; to bring relief to

-n- Postponement or cancellation of a punishment; temporary relief, as from danger

Schmaltz(y)

-N- excessively sentimental tutor music; maudlin sentimentality

Dither(ing)

-N - a state of indecisive agitation

-V- to be nervously irresolute in acting or doing

Unseemly

-adj- not in accord w/ accepted standards of good taste; grossly improper; not suited to the lincumstances; inappropriate

Fetid

-adj- having an offensive putrid; squalid; decaying

Rube

-N- an unsophisticated country person

Restive

-adj- uneasily impatient under restriction, opposition criticism on delay; resisting control; refusing to move

Cogent/cogency

-N-/-adj- appealing to the intellect or powers of reasoning; convincing; persuasive; influential

Cognitive

-adj- having basis in on reducible to empirical factual knowledge

Cognition

-N- the mental process of knowing, including aspects such as awareness, perception, reasoning & judgements that which comes to be known through perception, reasoning, or intuition; knowledge

Dulcet -adj-

pleasing to the ear; melodious; having a soothing, agreeable quality

abridge -v-

to reduce the length of (a written text); condense; to cut short; curtail