Rhetoric and Composition Vocab MIDTERM

affectation

fake speech or behavior; a habit or quirk that is put on to impress or deceive people

assuage

to make something (especially an emotion or desire) less intense

clemency

mercy

stipulate

to specify a requirement or definition

impetuous

impulsive

insipid

lacking flavor or interest

magnanimity

greatness of soul

indecorus

impolite; in poor taste, not keeping with social customs

aesthetic

pertaining to beauty or art

copius

plentiful abundant

didactic

instructional, especially in a dry or burning way (negative)

duplicity

deception; two-faced

exacerbate

to make something worse

garrulous

excessively talkative

libel (v)

to criticize publicly and falsely

libel (n)

false, public criticism

monotonous

boring, repetitive, unchanging

Queue (n)

a line of people

Queue (v)

to stand in line

reconnoiter

to spy out or investigate

relegate

to demote someone, to move something to a less important person

vituperation

harsh criticism