AP Lang Vocab #13

cantankerous

(adj.) crabby; grouchy; irritable; argumentative

capacious

(adj.) spacious; roomy; ample

circuitous

(adj.) roundabout; indirect; meandering; rambling

circumscribe

(v.) to draw a line or boundary around; hence, to limit or restrict

compendium

(n.) a summary or abstract of a book or of data; a list

consensus

(n.) a common decision, philosophy, or sentiment among a group of people; accord; a pact

corroborate

(v.) to support another's testimony or claim

decorum

(n.) good manners; propriety; etiquette; breeding; conformity

defile

(v.) to desecrate, besmirch, befoul, sully, dirty, or tarnish a person, place, object, or idea

demonstrative

(adj.) openly displaying feelings

demystify

(v.) to simplify or explain a seemingly complex topic; to remove mystery or intrigue from a misunderstood phenomenon

desolate

(adj.) barren and uninhabited, usually said of a landscape or abandoned habitat

desultory

(adj.) lacking a plan, purpose, or direction; random

dilatory

(adj.) tending to cause a delay, often intentionally

disabuse

(v.) to free someone of false ideas; to enlighten

disdain

(v.) to despise, reject, or dislike
(n.) a strong dislike

disingenuous

(adj.) giving a false appearance of honesty; insincere; craftily dishonest

disparage

(v.) to belittle; to put down

diversion

(n.) an amusing distraction or bit of fun

divulge

(v.) to reveal information, usually information of a hidden or sensitive nature

docile

(adj.) agreeable, tame, and easily managed, usually said of people or animals

dogmatic

(adj.) stubbornly adhering to rules or beliefs

eclectic

(adj.) inclusive of a variety of styles, sources, influences or philosophies

effervescent

(adj.) bubbly; hence having a lively, exuberant personality

olfactory

(adj.) relating to the sense of smell

palatable

(adj.) pleasant or acceptable to the taste; appetizing; acceptable (in regard to an idea or proposal)

unpalatable

(adj.) disagreeable to the taste; unacceptable to one's sensibilities

tactile

(adj.) relating to the sense of touch

savory

(adj.) delicious

unsavory

(adj.) nasty in taste or in character

abstruse

(adj.) abstract and difficult to understand; intellectually challenging

aesthetics

(n.) a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature and expression of beauty

affable

(adj.) easy to talk to

ameliorate

(v.) to ease or improve an unpleasant condition

amenable

(adj.) agreeable

approbation

(n.) formal or official approval or praise

appropriated

(v.) formally apportioned; allotted; usually said of funds

arduous

(adj.) rigorous; usually said of a task or journey

audacious

(adj.) outrageously presumptuous, outspoken, or nervy

blanch

(v.) to turn pale (as in fear); to whiten or lighten (an object)

bombastic

(adj.) pompous; show

brandish

(v.) to wave (usually a weapon) menacingly

brusque

(adj.) harshly abrupt in speech or manner

burgeoning

(v. & adj.) blossoming or proliferating profusely or rapidly

embezzlement

(n.) theft, especially the misappropriation of an organization's funds by one of its officers or employees

heir

(n.) one who inherits or will inherit money, property, or a title

injunction

(n.) a court of order prohibiting or requiring a certain action

mandate

(n.) a specific, official responsibility given by a committee, lawmaking body, or officer
(v.) to charge an official with a specific responsibility

perjury

(n.) false testimony under oath

deify

(v.) to make someone or something an object of worship

devout

(adj.) deeply committed to a belief, especially a religious belief

heretical

(adj.) opposing established religious or societal beliefs

orthodox

(adj.) in strict adherence to accepted religious practices or to any body of custom, law, or practice

sanctimonious

(adj.) hypocritically pious; pretentiously holy; holier

appreciate

(v.) to increase in value

depreciate

(v.) to decrease in value

dearth

(n.) a lack or shortage of a commodity or quality

duty

(n.) a tax on imported goods

remuneration

(n.) payment for goods delivered or services rendered

belligrent

(adj.) warlike; hostile; pugnacious

coerce

(v.) to force someone into action

covenant

(n.) a sacred agreement

demarcation

(n.) a boundary or limit

dissolution

(n.) decay; ruin; a loosening of morals

dominion

(n.) supreme authority; ownership; absolute power; a territory

sedition

(n.) the act of inspiring rebellion; subversion

jurisprudence

(n.) a legal system's body of accepted practices for implementing justice under the law